Tour overview

The history of SRI LANKA begins around 30,000 years ago when the island was first inhabited. Chronicles including the Mahawansa, The Dipavamsa, the Culavamsa and the Rajaveliya record events from the beginning of the Sinhalese monarchy in the 06th century B.C. Through the arrival of European Colonialists in the 16th century, and to the disestablishment of the monarchy in 1815. Some mentions of the country are found in the RAMAYANA. Buddhism was introduced in the 03rd century B.C by Arhath Mahinda (son on the Indian emperor Ashoka the Great).

Included

  • Hotel Accommodation
  • Accommodations
  • Breakfast
  • Express Way Charges Wherever Applicable
  • Local Transportation
  • Professional Guide

Not Included

  • Entrance Fees
  • Guide Gratuity
  • Personal Expenses
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DAY 01: BANDARANAYKE AIRPORT – KANDY

* On arrival you will be met and welcomed by our representative and transferred to Kandy.
* If morning or afternoon arrival on the way to Kandy En-route Visit Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage & Spice Garden
* Check-In to Hotel.
* At the evening visits Kandy City Tour & Leisure at the hotel
* Overnight stay at Kotel- Kandy

PINNAWALA ELEPHANT ORPHANAGE
The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is situated northwest of the town of Kegalle, halfway between the present capital Colombo and the ancient royal residence Kandy in the hills of central Sri Lanka. It was established in 1975 by the Sri Lanka wildlife department in a 25-acre coconut property near the Maha Oya River. The orphanage was originally founded in order to afford care and protection to the many orphaned Elephants found in the jungle.

Time table of the Elephant Orphanage
• 08.30am Opening the orphanage for visitors
• 09.15am Bottle-feeding the baby elephants
• 10.00am Morning bath at ‘Ma Oya’
• 12noon Elephants return to the orphanage after the bath
• 01.15pm Bottle-feeding the baby elephants
• 02.00pm Afternoon bath at ‘Ma Oya’
• 04.00pm Elephants return to the orphanage after the bath
• 05.00pm Bottle-feeding the baby elephants
• 06.00pm closing the orphanage to visitors

SPICEGARDEN- MAWA NELLA
SRI LANKA HAS ALWAYS BEEN REKNOWNED FOR ITS SPICES. OVER 15 DIFFERENT SPICES CALL SRI LANKA HOME AND MANY OF THEM ARE TRADED IN THE INTERNATIONAL SPICE MARKET. CINNAMON ESPECIALLY IS ENDEMIC TO SRI LANKA, AND HIGHEST QUALITY ‘TRUE CINNAMON’ CAN BE OBTAINED HERE.

However if a visitor does not know the right places to purchase spices it is very easy to be duped for low quality spices or pay unnecessarily exorbitant prices. Visiting Sri Lanka which is a land of spices, without seeing those spices being grown would indeed be a pity too. So can both both, touring spice plantations and buying the best spices be done at the same time? The answer is – Yes! The best way to check out and purchase the best spices in Sri Lanka is to visit the island’s various renowned Spice Gardens.

DAY 02: KANDY CITY TOUR

* Breakfast at the hotel
* Visit to Temple of the Tooth Relic, Udawattakele Sanctuary & Peradeniya botanical garden.
* After having lunch visits to Gem Museum & cultural dance.
* On completion come back to the hotel & leisure.
* Dinner & overnight stay at the Hotel.

KANDY TEMPLE (SRI DALADA MALIGAWA)
Sri Dalada Maligawa or the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a Buddhist temple in the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is located in the royal palace complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy, which houses the relic of the tooth of the 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. Kandy was the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings and is a World Heritage Site mainly due to the temple.

Temple of the tooth relic - Opening hours:
· Temple 5.30am-8pm,
· Puja 5.30-6.45am, 9.30-11am & 6.30-8pm
· Dress code: Wear clothes that cover your legs and your shoulders, and remove your shoes outside the temple.

UDAWATTEKELLE SANCTUARY
At a distance of 1.5 km from the Temple of Tooth Relic and 3.5 km from Kandy Railway Station, Udawatta Kele Sanctuary or the Royal Forest Park of Kandy is situated on the hillside behind the Dalada Maligawa or the Temple of the Tooth Relic. It is one of the popular places to visit in Kandy.

Lying in the heart of the busy city of Kandy, Udawattakele Forest Reserve extends about 257 acres and is considered to be a vital Bio reserve for the much-populated city of Kandy. During the days of the Kandyan kingdom, Udawattakele was known as 'Uda Wasala Watta' in Sinhalese meaning 'the garden above the royal palace', frequented by the royalty and was out of bound to the people. Since the downfall of the Kandyan Kingdom in 1815, this forest area started to deteriorate due to human activities and was designated as a forest reserve in 1856. Later it became a sanctuary under British rule in 1938, and numerous pathways were created leading through the forest and were given names such as Lady Horton Drive, Lady Torrington's Road and Gregory Path, after Governors or their wives.

