Scenic Tour – Sri Lanka

Day 1 Airport –   Sigiriya

Meeting and Greeting at the Airport. Transfer from Airport to Hotel in Sigiriya

Golden   Cave Temple

The area is   thought to be inhabited from as early as the 7th to 3rd century BC. Statues   and paintings in these caves date back to the 1st century BC. But the   paintings and statues were repaired and repainted in 11th, 12th, and 18th   century AD. The caves in the city provided refuge to King Valagamba (also   called Vattagamini Abhaya) in his 14 yearlong exiles from the Anuradhapura   kingdom. Buddhist Monk meditating in the caves of Dambulla at that time   provided the exiled king protection from his enemies. When King Valagamba   returned to the throne at Anuradhapura kingdom in the 1st century BC, he had   a magnificent rock temple built at Dambulla as a gratitude to the monks in Dambulla. Dinner and Overnight stay at Hotel in   Sigiriya

Day 2 Sigiriya - Kandy

Breakfast at the Hotel

Sigiriya

Sigiriya is an   amazing geological formation in Sri Lanka that encompasses an important   archaeological site. Sigiriya lies 22 km north-east of Dambulla in the North   central province of Sri Lanka. The tourist site of Sigiriya has been declared   as a UNESCO world heritage site since 1982 and is part of the seven world   heritage sites of Sri Lanka. Sigiriya is located in the middle of the tourism   cultural triangle formed by connecting the world heritage sites of   Anuradhapura, Kandy and Polonnaruwa in Sri Lanka. Transfer from Sigiriya to Kandy. En – Route Visit Spice Garden

Spice Garden

Sri Lanka is   world renowned for its valued spices and healing herbs. Our lush spice and   herbal gardens feature many important herbs such as Sandalwood, Margosa,   Cocoa, Citronella, Almond, Jasmine and Coconut. When visiting us, make the   most of the chance to experience first-hand how cloves, pepper, ginger,   nutmeg, cinnamon and saffron are grown in their natural surroundings.

At Regent   Spice and Herbal Garden, you can learn of their medicinal healing properties   and how to use them in your day-to-day needs. Used worldwide in many   medicines, the healing powers of spices have been respected from the time of   the Pharaohs and Chinese Dynasties, while our herbs are used in Ayurvedic   concoctions.

Temple   of Tooth Relic

Located in   Kandy, long a center of the Buddhist faith, the stunning 17th-century Temple   of the Tooth (Sri Dalada Maligawa) is believed to house the left upper canine   tooth of the Lord Buddha himself. This precious relic attracts white-clad   pilgrims, bearing lotus blossoms and frangipani, every day.

According to   legend, the tooth was taken from the Buddha as he lay on his funeral pyre. It   was smuggled to Sri Lanka in 313 AD, hidden in the hair of Princess Hemamali   who fled the Hindu armies besieging her father's kingdom in India.

It immediately   became an object of great reverence and was enshrined in a series of nested   jeweled reliquaries. The tooth was brought out for special occasions and   paraded on the backs of elephants, which are sacred to the Buddha. Where it   survived numerous attempts to capture and destroy it.

When the   capital was moved to Kandy, the tooth was taken to the new city and placed in   temples built to honor it. The temple was originally built under Kandyan   kings between 1687 and 1707

Cultural Show at Kandy. Dinner and Overnight stay at Hotel in   Kandy

Day 3 Kandy – Nuwara   Eliya

Breakfast at the Hotel. City Tour at Kandy (Lake drive, Gem   Museum, Silk shop, Batik etc…..). Transfer from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya

Visit   Hanuman Temple

The Ramboda   area is believed to be where Rama's forces were gathered against Ravana.   Rampadai means Rama's Force. The hills of Ramboda are also   believed to be where Hanuman was searching for   Sitadevi.  A Chinmaya mission has built an   Anjaneyar temple in Sri Lanka with Hanuman as its presiding deity. The temple is called Sri Baktha   Hanuman temple and the image of Hanuman here is 16 Feet tall. The service times at the Sri Baktha Hanuman Temple are between   7:00 am to 12:00 noon & again 30.30 to 6.30 pm

Ramboda Falls

Ramboda Falls is 109 m (358 ft)   high and 11th highest waterfall in Sri Lanka and 729th highest waterfall in   the world. It is situated in Pussellawa area, on the A5 highway at Ramboda   Pass. It formed by Panna Oya which is a tributary of Kothmale Oya. Altitude   of the falls is 945 m (3,100 ft)

above sea level

Tea   Factory

Sri Lanka is an island made for tea. The   country produces tea throughout the year and the total tea production is   about 340 million kilograms per annum. Sri Lanka’s tea-growing areas are   mainly concentrated in the central highlands and southern inland areas of the   island.

