Heritage of Sri Lanka

You will be met upon arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo, and transferred to your hotel.

 

The remainder of the day is free to relax and enjoy the hotel or take a walk in Colombo city.

Let’s take the Colombo City Tour today.  We will drive past Independence Memorial Hall, built in 1948 to mark the independence of Sri Lanka from British rule. Visit the National Museum of Colombo, one of the largest museums in Sri Lanka.

 

Then visit the Gangaramaya Temple, one of the best Buddhist temples in Colombo. Within the temple complex, you will find a small Hindu temple and a museum.  The museum houses a library, an open-air meditation hall, a Bodhi tree, and a large collection of antique artifacts, Buddhist sculptures and statues.

 

A short drive away from the temple is Seema Malaka by the Beira Lake. This is one of Colombo’s most restful and tranquil meditation venues with beautiful statues of Lord Buddha surrounding the main hall - an iconic shot of Colombo.

 

Later we drive along Galle Face Green park, past the old Parliament of Sri Lanka. We visit the old Dutch hospital, one of the oldest buildings in the Colombo Fort area, now beautifully renovated, housing an eclectic collection of some of Colombo’s finest restaurants and shops.

 

Avid shoppers, take note! Sri Lanka is renowned for its tea, gems, ceramics and handicrafts. There are numerous Noritake outlets in Colombo with wonderful ceramic collections. To shop where the locals shop, head to Odel shopping center. For a quirky collection of artifacts, visit Barefoot Limited.

 

 

Breakfast      Welcome Dinner

After breakfast embark on your drive to Habarana in north central Sri Lanka. Enroute, enjoy an excursion to Anuradhapura, a UNESCO World Heritage site situated on the banks of the historic Malvathu Oya River. Anuradhapura, an ancient city founded in the 5th century B.C., is home to the largest number of monuments of the great Sinhala civilization. Visit the ancient royal palaces, shrines, dagobahs and Sri Mahabodhi. Also visit the “Bodhi tree” which is over 2,200 years old, grown from a branch of the tree under which Lord Buddha attained enlightenment.

 

Continue to Habarana for 2 nights stay.

 

Breakfast

After breakfast, we visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Sigiriya Rock, built by King Kassapa in the 5th century AD. Today the rock is a treasure trove of rare art. In a pocket of the giant rock are the famous frescoes of the heavenly maidens of Sigiriya. Also called the ‘Rock Fortress’ or ‘the Lion Rock’ because of the huge crouching lion image that is carved at the entrance to the fortress.  This citadel rises more than 1,000 ft. from the jungles below. If you wish to climb Sigiriya Rock, there are about 1,200 steps and, on an average, it takes about 1.5 hours to climb the rock (actual time varies from person to person).

 

Later embark on your scenic drive to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Polonnaruwa, the second capital of Sinhala kings dating back to 11th & 12th century A.D. During this time a great revival was achieved in the country, politically, economically as well as socially. The entire landscape of the region is punctuated by huge man-made reservoirs, the most famous of which is the ‘Parakrama Samudra’. Numerous monuments are found in this city such as the ruins of the Royal Palace & ‘Gal Vihara’ (Stone Temple) where 3 splendid statues of Buddha in 'Upright', 'Sedantry', and 'Recumbent' postures are carved out of the rock, the Audience Hall, and the Parakrama Samudraya lake built by King Parakramabahu the Great. In here, we will also visit the Polonnaruwa museum.

 

Return to Habarana for an overnight stay.

 

Breakfast

After breakfast, embark on your drive to Kandy.

 

En route, visit another UNESCO World Heritage site, the Rock Cave Temple of Dambulla which dates to the first century BC. The temple consists of a series of 5 caves filled with statues and paintings, including a 47 ft. long statue of Lord Buddha. This is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka.

 

Continue drive to Kandy, visiting the Spice Garden at Matale on the way. Upon arrival in Kandy, check in at your hotel for overnight stay.

 

  Breakfast

After breakfast, explore the sacred city of Kandy, one of Sri Lanka’s 8 UNESCO World Heritage sites.

 

Today we will visit the Temple of Tooth Relic of Buddha, located in the royal palace complex which houses the relic of the tooth of Buddha. Since ancient times the relic has played an important role in local politics because it is believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country. Visitors are not allowed inside the inner chambers and cannot see the tooth relic.

 

This afternoon, visit the Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya, which spreads over 67 hectares (160 acres) of exquisite beauty and houses more than 4,000 species of flora, a haven for nature lovers.

 

This evening we relax and enjoy a cultural dance show featuring traditional Kandyan dancing and Sri Lanka drumming.

 

Breakfast

After breakfast, we return to Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport.

 

We will stop by the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. Started back in 1975, the elephant orphanage houses abandoned and wounded elephants. You can observe elephants being fed and bathed by the orphanage staff.

 

After Pinnawela, we will drive back to Colombo for your departure flight. The tour comes to an end. You are advised to schedule your international flight home after 8pm to provide an ample buffer.

 

Breakfast