Sri Lanka Highlights Tour

<p>Arrive at Bandaranaike International Airport, met & greet by "Seerendipity Tours" Representatives and proceed to the hotel in Sigiriya. </p><p>En route visits,</p><p></p><p>PINNAWALA ELEPHANT ORPHANAGE </p><p>Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, the foster – home of elephants of different age and size feeding, bathing, playing together and even mating. These have been found injured or left abandoned in the wilderness. There are even little baby calves born in captivity.</p><p></p><p>GOLDEN CAVE TEMPLE DAMBULLA</p><p>In the 1st century BC a king of Anuradhapura fled the city due to a South Indian invasion and took refuge in the caves of Dambulla. On recapturing Anuradhapura after 13 years, the king converted the caves into the monastery and gifted it to the Buddhist monks.</p><p></p><p>Overnight stay Hotel in Sigiriya.</p>

<p>Breakfast at Hotel Leaves for Sigiriya. </p><p></p><p>SIGIRIYA ROCK</p><p>A Prince of the 5th century who committed patricide made the rock of Sigiriya his hideout in order to stay away from his half-brother who sought vengeance. This prince Kasyappa by name, not only fortified his stronghold but also added to it artistic beauty. (declared as a world heritage site by UNESCO).</p><p></p><p>POLONNARUWA</p><p>Polonnaruwa is the second most historical city of Sri Lanka. It was made the capital of Sri Lanka after Anuradhapura. Ruins in Anuradhapura are much older than the ruins in Polonnaruwa, therefore the ruins in Polonnaruwa are in much better conditions than ruins in Anuradhapura.</p><p></p><p>Overnight stay Hotel in Sigiriya.</p>

<p>After breakfast leave for Kandy via Matale, En-route visit spice garden.</p><p></p><p>SPICE GARDEN</p><p>Visit a spice garden at Matale where spices and herbs used for Sri Lankan cuisine and medication are grown Spices of Sri Lanka attracted the early seafaring merchants who made the long voyages to purchase this precious merchandise.</p><p></p><p>KANDY</p><p>A ruled in Kandy up to 1815 although the rest of the island was under the British regime. Finally, it was ceded to them by the Chieftains of Kandy who were disappointed over the king’s cruel deeds. Today Kandy is one of the most important cities owing to the presence of the Temple of the sacred tooth of the Buddha.</p><p></p><p>Visit Temple of Tooth Relic in Kandy, p.m. enjoy a typical Sri Lankan Cultural Show of Drumming Dancing music and fire walking.</p><p></p><p>TEMPLE OF THE TOOTH</p><p>Temple of the tooth in the central province (Kandy) of Sri Lanka is the most visited Buddhist temple in the island, similar to Mecca for Muslims. This historical temple is visited by thousands of devotees every day. The temple houses the left eyetooth of Buddha. It is the most valuable spiritual element for the Buddhist in the island.</p><p></p><p>Overnight stay Hotel in Kandy.</p><p></p>

<p>Breakfast at hotel and leave for a sightseeing tour in Kandy,</p><p></p><p>BOTANICAL GARDEN</p><p>The Botanical Garden of Peradeniya was a pleasure garden of a Kandyan King of the 16th Century and later made into a Botanical Garden during the British regime. This gardens; one of the best in Asia is a place of beauty and site for bird watchers.</p><p></p><p>CITY & SHOPPING</p><p>The City Tour will include places of Tourist interest such as </p><p>Kandy lake</p><p>Historical church</p><p>Buddhist Hindu Temple </p><p> </p><p>Shopping at </p><p>Silk garden</p><p>Hemachandra jewellery</p><p>Bare foot and etc</p><p> </p><p>Overnight Stay Hotel in Kandy.</p><p></p>

<p>Breakfast at hotel and Leave for Nuwara Eliya, today you leave bit early to catch the Udarata Menike train from Kandy. </p><p></p><p>The railway track between Kandy and Nanu Oya can be described as the most scenic railway track in the country. You will be able to have an awe-inspiring train journey with “Udarata Menike” Express train. On this journey, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery and salubrious climate of the upcountry. The train goes through the valleys, mountain slopes and along the jagged rock faces. </p><p> </p><p>Sightseeing of Kandy including Upper Lake Drive and a visit to Art and Craft Centers, proceed to Nuwara Eliya,</p><p></p><p>TEA FACTORY</p><p>Visit a Tea Plantation and a Tea Factory en route. Sri Lanka is famous for its “Ceylon Tea” has added cheers to many the world over for more than a century.</p><p></p><p>NUWARA ELIYA</p><p>The Hill Country of Sri Lanka is a sight to behold. After the heat of the low lands of Sri Lanka, the diversity of temperature and scenery of the high lands is incredible.</p><p>Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Bandarawela, are three popular hill stations of Sri Lanka. Nuwara Eliya is the highest, situated over 6000 feet above sea level is also called “Little England”. As this is where the British built themselves a home away from home.</p><p></p><p>The winding road that leads to the hill country through tea plantations that carpet the hills to extents beyond sight, the waterfalls that meander cascading down the hills, the misty valleys and scenery are certainly awe-inspiring. </p><p></p><p>SITA AMMAN KOVIL</p><p>The place, where Sita stayed in India was similar to Nuwara Eliya with a cool climate and beautiful surroundings. Therefore king Ravana took her to Nuwara Eliya, where she was permitted to go about freely. The place she stayed came to be known as Seethaeliya. A beautiful Hindu temple was built at a later period where Queen Seetha was held. Earlier the temple was known as “Seetha” kovil and it is called “Seedai Amman” at present. The Hindus make vows at the temple since they believe that there is a miraculous power in it. </p><p></p><p>Overnight stay at Hotel in Nuwara Eliya.</p><p></p>

