Sri Lanka Splendours
Colombo - Negombo - Anuradthapura - Giritale -
Polonnaruwa - Sigiriya - Kandy - Yala National Park
( 8 Days / 7 Nights )
Day
1/ Arrive Colombo - Negombo
Meet on arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake,
30 km north of Colombo. A warm welcome by our representative, and then
we drive you along the road of the Negombo scenery to your hotel selected.
Stay overnight.
Day
2 / Negombo - Sigiriya
After breakfast tour of the fishing village, Negombo, which is a famous
fishing village North of Colombo, with a Dutch built Canal. The canal
istself is a hive of activity with all the fishermen traveling up and
down in their gaily-painted boats. On the shores of the canal, you will
find many homes and churches and many species of birds including spectacular
Kingfishers and also Parrots. Catamaran trips in the sea and boat trips
in canal can be organized. From November to April, diving facilities
are available in this quaint village. The streets on either side of
the Hotels are dotted with Souvenir Ships, Restaurant etc.
Lunch
at Gimanhala Restaurant - Gimanhala.
Afternoon
proceed to Sigiriya, climbing the Rock Fortress. Sigiriya is home to
the 5th Century "Fortress in the Sky" which is perhaps the
most fantastic single wonder of the island. It is also known as Lion
Rock because of the huge lion that used to stand at the entrance to
the fortress. Within its triple-moated defence the huge rock rises almost
to a sheer height of 500 ft. On its summit are the foundations of what
was once a great and sumptuous palace and gardens complete with the
swimming pool. On one of the stairways the only known ancient work of
Sinhala secular painting survived in the form of Frescoes of life sized
damsels in all the freshness and delicacy of their original color.
Dinner
and overnight at hotel.
Day
3 / Sigiriya - Anuradhapura - Polonnaruwa
After breakfast leave for Anuradhapura for sightseeing. Anuradhapura
is the most celebrated of Sri Lanka's ancient ruined cities. The city's
greatest treasures are its dagabas constructed of small sun-dried bricks
and hemispherical in shape. The most notable of these dagabas are the
Ruvanveli which dates back to the 2nd Century BC and is 300ft in diameter,
the Jetawanarama is 370ft and the Thuparama which enshrines the collarbone
of the Buddha. The city's most renowned relic is the sacred Bo-Tree
which is said to have grown from a branch of the tree under which the
Buddha gained enlightenment. It was planted 2250 years ago and its the
oldest historic tree in the world.
Lunch
at Miridiya Hotel - Anuradhapura.
After
lunch proceed to Polonnaruwa & commence sightseeing tour. Polonnaruwa
is the Capital of Sri Lanka from 11th-13th Century, contains some splendid
and spectacular statues. Lankatileke, Tivanka and Thuparama are the
most beautiful and largest shine ruins and Tivanka has the best example
of frescoes of the Polonnaruwa period. Rankot Vihara and Kiriwehera
are well preserved large stupas and Gal Vihare, a rock shine, has four
Buddha statues, two seated, one standing and one reclining and Parakrama
Bahu statue are examples of Sinhalese stone carver. The Vata-da-te is
a unique creation of the Sri Lankan artistes.
Dinner
and overnight stay at hotel.
Day
4 / Polonnaruwa - Kandy
After breakfast leave for Kandy. En route visit a Spice Garden at Matale
and see the luscious, Cinnamon's, Cardamoms, Pepper plants etc. You
can also purchase your requirements of spices. Afterwards visit a Batik
Factory where you can see the manufacture of beautiful Batik prints.
The ship contains a wide variety of Batik items.
Lunch
at hotel.
Afternoon
city tour of Kandy, including the Upper Lake Drive, Market Square Arts
& Crafts Center and Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. Kandy is the
hill capital. Venue of the annual Perahera. The last stronghold of the
Sinhala Kings was finally ceded to the British in 1815. Kandy is an
example of the Buddhism's influence in Sri Lanka today. Temple's shines
and monasteries keeping alive Buddhist traditions are everywhere. Temple
of the Sacred Tooth Relic, built since 4th Century A.D., when the Buddha's
Tooth was brought to Sri Lanka hidden from sacrilegious hands in an
Orissan princess's hair, the relic has grown in repute and holiness
in Sri Lanka and throughout the Buddhist world. It is considered Sri
lanka's most prized possession.
Evening
view a cultural show featuring various dance types of Sri Lanka. Dinner
and overnight at hotel.
Day
5 / Kandy - Nuwara Eliya
After breakfast leave for Nuwara Eliya. En route visit a tea estate
and a factory. Nuwara Eliya, "the Little England" of Sri Lanka,
is set against beautiful backdrops of Mountains, Valleys, Waterfalls
and Tea Plantations. It is supposed to be one of the coldest places
on the island, but is really jut like an England spring day although
the temperature does drop at night. All around Nuwara Eliya you will
see evidence of the British influence. Houses are like country cottages
or Queen Ann style mansions.
Lunch
at hotel. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Day
6: Nuwara Eliya - Galle
After breakfast leave for Galle. Lunch en route. Afternoon, take city
tour of Galle, was the most ancient and important harbor of the country
until the Colombo harbor was established. Galle is identified as the
"Tarshis" of the bible. This was captured by the Portuguese
in 1587 A.D., Dutch in 1640 A.D., and British in 1796 A.D.
Also
a visit to Julalongkorn Thammasala Temple. Evening at leisure. Dinner
and overnight stay at hotel.
Day
7 / Galle - Colombo
After breakfast leave for Colombo.
Lunch
at Siam House, Thai restaurant. After lunch, take a city tour, drive
through the city taking you to the busy commercial areas as well as
the tree-lined residential, Cinnamon Gardens. Visit Fort, the former
British administrative center and military garrison, Sea Street - the
Goldsmith's quarters in the heart of Pettah, the Bazaar area, where
is also, a Hindu Temple with elaborate stone carving, and the Dutch
Church of Wolfendhal dating back to 1749. The historic Dawatagaha Mosque
and the former Eye Hospital are two buildings in Cinnamon Gardens worth
looking at. Also visit the BMICH, see the replica of Avukana Buddha
and the Independence Square.
Visit
the Mlesna exquisite tea boutique, cashew nut ship, ready made garments
and all sorts at Majestic City. Visit the Lanka Ceramics Center, a place
where you can buy "NORITAKE SET" or other ceramic items, visit
the Odel shop at Lipton place and "House of Fashion".
Dinner
and overnight stay at hotel.
Day
8 / Depart Colombo
After breakfast, we transfer to airport for your departure flight.