Arrive in Sri Lanka. You will be met by our representative of Travels and transferred to Kandy. En route visit Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. App. 55 miles from Colombo, off the Colombo – Kandy road is Pinnawala, where an orphanage was started in 1975 to house the abandoned and the wounded elephants. The number of elephants has increased to more than 65 now; including Baby Elephants brought from various parts, as well as the 23 babies born, as a result of the captive breeding program. The best time to visit is the feeding time from 09:30-10:00 hrs and 13:30-14:00 hrs and the bathing time from 1000-1030 hrs and 1400-1430 hrs when all the elephants are taken to the river close by. Overnight stay & Dinner at – 3 Star Hotel at Kandy.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Visit Kandy Temple, Peradeniya Botanical Garden, Cultural show, Gem Museum & Gem Shop, Kandy City tour.
* Kandy 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 shrines and monasteries keeping alive Buddhist traditions are everywhere.
* Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
Ever since 4th Century A.D, when the Buddha’s Tooth was brought to Sri Lanka hidden from sacrilegious hands in an Orissan princess’ 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.
* Royal Botanical Gardens – Peradeniya
147 acres in extent; Started in 1374 as a pleasure garden of the Kings of Gampola and Kandy. There are more than 5,000 species of trees, plants and creepers. Some rare and endemic as well as flora from the tropical world are found in the gardens. Spice Garden and Orchid House are popular with tourists. There are 5 Palm Avenues beautifying the gardens, the earliest and tallest Palm Avenue (Royal Palm Avenue) was planted in 1905 and the Double Coconuts from the Seashells Island, with the largest seed of all plants in the world is one such avenue.
In the Evening witness the cultural show. (Show start at 17.15 hrs)
Overnight stay & Dinner at – 3 Star Hotel, Kandy
Breakfast at the hotel. Thereafter proceed to Nuwara Eliya. Visit Tea factory & Tea Garden, Visit Sitha Amman Temple and Gregory Lake
*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 coolest places in the Island, but it is really just like an English spring day, although the temperature does drop at night. All around Nuwara Eliya you will see evidence of the British influence, houses like country cottages or Queen Ann style mansions.
The Victoria Park, in the middle of the town, is a lovely place for a stroll or a picnic and is also good for Birding as you get some rare birds in this Park.
Seasons may be absent elsewhere in Sri Lanka, but here you can read them by the flowers, which bloom in the spring (March to May) and the fall (August and September). These are the “seasons” when low-country folk flock to Nuwara Eliya to escape the sea level heat and humidity.
*Seetha Amman Temple, Nuwara Eliya
According to the Indian Epic Ramayanaya legend, the area where Seetha, Queen of King Rama was kept in hiding and the area she roamed is in the hill country of Sri Lanka.
In Nuwara Eliya is the “Seetha Amman Kovil” – a quaint little temple, with the statues of Rama, Seetha, Hanuman, Lakshmana and Sugriva.
This is supposed to be the only Kovil in the entire World dedicated to Sita. The stream by the side of the Temple is a famous spot where she went for bathing.
Out of the 13 Palaces of Ravana, two caves in the Strict Nature Reserve of Hakgala, starting from Temple land and the cave at Ella close to the waterfall “Ravana-Ella” (1080ft. high) where Ravana went for bathing, are supposed to be three Palaces Sita was kept in hiding.
The Hakgala Gardens may be the “Ashok Vanaya” of Ramayana where Rhododendrons in full bloom are found throughout the year. Overnight stay & Dinner at – 3 Star Hotel, Nuwara Eliya.
After breakfast check out from the hotel & transfer to Bentota & Check into the hotel. Rest of the day at leisure in the hotel. Overnight stay at 3 Star Hotel at Bentota.
Breakfast at the hotel Visit Turtle Farm and Bentota City Tour. This is the first National Holiday Resort developed by the Ceylon Tourist Board as a planned resort. There are 6 tourist hotels in the beach span of 5 miles with all the facilities a resort would require. Water sports facilities are available as in the Beruwela Resort. Many interesting sightseeing tours are possible from here, such as the Turtle Hatchery, Mask factory, Galle Fort, Mini Zoo, Garden brief, Boat trips on Bentota River etc. Overnight stay & Dinner at – 3 Star Hotel at Bentota.
After the breakfast thereafter transfer to Colombo Hotel en route Colombo City tour and shopping. This is the business and commercial center and the new capital is Sri Jayawardhanapura Kotte, which are only a few miles away. Colombo was only a small seaport, which came into prominence in the 16th Century with the arrival of the Portuguese in 1505 and the development of it as a major Harbour during the British period and became the capital in 1815 after Kandy was ceded to the British. The remains of the buildings during the period and the Portuguese, Dutch and British rule are found in every area of the city. None of the Portuguese & Dutch fortifications are found today but some of their buildings and churches could be seen in the Fort & Pettah areas. 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 there is also a Hindu Temple with elaborate stone carvings, the Kaymans Gate with the Belfry at the original gate to enter the Fort, the Dutch Church of Wolfendhaal dating back to 1749, Kelaniya Buddhist Temple, Davatagaha Mosque, Colombo Museum and the Natural History Museum are some of the sites to be visited. Also visit the BMICH (Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall), see the replica of Avukana Buddha and the Independence Square. Dinner at outside restaurant. Overnight stay at – 3* Hotel Colombo
After breakfast at the hotel, there after transfer to airport to connect with the departure flight.
