SPECIALLY PREPARED ITINERARY OCTOBER 2017 …...221/2 Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka Tel...

221/2 Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka Tel :+9411 2687719 , 2682067, 2684225,2697779 Fax : +9411 2699371 , 2687698

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SPECIALLY PREPARED

ITINERARY OCTOBER 2017

14 nights / 15 days



Day 1 – 10 October 2017

Arrival

On arrival in Sri Lanka, please clear immigration, collect your luggage then proceed through the

customs green channel to the arrival lobby. We will be waiting in the designated area with a paging

board. You will then be escorted to the vehicle park for your transfer to Colombo

Check in to your hotel

Afternoon City tour of Colombo…Colombo, the commercial capital of Sri Lanka, is a major port near

the mouth of the Kelani Ganga River. It owes its importance largely to its great breakwaters, which

give shelter to a large, artificially created harbour. Beira Lake, administratively part of the Port of

Colombo, is connected with the harbour by a canal and locks. Colombo handles most of the foreign

trade of Sri Lanka and is an important fuelling station.

Manufactures of the city include metal goods, refined petroleum,

motor vehicles, processed food, textiles, clothing, and chemicals. Sri

Jayavardhanapura, the legislative and judicial capital of Sri Lanka,

is on the outskirts of Colombo. The business section of Colombo,

called the Fort, occupies the sites of the former fortified area. Broad

avenues and modern buildings contrast with the narrow, crooked

streets and ramshackle structures of the Pettah quarter. Places of

worship include Christian churches, Muslim mosques, and

Buddhist temples. The University of Colombo, Sri Lanka Technical

College (1893), and other educational institutions are located in the

city. The early name of the city, Kalan-totta (Kelani ferry), derived from a nearby river-ferry point,

was corrupted into Colambu by the Arabs and changed to Colombo in 1517 by the Portuguese in

honour of Christopher Columbus.The Colombo museum as it was called at the beginning was

established on 1 January 1877. It founder was Sir William Henry Gregory the British Governor of

Ceylon (Sri Lanka) at the time. The Royal Asiatic Society (CB) was instrumental in bringing to the

notice of Gregory on his appointment as Governor in 1872 the need for a public Museum with much

difficulty the approval of the legislative council was obtained within a year. The Architect of the

Public Works Department, J. G. Smither was able to prepare the plans for new structure on Italian

Architectural style. The construction was completed in 1876 and the

Museum commenced it functions in the following year.

Cargills Fort - The 120 year-old Cargill’s building in Fort will soon be

transformed into a London-based, Harrods-type of building with the

company charting new plans for its future. The Cargills building in

Fort is a grand old building and the story goes that the first Governor

of Ceylon resided here. We have been considering re-building it to its

old glory. I think the time has come for us to take this opportunity

seriously,” he said adding that the company is looking at its entire

land base.

Wolfendahl Church is a massive cruciform edifice built by the Dutch

in 1749 on the site of an earlier Portuguese church. It is one of Colombo's few surviving buildings fro

m the period of Dutch rule (1656-1796). The name derives from the Dutch translation of the

Portuguese 'Agoa de Loupe' meaning the 'dale of the wolves'. The hill on which the church was built

took its name after the low-lying marshy swamp which was infested with jackals rather than wolves



(there are no wolves in Sri Lanka).

Dinner and overnight stay at The Ramada Colombo 3+* (Standard room on HB)

http://www.ramadacolombo.com/

http://www.ramadacolombo.com/




After breakfast today you will be collected and taken to Sigiriya

En route visit Pinnawela. The Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage is

unique in that it breeds wild elephants in captivity and also takes care

of orphaned wild elephants found in the jungles. The feeding process

of these elephants is extremely interesting. Baby elephants drink at

least 3 bottles of milk all in large slurps, holding the bottles

precariously in their trunks.


