Mini Tour in Sri Lanka 8 Days

Day 01

• On arrival you will be warmly greeted by our representative with a traditional Sri Lankan welcome and transferred to Negombo.
• Early check in is on availability basis
• Negombo In addition to the beaches for which Negombo is known, the town itself presents a Style influenced by its colonial past and the Catholic Church. Attractions include holdovers from the Dutch period, including the Dutch Canal and the Old Dutch fort gate. There’s a selection of centuries-old churches, small fishing villages in the immediate area and some interesting temples a bit farther inland.
• Overnight at Jetwing Beach (Deluxe –HB)

Day 02

• After breakfast proceed to Anuradhapura, en-route stops at any place of interest.
• Afternoon do Anuradhapura city tour.
• Anuradhapura - is the most celebrated of Sri Lanka’s ancient ruined cities. The city’s greatest treasures are its dagabas constructed of small sun-dried bricks and hemispherical in shape. The most notable of these dagabas are the Ruvanveli, which dates back to the 2nd Century BC and is 300ft in diameter; the Jetawanarama is 370ft and the Thuparama which enshrines 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 historic tree in the world.
• Visit * Monuments at Anuradhapura - including the Old stone bridge, Western monasteries, Asokaramaya, Alms Hall at Abayagiriya, the Museum, Royal Palace (old) Temple of the Tooth Relic, Vessagiriya caves, Sacred Bo Tree, Ruwanveliseya, Isurumuniya, Jetawanaramaya, Abhayagiriya and the Thuparama dagabas.
• Overnight at Palm Garden Hotel (Standard -HB)

Day 03

• After breakfast and proceed to Dambulla / Sigiriya, en-route visits Golden Cave Temples in Dambulla.
• Dambulla Cave Temple Dambulla Cave Temple is a vast isolated rock mass 500 feet high and a mile around the base. Here is found the famous Rock Temple dating to the First Century B.C. The caves of Dambulla sheltered 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 in the Island.In the first Cave is a recumbent image of the Buddha 47ft long cut out of the Rock. There are images of deities associated with Buddhism all around. The frescoes on the walls and the ceiling are the oldest here but they are over painted in the Kandy period. In the Second Cave, the finest and the largest of all, there are 150 life-size statues of the Buddha in various postures with few statues of Gods and Kings. The ceiling is also covered with frescoes, which depict great events in the life of the Buddha and landmarks in the history of the Sinhalese people.)
• Rest of the day at leisure…
  Overnight at Habarana Village by Cinnamon (Superior -HB)

Day 04

• After breakfast (at 08:30hrs pick up) proceed to Polonnaruwa and visit ancient sites
• 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.
• Evening (15:00hrs), do a jeep safari at Minneriya National Park
• Minneriya National Park- This National Park 8889 hectares in extent is famous for its large population of Elephants in herds of 100 to 150 roaming in the jungle and seen in the catchment area of the lake. Entrance is at Ambagaswewa about 6 km from Habarana on the main Habarana Polonnaruwa road. Office is by the side of the main road. Elephants, about 300 wild Elephants, Wild Buffaloes, Wild Boar, Spotted Deer, Sloth Bear, Sambhur, Leopards, Crocodiles, Jackals, 9 kinds of amphibians, 25 kinds of reptiles, 160 species of birds, 26 varieties of fishes, 78 varieties of butterflies are recorded from the Minneriya National Park.
• Overnight at Habarana Village by Cinnamon (Superior -HB)

Day 05

• After breakfast check-out and visit and climb the Rock Fortress (The Lion Rock) in Sigiriya,
• Sigiriya - is a “World Heritage Site” and 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 Palace on the summit of the 600-foot high rock. On its summit are the foundations of the Royal Palace, Water Tanks to supply water and all other buildings and at the edges the guardhouses. On one of the stairways the only known ancient work of Sinhala secular painting survived in the form of Frescoes of 21 life sized damsels still shining in their original colors. The Water Gardens, Fountain Garden, Summerhouses, Boulder Gardens and the Caves within the enclosed area should not be missed.
• Thereafter do village walk at Sigriya.
• Bullock Cart Ride at Hiriwadunna Village & Catamaran Safari at the Hiriwadunna Lake After riding the Bullock Cart ride and a relaxed Catamaran safari, enjoy a Traditional Lunch prepared by the village women and hosted at a local residence. A typical & traditional village lunch dished in Clay pots will be served on Lotus leaf supported by a cane thatched flat holder.
• Overnight at Habarana Village by Cinnamon (Superior -HB)

Day 06

• After breakfast proceed to Kandy, via Matale, en-route visit Spice Gardens & Batik Factory in Matale.
• Spice Gardens - at Matale - You will see many spice gardens at Matale and in Mawanella on the Colombo-Kandy road where Cinnamon, Cardamom, Pepper Creepers and all other spice trees, plants and creepers are planted for visitors to see them. Spice products are also available for those who would like to buy them. At all Spice Gardens visitors are taken round explaining each tree and plant and at the end explaining the use of them in food preparations. Afterwards visit a Batik Factory where you can see the manufacture of beautiful Batik prints. These shops contain a wide variety of Batik items.
• Afternoon and do a city tour of Kandy, including Upper Lake Drive, Market Square, Arts & Crafts Centre and Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic,
• Kandy the hill capital is another “World Heritage Site”. It was the last stronghold of the Sinhalese Kings during the Portuguese, Dutch and British rule and finally ceded to the British in 1815 after an agreement. To the Buddhists of Sri Lanka and the World, Kandy is one of the most sacred sites as it is the home of the “Dalada Maligawa” - Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. Close by are the remains of the Royal Palace (“Maha Wasala”), “Palle Wasala”- where the Queens stayednow used for the National Museum, “Meda Wasala” where other close relatives lived, Audience Hall, Natha Devala and Vishnu Devala are situated close by. The Bathing Pavilion (“Ulpenge”) is by the Lake and in the Center of the lake is the Island called “Kiri samudraya” (Milk white ocean) used by the kings as the summerhouse. Today it is the center of Buddhism, Arts, Crafts, Dancing, Music and Culture. Visitors can see these Dance & Music at the daily Cultural Performances held at several places in the city. Later visit the Market, drive round the Lake, visit Wace Park to get a superb view of the city, shopping in Kandy. Evening visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic to witness the evening Pooja with the crowd visiting the Temple. Visit the remains of the Old Royal Palace which was captured by the Dutch Army sent from Colombo but were unable to hold on to it as their supplies were cut at several places by the Sinhala Army. This building was set on fire by the British and what you see is the remains. Dutch Writers describe all these landmarks in the city.
• Evening witness a Cultural Show featuring various dance types of Sri Lanka. Overnight at Earls Regent (Deluxe -HB)

Day 07

• After breakfast proceed to Colombo. En-route visit Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya
• 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.
• Afternoon do Colombo city tour and shopping (if interest)
• Colombo - is the business and commercial center and the new capital is Sri Jayawardhanapura Kotte, 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 Harbor took place during the British period. Colombo became the capital of Sri Lanka in 1815 after Kandyan Kingdom was ceded to the British. The remains of the buildings during the period of 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 Kayman’s Gate with the Belfry at the original gate to enter the Fort, the Dutch Church of Wolfendhaal dating back to 1749, Kelaniya Buddhist Temple dating to 6th C.B.C., 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 in front and the Independence Memorial.
• Overnight at Ozo ColomboOzo Colombo (Sleep Room -HB)

Day 08

• After breakfast proceeds to Airport or Drop off at Down South/Negombo to stay your preferred beach hotel.