<p>Breakfast at Hotel leaves for Yala via Ella Gap, Afternoon safari at Yala national park.</p><p></p><p>En route stop at Ella Grand Motel to enjoy the view of the famous Ella gap, also view the beauty of the Ravana Falls as you descend to the low lands.</p><p></p><p>BUDURUWAGALA.</p><p>The rock carvings of Buduruwagala are believed to be over a Thousand years old. There are seven figures carved in high relief on a Rock that rises beyond the stream and the tallest one is of the Buddha, which is 51 feet tall. </p><p></p><p>YALA NATIONAL PARK</p><p>visit Ruhunu National Park at Yala. This will include a Safari tour by jeep with a jungle tracker, where you can see animals in the Jungle; including elephants, Bears, Wild boar, Dear, Buffalo, Monkeys and many other animals if you are lucky, leopards too. You also could see different types of birds. It’s a small experience for bird watch lovers. </p><p></p><p>Overnight stay at Hotel in Yala.</p><p></p>

<p>Breakfast at Hotel and Leave for Bentota, En-route visit best preserved colonial city in the island (Galle).</p><p></p><p>CITY OF GALLE</p><p>Galle is one of the ancient seaports of Sri Lanka and was an anchor point in the Silk Route. It was later discovered by the Portuguese where they built a fortress and the Dutch that succeeded them fortified it further. This fortress is today a World Heritage Site.</p><p></p><p>GALLE FORTRESS</p><p>The fort has a colourful history, and today has a multi-ethnic and multi-religious population. The Sri Lankan government and many Dutch people who still own some of the properties inside the fort are looking at making this one of the modern wonders of the world. The heritage value of the fort has been recognized by the UNESCO and the site has been inscribed as a cultural heritage UNESCO World Heritage Site under criteria iv, for its unique exposition of "an urban ensemble which illustrates the interaction of European architecture and South Asian traditions from the 16th to the 19th centuries.</p><p></p><p>The Galle Fort, also known as the Dutch Fort or the "Ramparts of Galle", withstood the Boxing Day tsunami which damaged part of coastal area Galle town. It has been since restored. The Galle Fort also houses the elite Amangalla resort hotel, located near the Dutch Reformed Church. It was originally built in 1684 to house the Dutch Governor and his staff. It was then converted into a hotel and named then as the New Oriental Hotel in 1865, which catered to the European passengers travelling between Europe and Galle Port in the 19th century.</p><p></p><p>UNAWATUNA BEACH</p><p>Unawatuna Beach is located just south of Galle, the main city in the south and 125km from Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka. This 4km expanse of palm-fringed sand is said by some to rank amongst the twelve best beaches in the world. This beach is a paradise for all those who yearn to enjoy the silence of the sea and dive deep into the blue waters of the ocean. There is a reef protecting the beach, which makes it perfectly a safe haven for bathing. Other major attractions of this southern beach include shallow waters for swimming and diving. Within its reach, there is an accessible, reasonably well-preserved coral reef that serves as the base for snorkelling.</p><p></p><p>HIKKADUWA</p><p>Hikkaduwa is one of the most popular tourist destinations in southern Sri Lanka. It is 98 km south of Colombo and its beautiful beaches a lot of glamour to this town. It is the place where you can have a glimpse of the fascinating underwater world and see the creatures that inhabit the unfathomable depths of the sea. The famed coral gardens are located here. Just get hold of a glass-bottomed boat or goggles and flippers and plunge into the ocean.</p><p></p><p>MADU GANGA BOAT RIDE</p><p>In the global context, the ecological importance of this site has garnered it the ‘Ramsar Wetland’ status in 2003 is the second largest wetland in Sri Lanka with a colossal 915 hectares with 23 islands inhabited by nearly 300 families. The River Sanctuary is now a Tourist Development Area and a Special Area Managed (SAM) by the Coast Conservation Department. Balapitiya is where the ‘Madu Ganga’ makes its home.</p><p></p><p>Overnight stay at Hotel in Galle.</p><p></p>

<p>Leisure in the beach resort</p>

Leisure in the beach resort

<p>After breakfast leave for Bandaranayake international airport. </p><p>End of Sri Lanka Tours.......</p>