Spend the day at leisure.

late afternoon jeep safari into Minneriya Wild Life Sanctuary…Return to your hotel

Dinner and overnight at Sigiriya Jungles Hotel Sigiriya 3+*

(Standard room on HB)

http://www.sigiriyajungles.com/


Breakfast

Proceed to Polonnaruwa; ruined city which displays the influences of

both Indian and Sinhalese cultures. See the world famous

Polonnaruwa Gal Viharaya consisting of three huge stone monoliths of

the Lord Buddha, in a sitting, standing and reclining positions. Seethe

Vatadageya, Sathmahal Prasadaya, Raja Saba Mandapaya, Nisshanka

Latha Mandapaya, and Parakrama Samudra the most famous places of

Buddhist interest in Polonnaruwa ancient city.

Proceed to climb the famous Sigiriya Rock fortress.

Considered the 8th wonder of the world, Sigiriya was built in 5 AD by

patricide King Kassapa and boasts the world famous frescoes of

women carved on sheer rock face. Climb the rock fortress and marvel

at the feats of architecture achieved in the moats, the lions paw and

finally at the summit of the rock, where the palace was situated. King

Kassapa had 500 hand maidens living in this palace.

Dinner and overnight at Sigiriya Jungles Hotel Sigiriya 3+* (Standard room on HB)







Breakfast

Leave for Kandy

Visit the Dambulla cave temple

Dambulla cave temples. Dambulla, considered by most to be the

center point of Sri Lanka, Dambulla is a town built around a vast

isolated rock mass 500 ft and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.It was

here that King Valagambahu took refuge in the 1st century B.C. The

view from the top of this rock is breathtaking 350 ft. above are a

series of five caves which was later t urned into a magnificent rock

temple by King Valagambahu. In the first cave is a recumbent

image of the Buddha 47 ft, long, cut out from the rock. There are

images of deities associated with Buddhism. The frescoes on the walls and ceiling could be dated to

the 15th - 18th centuries. In the second cave, the finest and the largest , are not less than 150 life size

statues of gods. There are numerous images of the Buddha as well. The ceiling too is covered with

frescoes which depict great events in the life of the Buddha, and landmarks in the history of the

Sinhala People.

En route visit a wood carving factory & a Batik factory

The road to Kandy is a beautiful one, as you eventually begin the

climb up to the delightful hill station.. Girdled by hills, Kandy is a

peaceful haven to retire to and enjoy the cool of the climate. Kandy,

at an altitude of 500m is the cultural center of Sri Lanka and was the

capital of the last Singhalese kingdom. It is a particularly relaxed hill

station, once captured by the British.It is dominated by its lake and

the nearby Temple of the Tooth which houses Sri Lanka's most

sacred relic.

Evening participate in "Evening pooja at Dalada Maligawa"

Kandy’s main attraction is the Dalada Maligawa, the Temple of the

Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. Brought to Sri Lanka in the 4th c. A.D.,

the sacred relic has ever since been the symbol of sovereignty for its rulers and always enshrined in

great splendour. Kandy’s Dalada Maligawa is a magnificent shrine, with decorative walls, moat,

turrets, golden roof and fine wood-work and its 16th – 19th century ambience vividly alive. Three

religious services (pooja) with traditional music, held daily at dawn, mid-day and in the evening, can

be viewed by visitors.

Dinner and overnight at Hotel Suisse Kandy 3* (Standard room on HB)

http://www.hotelsuisse.lk/


Breakfast

Visit the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens.

A visit to the Royal Botanical Garden Peradeniya near Kandy will pay rich dividends. To the botanist,

this is indeed a land of plenty. The diversified climate allows for growth of tropical as well as

subtropical trees. The luxuriant undergrowth and tall majestic trees of the wet zone tropical forest

contrast with the arid scrub land and tail pot palms of the dry north. In the hills, vegetation varies




from the almost treeless patnas of Horton Plains to the dark cloud

forests, wreathed with the protected Old Man’s beard Moss. From the

March to May, numerous flowering trees such as the fiery Poincianan

regia, the white Mesua ferrer and the cherry blossom-like Tebebuia

burst into bloom and flowering orchids include endemic varieties

such as the protected Vanda and Wesak Orchids. National emphasis

has also been placed on the human plant relationship: official

recognition has been given to the Na Tree (Mesua nagassarium) and

the Blue Water Lily (Nymphaea stellatac) , as the national tree and flower respectively. Along the cast

bordering estuaries and lagoons, are the mangrove habitats which provide sanctuary for the island’s

diverse coastal fishery resources.

