After breakfast Proceed to Kandy – “The Hill Capital”via Dambulla and Matale
En route visit the
Dambulla Cave Temple considered to be the largest painted caves in the world with more than 22,000 sq ft of painted surfaces with many paintings, sculptures, statues of Lord Buddha, his disciples, Kings, Gods etc.
Dambulla... a collection of five caves of different sizes declared a World Heritage Site.
Initial authorship is attributed to King Valagambahu who took refuge here after being driven out of Anuradhapura by invading armies, although the works span over all periods since then to the late Kandy Period in the 18th Century
Free stop and
Walk in to a Spice Garden and take part in a conducted tour to get some knowledge about the growth and use of spices in the day to day life.
Visit
Muthu Mari Amman Hindu Temple
The most prominent building in the town centre, however, is a Hindu temple. It is close to the main road. So you will easily recognize its large tower. It’s a tower above the main gateway. These tall towers exuberantly decorated with hundreds of sculptures of divine beings are called Gopurams. Gopurams are the most characteristic feature of Tamil Hindu temples in southern India and Sri Lanka.
The main Hindu temple in Matale is dedicated to Muthumariamman. The goddess Mariamman (speak “Muri-um-man”) is very popular among Tamils in India and Sri Lanka. “Amman” The prefix “Muthu”, literally meaning “pearl”, is an honorific title, similar to “Sri”. The last part of the name, “Amman” simply means “mother”. "Mari" means "rain". The name recalls that this deity was originally an ancient Tamil fertility goddess. For today’s devotees, Mariamman is as a helper again
Arrive in Kandy -
Kandy. literally the "City on the Hills" so named as it was protected by the nature - water, rocks and jungles. The last capital of the Sri Lankan kings before falling to the British in 1815AD which is a World Heritage Site. The name Kandy conjures vision of splendour of magnificence. Many of the legends, traditions and folklore are still lovingly kept alive.
The centre of attraction is the golden roofed Temple of the Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. The Kandy Lake built by the last King Sri Wickramarajasinghe in 1806 holds a prominent view of the City.
It is a City for arts and crafts as well culture and history
In the evening watch a Cultural Performance by traditional Kandyan Dancers and Drummers including devotional “Fire Walking”.
Then walk across in the star lit night to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha - by far the most important place of worship for Buddhists world over.
Overnight stay at the Kandy
Package Includes