A Sri Lankan Getaway 7 Days

Arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo
Welcome to Sri Lanka
A representative of Pink Lotus Tours will meet and assist you with arrival procedure.
Please note: Entry visa must be obtained online prior to arrival. 
 
En route visit the Elephant Orphanage to see the world's largest herd of domestic elephants including babies who are still being fed by bottle three times a day.

Elephant Orphanage… established in 1975 as an effort towards education and conservation by way of scientific captive breeding. Located on the banks of the Maha Oya, the Elephant Orphanage provides shelter to house young elephants who find themselves displaced and lost from their natural habitats for various reasons such as environmental changes due to development projects, being abandoned by their parents when they fall into pits and ravines, etc.

Afternoon climb the Rock Fortress of Sigiriya, a UNESCO Heritage site, a Royal Citadel for 20 years in the 5th Century AD built by King Kasyapa,contemporary with the  paintings of Ajantha and Ellora Caves in India, highlights being the Frescoes, Mirror Wall and the Lion's Paw, considered as the 8th Wonder of the modern world, thought to be equivalent to the "Alakamanda" - Celestial Palace of God Kuvera. 

This unique Rock Fortress or "castle in the sky" - a massive monolith of red stone that rises 600ft above ground, derived the name "Lion Rock" as the entrance to the climb to the summit is reached between the paws of a lion.

 Overnight stay at the Dambulla / Sigiriya  

After breakfast leave for Polonnaruwa – The Medieval Capital of Sri Lanka- 11th Century AD” 
 
Polonnaruwa.… the island’s Medieval Capital (11th – 13th Centuries AD) which rose to fame after the decline of Anuradhapura. and more recently Polonnaruwa has been in the limelight with the re-lease of the award-winning Disney documentary movie “Monkey Kingdom” in over 12,000 US Cinemas in April 2015. 
 The city was fortified with three concentric walls, beautified with parks and gardens and sanctified by many shrines. A unique Irrigation complex watered the city as well as the surrounding plains helping in agriculture which made the island "the Granary of the East”. 

The largest of the man-made reservoirs, the huge Parakrama Samudra (the Sea of Parakrama), is larger in size than the Colombo Harbor. Polonnaruwa is home to two magnificent World Heritage Sites and numerous other sites of archaeological and historical interest, some of which depict the in-fluence that Hinduism had on the Buddhist Civilization during that period of history.

 In Polonnaruwa, visit the many sites of archaeological and historical interest in the Sacred City including the Grate Statue, Quadrangle - Royal Palace - Vatadage -Hatadage- Siva Devalaya -Gal Viharaya -Alahana Pirivena Complex - Kumara and Lotus Ponds - Thu-paramaya -Rankoth Vehera-  Pabalu Vehera - Thiwanka Image House - The Museum etc

Afternoon visit Minneriya National Park for a wild life safari by Jeep
Minneriya………It is situated around the reservoir of the same name in the south-central area of the island. This park comprises of grasslands, thorny scrubs and many valuable species of trees. Large herds of elephants, species of deer, wild boar, water buffalo and jackals are some of the wild animals found, along with a variety of avifauna that abounds the park. Has become synonymous with the annual “Elephant Gathering” 

The renovated vast ancient Minneriya Rainwater Reservoir that irrigates the considerable area of the district of Polonnaruwa is the focal point of the Minneriya National Park.Being part of the elephant corridor which joins up with Kaudulla and Wasgomuwa parks, Minneriya National Park gives the opportunity to see herds & gathering of wild Elephants.

It is the largest known meeting place of Asian Elephants in the world. Certain instances herds of up to 300 elephants are seen at the 8,890 hectare park within a few square kilometers of the Minneriya Reservoir.   During the dry season, wild elephants from the surrounding wilderness in search of food and water, makes their way to the shores of the Minneriya Reservoir adjoining the Minneriya Na-tional Park. Huge herd of elephants converge together within a few square kilometers of the lake.

Overnight stay at the Dambulla / Sigiriya  

Morning climb the Rock Fortress of Sigiriya, a UNESCO Heritage site , a Royal Citadel for 20 years in the 5th Century AD built by King Kasyapa ,contemporary with the  paintings of Ajantha and Ellora Caves in India , highlights being the Frescoes , Mirror Wall and the Lion's Paw, considered as the 8th Wonder of the modern world , thought to be equivalent to the "Alakamanda" - Celestial Palace of God Kuvera. 

Sigiriya… a Royal Citadel for 20 years in the 5th Century AD - stark and forbidding, haunted by an epic story of murder and betrayal is attributed to King Kasyapa who found hiding here after kill-ing his father more fruitful than meeting the wrath of the people who loved King Dhatusena much more before meeting his rival - Prince Mugalan who had fled to India seeking reinforcements of his Army. 
This unique Rock Fortress or "castle in the sky" - a massive monolith of red stone that rises 600ft above ground, derived the name "Lion Rock" as the entrance to the climb to the summit is reached between the paws of a lion.
 
Afternoon 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, stat-ues 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 Anura-dhapura by invading armies, although the works span over all periods since then to the late Kandy Period in the 18th Century  

Overnight stay at the Dambulla / Sigiriya  

After breakfast Proceed to Kandy – “The Hill Capital” via Matale
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. Go-purams 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 pre-fix “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 - wa-ter, 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 

Breakfast at Hotel, check out
Leave for a City Tour including the Upper Lake Drive - a place where one could have a bird's eye view of the city below.
 
Then leave for Nuwara Eliya -”Little England" surrounded by "Green Carpets"- hills covered with Tea and cascading Water Falls amidst breathtakingly beautiful landscapes

En route visit a Tea Factory and a Plantation to witness the manufacturing process of world famous "Ceylon Tea" and to taste a pure unblended cup of factory fresh tea before  being sent to the Tea Auctions in Colombo leading to Export.

Nuwara Eliya… nestled in a wooded basin at the foot of Mount Pidurutalagala Sri Lanka’s highest peak, this region at 6,183ft above sea-level Has a cool, crisp climate unknown elsewhere in Sri Lanka. A serene retreat from the hustle and bustle of Colombo, the town seems like a piece of the English Lake District. 

Unusual plants, birds and animals thrive here besides natural feature like waterfalls and caves. Tea, the glistening green leaves of this lovely shrub, along with neat rows of green, cloak ridges and val-leys providing a lasting impression of Sri Lanka’s Hill Country.

 The Golf Course – one of the finest and picturesque in Asia – the serene Anglican Church of the Ho-ly Trinity, beautiful parks and well-kept lawns and hedges give the place an air of nostalgia.

Arrive Nuwaraeliya

Sight Seeing in the city- the important places being the Gregory Lake, Golf Course, Mar-ket  etc.

Evening is free for walks /tour in the surrounding area 
Overnight stay at Nuwara Eliya 

After breakast our Pink Lotus Tours representative will meet and assit with your transfer to Colombo International Airport
It is recommended to arrival at airport 3 hours prior to your flight.

Breakfast is included