Return to your hotel.

Rest of the day at leisure

Dinner and overnight at Hotel Suisse Kandy 3* (Standard room on HB)






Breakfast

Leave for Nuwara Eliya

Train ride from Peradeniya to Nanu Oya

Nuwara Eliya, known under the name "Little England"

located at the foot of Mount Pidurutalagala at an altitude of

1884 m above sea level. Mild climate (average annual

temperature of 15 degrees -20), picturesque meadows and

valleys, mountain landscapes, make Nuwara Eliya a very

popular place in Sri Lanka.

Sightseeing Sri Lanka’s beautiful tea growing regions en

route, including a visit to a working tea factory and

estate…Check into your hotel. Rest of the day at leisure..

Dinner and overnight stay at The St Andrews

3+*Nuwara Eliya 3* (Standard room on HB)

http://www.jetwinghotels.com/jetwingstandrews/


Breakfast

Day at leisure

Dinner and overnight stay at The St Andrews 3+*Nuwara Eliya 3* (Standard room on HB)







After breakfast today check out of the hotel and proceed to Tissamaharama


Dinner and overnight stay at The Safari Tissamaharama (Yala) 3*

(Standard rooms on HB)

http://www.thesafarihotel.lk/


Breakfast

Morning jeep safari into Yala Sanctuary

Witness nature at its best with the beauty of the wild animals in

their natural state Inside the park you will come across wild

boar, deer, leopards, elephants, bears, peacocks and many more

animals roaming freely as nature intended them to live. The

elephants gather at the waterholes for drinking and you may

watch them bathing their young and immersing themselves in

the river. They can also be sighted at close range sometimes.

You may also see leopards sunning themselves on rocks in the

park. Herds of deer roam at will keeping a wary eye on the

predators. Peacocks flaunting their colorful feathers strut around are a breathtaking sight.

You will find Yala a delightful place to survey our wild animals. Return to your hotel

Dinner and overnight stay at The Safari Tissamaharama (Yala) 3* (Standard rooms on

HB) http://www.thesafarihotel.lk/







Breakfast

Leave for Hikkaduwa

City tour on arrival the capital of the southern province is a city with a colorful history. UNESCO

declared World Heritage Site the magnificent Dutch fort is the most

popular attraction of the town. 300 year old Dutch atmosphere is still

very much alive around the fort and amidst its many historical

buildings not invaded by the skyscrapers. The beautiful beach of

Unawatuna is just 6km south east of the city Centre.

The southern coastal belt is the most popular among the tourists and

comes to life mainly from October through April when the monsoon

moves northeast and the sea becomes calm with blue skies. The

earliest European administrative centre of Sri Lanka was the major

port and the largest city until the British shifted the port to Colombo.

The City of Galle had been the European administrative centre over 4

centuries.

Portuguese built the first fort to withstand attack from the Sri Lankan kingdom s to the north. Dutch

who captured the coastal cities from the Portuguese improved the defense system of the fort,

widening the moat on the landside, improving the ramparts and the bastions. British who captured

the city did not make many changes as they shifted the part to the northern town of Colombo and

therefore the atmospheres of Dutch days are preserved to date. The Dutch entrance to the fort with it

VOC with 1669 carved in the inner archway is still in use. Still there are many Old Dutch buildings

intact and, but unfortunately except for those in the private hands. The ramparts and the bastions still

bring to life the old world.

Also visit a turtle hatchery


Dinner and overnight stay at The Coral Sands Hikkaduwa 3+* (Deluxe rooms on HB)

http://www.coralsandshotel.com/





Breakfast

Day at leisure on the beach




Breakfast





Breakfast





Breakfast





Breakfast

Leave for CMB Intl Apt to connect with departure flight

The end of memorable tour!....





SPECIALLY PREPARED ITINERARY OCTOBER 2017 …...221/2 Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka Tel...

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