The sanctuary is famous for its extensive avifauna. It is home to over 400 species of plants, 80 species of birds and 32 diverse species of butterflies and various mammals. The forest is also popular with foreign tourists, especially bird watchers. While on a walking trip to the sanctuary one would able to see the bird species like Layard's parakeet, Yellow-fronted Barbet, brown-capped babbler, blue-winged leaf bird, Alexandrine parakeet, forest eagle owl, paradise flycatcher, etc. This precious forest area supplies the much-needed air purification activity to the Kandy city which is enclosed by several hills.Garrison Cemetery, and the Senkanda Cave. The forest reserve also houses numerous Buddhist hermitages and monasteries.

DAY 03: KANDY - NUWARA ELIYA

* Breakfast at the hotel & proceed to Nuwara Eliya, En-route visit Tea factory, Hanuman temple, and Ramboda falls.
* Check-in to hotel & leisure.
* If time permits evening do a Nuwaraeliya city tour. (Ashok Vathika/ Seetha Amman temple)
* Dinner & overnight stay at hotel- Nuwaraeliya.

TEA FACTORY
Sri Lanka is one of the world's largest exporters of tea with a roaring tea industry that dominates the island's central highlands. Introduced to the country by British tea planter James Taylor in 1867, tea irreversibly changed the topography and even the demography of the country.

SHRI BHA KTA HAN UMAN TEMPLE
Sri Bhakta Hanuman Temple is one of the important Hanuman Temples in Sri Lanka located on summit of the very beautiful picturesque mountain in Ramboda 30 KM north to Nuwara Eliya, the gateway to the tea country hill station of Sri Lanka. This Hanuman Temple in Ramboda was constructed by Chinmaya Mission of Sri Lanka. Shri Bhakta Hanuman temple is dedicated to the God Hanuman and this is one of important sites of Ramayana Tour in Sri Lanka. Visitors can witness the 18 feet Hanuman statue which is the tallest Hanuman statue in Sri Lanka established inside the Shri Bhakta Hanuman Temple in Ramboda.

SITHA AMMAN TEMPLE & ASHOK VATHIKA
Ashoka Vatika is the place where Sita Devi was in captivity under Sri Lankan king Ravana during Ramayana yatra in Sri Lanka. There is no clear demarcation of the exact land of Ashok Vatika in Nuwara Eliya but it is believed the area is to be in Sita Eliya + part of the Hakgala botanic gardens & Hakgala Strict Nature Reserve (SNR). Basically, area is surrounded Sita Amman Temple / Hakgala Botanic Gardens / nearby stream and close areas & part of Hakgala SNR. As per the Ramayana Story Sri Lanka, the beautiful princess Sita Devi was brought to the island of Lanka Puram (Sri Lanka) and imprisoned in an area named Ashok Vatika. Ashok Vatika / Ashok Vanam Sita Eliya Sri Lanka Ashok Vatika is one of the significant places mentioned in Ramayana Yatra Sri Lanka. She was preferred to stay in this garden instead of at Ravana’s majestic castle. There was a wonderful Ashoka tree here, which provided the distressed Sita, shelter and comfort.

DAY 04: NUWARA ELIYA - BENTOTA

* Breakfast at the Hote & transfer to Bentota from Nuwaraeliya.
* Check in to the hotel - Bentota
* Rest of the day leisure at the hotel.
* Overnight stay at hotel- Bentota

DAY 05: BENTOTA CITY TOUR

* Breakfast at the hotel.
* Visit to Turtle hatchery & Maduriver boat ride.
* On completion leisure at the hotel.
* Overnight stay at hotel- Bentota.

KOSGODA TURTLE HATCHERY
Today, six out of the seven species of sea turtles are endangered. And most of it is because of human exploitation of natural resources. Thankfully, this hatchery has taken the onus to protect them. They start with keeping an eye on the nesting mother turtles, bringing their eggs to the secure environment of the hatchery and finally releasing the baby turtles into the sea on the day of their birth. However, if there are complications, they tend to them and release them only once they’re fit to go into the vast ocean.
Kosgoda is the one of the very few hatcheries where all the five species in the country make their nests. They are the Olive Ridleys, Leatherbacks, Green Turtles, Loggerheads and Hawksbills.

MADURIVER BOAT RIDE
The morning safari at the Madu Ganga and Bentota River rewards you with an enthralling experience. As you sail through the rippling waters, watch out for water monitors, blue-eyed cormorants perched atop floating branches, fruit bats hanging asleep, upside down and the endearing sight of infant monkeys clinging onto fishermen as they sail across the river on narrow boats.

You might even spot a few crocodiles and water snakes along your jungle cruise. The tiny rock island and temple in the middle of Madu Ganga, is another one you don’t want to miss!

DAY 06: BENTOTA - AIRPORT

* Breakfast at the hotel.
* Transfer to Airport from Bentota to catch the departure flight.
* If time permits visit for a Colombo city tour and a shopping tour.

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