Dambulla + Kandy + Nuwara Eliya + Bentota

Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage – Started in 1975 to house the abandoned and the wounded, the orphanage has grown to be a big family today. A unique experience never to be missed. Dambulla – is a vast isolated rock mass 500ft high and a mile around the base. Here is found the famous Rock Temple dating to the First Century BC. The caves of Dambulla sheltered the King Walagamba during his 14 years of exile from Anuradhapura. When he regained the throne he built the most magnificent of Rock Temples to be found on the Island. Overnight stay in Dambulla.

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 defense the huge rock rises almost to a sheer height of 500ft. On its summit are the foundations of what was once a great and sumptuous palace and gardens complete with 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. Next proceed to Kandy. En route visit to En route visit Spice Garden. Visit a Spice Garden at Matale (OPTIONAL) – and see the luscious Cinnamons, Cardamoms, Pepper plants etc. You can also purchase your requirements of spices. Next proceed to Kandy. Kandy – the hill capital. 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. Overnight stay in Kandy.

Royal Botanical Gardens, Sixty Seven hectares of exquisite beauty and botanical treasurers containing more than 4000 species, this is haven not only for Scientists but to every nature lover as well. Commence city tour of Kandy, including Upper Lake Drive, Market Square, Arts and crafts Centre, a Gem museum and a lapidary and the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. 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. Gem Museum & Lapidary –Sri Lanka produces the finest quality of gem in the world. We mine semiprecious gems, the sapphires of Sri Lanka, which are very exclusive and comes in shades of blue, red, green, white…act Be a witness of the cultural show. Kandyan Dance is a dance form that originated in the area called Kandy of the Central hills region in Sri Lanka. But today it has been widespread to other parts of the country. Overnight stay in Kandy.

Sri Bhaktha Hanuman Temple – According to the ancient stories, Ramboda is a area, where the forces of Rama’s gather to fight against King Ravana. This temple was built by the Chinmaya mission of Sri Lanka and dedicated to Hanuman. This temple houses for 16 feel height statue of Hanuman. En Route Ramboda falls & tea factories and tea plantation. 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 just 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. Tea Factory or Tea Processing Center. There are hundreds of Tea factories in the Central Highlands, the Uva region and in the Southern parts of Sri Lanka. Some of these factories are situated in breathtakingly beautiful landscape, surrounded by indeed serene green gardens of tea. A casual tourist to this island cannot call his visit complete if he does not pay a visit to some of them. Visitors to any of these Centers are normally treated with typical Sri Lankan courtesy and normal given an educative, guided tour on the various stages of tea manufacturing process. Next visit, Seetha Amman Temple is located approximately 1 kilometer from Hakgala Botanical Garden.The temple is located in the village called “Seetha Eliya”. This place is believed to be the place where Sitha held captive by the king Ravana in the Lanka of the epic, Ramayana. Aftrewards visit Hakgala Botanical Gardens Hakgala Botanical Garden is one of the three botanical gardens in Sri Lanka. It is the second largest garden in Sri Lanka. The garden has a cool temperate climate because of altitude is 5,400 feet above the sea level. The mean annual temperature ranges between 16°C to 30°C during course of a year.[3] From December to February it has a cold climate. The garden is famous for number of species of Orchids and Roses are planted there. Overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya.

Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery – Kosgoda is famous for its turtle hatchery operated by the Wild Life Protection Society of Sri Lanka. It was established in 1981 to protect Sri Lanka’s turtles from extinction. The hatcheries pay fishermen for eggs that they collect at night along the long sandy beach. Visitors are shown the huge tanks filled with new born but lively hatchlings. After being fed the hatchlings are taken to the sea and released when they are 2-4 days old. They are not always released during the safer hours of darkness. Although October to April is the main laying season, some eggs can be found at Kosgoda throughout the year. Overnight stay in Bentota.

Madu River – A shallow water body in south-west Sri Lanka, which enters the sea at Balapitiya. The Buddhist Amarapura Nikaya sect had its first Upasampada (higher ordination ceremony) on a fleet of boats anchored upon it in 1803. The Buddhist Kothduwa temple is situated on an isolated island in the lake.Together with the smaller Randombe Lake, to which it is connected by two narrow channels, it forms the Madu Ganga wetland. Itsestuary and the many mangrove islets on it constitute a complex coastal wetland ecosystem. In has high ecological, biological andaesthetic significance, being home to 303 species of plants belonging to 95 families and to 248 speciesof vertebrate animals. It might be one of the last remaining tracts of pristine mangrove forests in Sri Lanka.The inhabitants of its islets produce peeled cinnamon and cinnamon oil. Next proceed to Galle and commence a city tour in Galle. Galle – is considered to be one of Sri Lanka’s most historically interesting towns. Built on a premonitory rock in the south of the Island. It was a major port until about 100 years, but today still handles shipping and sailing boats in the natural harbor. Stroll around the Lighthouse and harbor or visit the old town where you can see the traditional lace makers and wood carvers. An Opportunity to purchase some the finest shell-craft souvenirs in the world. Afterwards transfer to Colombo. City tour and shopping in Colombo Colombo – like many capital cities in developing countries Colombo is fast changing its face. Almost overnight, skyscrapers arise from where old buildings once stood, yet in some parts; the old world charm is retained. A 100-year-old clock tower and several British built, colonial buildings are still to be seen in the city. The Pettah bazaar – where one can shop for bargains, a Hindu and a Buddhist temple, residential areas where you find the stately homes of the affluent, the Colombo museum, the Bandaranaike memorial international conference hall – an outright gift to Sri Lanka from the people’s republic of china, the new parliament in Sri Jayawardenapura and the folk art center are some of the places of interest that one can visit to Visit shopping complexes such as ODEL, HOUSE OF FASHION, MAJESTIC CITY. Departure transfer to Airport.