At present, a larger portion of the   country’s tea is exported as Ceylon Black Tea, while the country also   produces Ceylon Green Tea, a type developed from Assamese seedlings. Ceylon   White Tea, namely silver and golden tips is celebrated around the world for   their finest flavour and are among the most expensive tea varieties in the   world.

Gregory Lake

Named after Sir William Gregory in 1873,   this is a prominent attraction used for water sports and recreational   activities. Lake Park, Boat Rides are available. Travellers can be reached by   sea plane which takes only 30 minutes from Colombo. At the southern end of   the town is Gregory Lake where the holiday makers can enjoy a leisurely walk   on the paved walk ways, with swan shaped paddle boats for the more   adventurous. There are pony rides round the lake for the kids and even   adults, with plenty of fast-food stalls located in a separate area where one   can enjoy a meal or a snack. Dinner and Overnight stay at Hotel in   Nuwara Eliya

Day 4 Nuwara Eliya

Breakfast at the Hotel

Seetha Amman Temple 

With reference to the Ramayana proof of Sri   Lanka it is believed that the Seetha devi was kept captive at this site by   King Ravana. There is a stream by the side of the temple where that runs from   the hill, catered to the needs of Seetha Devi during her stay at Ashok   Vatika. She is also said to have bathed in this stream. About centuries ago   of three idols were discovered in the stream.

Hakgala Botanical Garden

The second   largest botanical garden in Sri Lanka, Hakgala Botanical Gardens is   picturesquely situated in the hill country, a mere ten kilometres (six miles)   away from the city of Nuwara Eliya. The comfortable cool weather that   prevails throughout the year compliments the exotic flora and fauna, creating   a true paradise.

According to   the legends, the history of Hakgala Gardens dates back to the time of   Ramayanaya; an epic love story of the east. Queen Sita, captured and brought   to Sri Lanka, is said to have been hidden in this vicinity - the Hakgala   Gardens at that time was one of the pleasure gardens of King Ravana.

Moon Plains

Moon Plains, also known as Sandathanne, was recently opened to the public in 2014   and has readily become one of the most loved biodiversity spots for   travelers. Earlier it used to be a garbage dump area which has now been converted   into a park. Moon Plains is situated 6 km away from the main city of Nuwara   Eliya.

During the visit to Nuwara Eliya, one can notice slanting plains, majestic against   the backdrop of hills from the Central Highlands. Blanketed in lush green   with mountain peaks all-round, one can view this country all at once from   Moon Plains. Also known as Mini World’s end or the second World’s End, one   can get a 360 degree view of the nine peaks - some of them being   Kirigalpoththa, the Great Western Mountain, Kikiliyamana Mountain, Thotupola   Mountain, Konical Hill Mountain, Single Tree Mountain - among which the   highest peak Pidurutalagala is clearly visible from Moon Plains. As no   personal vehicles are allowed, one can rent jeeps to reach to the top. Safari   rides, close proximity to nature, diverse flora and fauna in the Moon Plains   are some of the few highlights of visiting Moon Plains in Sri Lanka. Dinner and Overnight stay at Hotel in Nuwara   Eliya

Day 5 Nuwara Eliya –   Ella - Yala

Breakfast at the Hotel. Transfer from Nuwara Eliya to Yala via Ella

Nine Arch Bridge - Ella

Seeing the nine beautiful stone arches amidst the   tea plantations has become a must-do activity for all travellers visiting Sri   Lanka

Little Adam’s Peak

Fly Ravana Zip line

Visit Ravana Falls

Ravana Falls currently   ranks as one of the widest falls in the country. The falls have been named   after the legendary king Ravana which is connected to the famous   Indian epic, the Ramayana. According to legend, it is said that Ravana   (who was the king of Sri Lanka at the time) had kidnapped princess Sita, and   had hidden her in the caves behind this waterfall, Dinner and Overnight stay at Hotel in Yala

Day 6 Yala – Galle -   Bentota

Pack Breakfast at the Hotel

Yala   National Park

Yala is home to more than 200 species of birds and 40 species of   mammals, but it is probably most well-known for its leopard population. There   are more leopards per unit of land in Yala than almost anywhere else in the   world and the park is considered to have far more leopards’ sightings than   any other national park on the island. It is best to visit between January   and July to increase your chances of spotting these magnificent creatures.

