Arrive by (flt no) at (00hrs). Please clear immigration & visa formalities, collect your baggage and proceed to the arrival lounge through the green channel if you do not have goods to be declared to customs. Thereafter you will be assisted to the Car park / Coach Park to begin you journey as per the booked itinerary with the English Speaking Chauffeur Guide.
Transferred to Negombo
City tour in Negombo
Negombo – is a fishing village that captures the imagination – something at once rakish and romantic, with the sparkling tropical sea, the quaint catamarans, that venture out to bring the catch in. Negombo has the added ornament of picturesque lagoon, a Dutch built canal Hamilton, running North and South.
A small Dutch Fort dated 1678 with a beautiful Dutch Church of the same date and the beautiful Angunukaramulla Buddhist Temple, close by are some other attractions. Seafood is particularly fine here – the superb lobster mayonnaise, the curried prawns are possibly the best in the World. Catamaran trips in the sea and boat trips in the lagoon are organized by hoteliers. Diving facilities are also available.Dinner & overnight stay at the hotel.
After breakfast leave for Anuradhapura
Start sightseeing tour
ANURADHAPURA – the capital of Sri Lanka from the 05th Century B.C. to the end of the 10th Century A.D. was the most celebrated of Sri Lanka’s ancient ruined cities. The city’s greatest treasures are its dagobas constructed of bricks and are hemispherical in shape. The most notable of these dagobas are the Ruvanveliseya dating back to the 2nd Century B.C. and is 300 feet in diameter, the Jetawanarama is 370 feet and the Thuparama Dagoba is enshrined with the collarbone of the Buddha. The city’s most renowned relic is the sacred Bo Tree, which is said to have grown from a branch of the tree under which the Buddha gained Enlightenment. It was planted 2250 years ago and is the oldest historically authenticated tree in the world. Anuradhapura is a “World Heritage Site”.
Dinner & overnight stay at the hotel.
After breakfast Climb Sigiriya rock fortress
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. Afterwards proceed to Polonnaruwa .
POLONNARUWA– is another “World Heritage Site” was the Capital of Sri Lanka from 11th – 13th Centuries, contains some splendid and spectacular statues. Lankatilake, Tivanka and Thuparama are the most beautiful and largest Image Houses and Tivanka has the best examples of frescoes of the Polonnaruwa period. Rankoth Vehera and Kirivehera are well preserved large stupas, and Gal Vihare – a rock shrine, has four Buddha statues, two seated, one standing and one reclining and Parakrama Bahu statue are examples of Sinhalese stone carver. The Vata-da-ge is a unique creation of the Sri Lankan artists. The medieval capital, Polonnaruwa was fortified with inner & outer moats and inner & outer walls. The Parakrama Samudra is on the western side of the city. The Royal Palace, Audience Hall and other buildings in the inner city were enclosed by another tall wall.
Dinner & overnight stay at the hotel.
After breakfast leave for Dambulla
Visit cave temple
Dambulla – Dambulla is famous for the five cave Temples on a rock. The first 03 caves are better, older and larger than the other two. Some caves dates to 1st C.B.C. All the 5 cave walls and ceilings are covered with Buddhist murals and there are more than 130 Buddha statues, statues of Gods and Kings are also found here.
Afterwards proceed to Kandy.
En-route visit a Spice Garden at Matale and see the luscious Cinnamons, Cardamoms, Pepper plants etc. You can also purchase your requirements of spices.
Afternoon city tour of Kandy, including Upper Lake Drive, Market Square, Arts & Crafts Centre, Gem Museum and Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.
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.
Dinner & overnight stay at the hotel.
After breakfast visit Peradeniya botanical gardens
Royal Botanical Gardens – 147 acres in extent: started in 1374 as a pleasure garden of the Kings of Kandy. There are more than 5000 species of tree and plants. Some and endemic as well as flora from the tropical world. Spice garden and Orchid House are popular with Tourists.
Afterwards leave for Colombo for the beach drop