Elephants can also be spotted at Yala, but the possibility of sighting   them varies throughout the season. This is because Lunugamvehera National   Park acts as a natural corridor between Yala and Udawalawe National Park,   which the elephants use to move between habitats. Your best chance of   spotting them is during the dry season, between May and August.

Yala is also home to crocodiles, peacocks, monkeys, sloth bears, water   buffalo, wild boar, deer and golden jackals. Around 130 different species of   birds have also been recorded in the park, including pelicans, storks, herons   and flamingos. Transfer from Yala to Bentota via Galle

Galle Fort

Basking   on the southern coast of Sri Lanka in the bay of Galle, the Fort was first   built by the Portuguese in 1588 before being extensively fortified by the   Dutch in the mid 1600s. Recognized by UNESCO for its cultural heritage value,   the Fort was declared a World Heritage Site in 1988 as a unique exposition of   "an urban ensemble which illustrates the interaction of European   architecture and South Asian traditions from the 16th to the 19th centuries. Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel in   Bentota

Day 7 Bentota

Breakfast at the Hotel. Visit Turtle Hatchery

Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation   Project ("KSTCP")

Dudley   Perera's project has been underway since 1988. The main aim of the project is   to monitor local sea turtle activity and conserve the local nesting sites. We   aim to make the public more aware of how endangered these beautiful creatures   are and just how important it is to help protect them before it is too late.

One of the   most important activities of the project is its hatchery. Within the   sanctuary of the project, collected and rescued eggs can hatch safely away   from predators before being released into the sea at night-time. In addition,   a certain number from each hatching are kept back for a short period for   'head starting' before release. The hatchery program is designed to maximize   the number of hatchlings reaching the sea and surviving through the critical   stages of their early life. Only a few hatchlings from each batch will ever   make it to adulthood. Therefore, every nest-ground, every egg, every   hatchling and every turtle is crucial to the survival of the species.   Unfortunately, sea turtles face many dangers

Madu River   Safari

Madu ganga   flows across Balapitiya (approx. 80kms down south of Colombo) and is one of   the rarely visited, unspoiled attractions any nature lover can find in Sri   Lanka. She boasts of having a cluster of 64 small islands scattered along her   path and the most of which are covered with mangroves and uninhabited. The   largest island is known as "Ma Doowa" is the largest inhabited   island within the country where about 300 families live. The smallest islet   of the lot is called "Satha Paha Doowa" where there is a tiny   shrine with a statue built in respect of the gods of Kataragama.

Water Sport at Bentota

Dinner and Overnight stay at Hotel in   Bentota

Day 8 Bentota – Colombo

Breakfast at the Hotel. Transfer from Bentota to Colombo

Colombo city tour & shopping

The largest   city and commercial capital of Sri Lanka is Colombo which is located in the   western province adjacent to Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (the capital city of   Sri Lanka ) Colombo is a vibrant city with a mixture of modern life , colonial   buildings and ruins. Due to its very large harbor and its position along the East-West Sea trade routes   Colombo was very popular among ancient traders 2000 years ago.

Colombo houses a majority of the Sri Lanka's corporate offices, restaurants and entertainment   venues. Famous land marks in Colombo include the National Museum, World Trade   Center , Vihara Maha Devi Park and the Galle Face Green.

Gangarama Temple

Colombo Museum

The Colombo Museum as it was called at the beginning was   established on 1st January 1877. Its founder was Sir William Henry Gregory,   the British Governor of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) at the time.

The Royal Asiatic Society (CB) was instrumental in   bringing to the notice of Gregory on his appointment as Governor in 1872 the   need for a public museum with much difficulty the approval of the legislative   council was obtained within a year. The Architect of the Public Works   Department, J.G. Smither was able to prepare the plans for new structure on   Italian architectural style. The construction was completed in 1876 and the   Museum commenced it functions in the following year.

The Authorities of the museum took various steps to   display the cultural and natural heritage of the country for this purpose. Evening at the Galle face green area. Dinner and Overnight stay at Hotel in   Colombo. They might attend for nightlife (Client   Own Transport)

Day 9 Colombo-Airport

Breakfast at the Hotel. Transfer from Colombo to Airport for   Departure flight