Essence of Sri Lanka – 10 Days 9 Nights

Dambulla

Sigiriya

Anuradhapura

Polonnaruwa

Kandy Temple of the tooth

Yala National Park

Yala National Park

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Day 1:

Dambulla is situated in central province of Sri Lanka and ideal transit point to two famous ancient cities of Anuradhapura & Polonnaruwa. Dambulla is a part of the Cultural Triangle declared by UNESCO. This is a must visit location in your journey to Sri Lanka with famous cave temple which is also known as the Golden temple. The temple is a perfect location to view evolution of the ancient Sri Lankan arts.

Sigiriya is an ancient palace located the town of Dambulla in the Central Province, Sri Lanka. The name refers to a site of historical and archaeological significance that is dominated by a massive column of rock nearly 200 metres (660 ft) high. According to the ancient Sri Lankan chronicle the Culavangsha, this site was selected by King Kasyapa (477 – 495 CE) for his new capital. The name of this place is derived from this structure —Sīhāgiri, the Lion Rock. The capital and the royal palace was abandoned after the king’s death. It was used as a Buddhist monastery until the 14th century.Sigiriya today is a UNESCO listed World Heritage Site. It is one of the best preserved examples of ancient urban planning.[2] It is the most visited historic site in Sri Lanka.

 

Day 2:

The sacred city of Anuradhapura, now in picturesque ruins, was once a major center of sri lankan civilization. It was the nation’s capital in the 4th century which takes back the history to 2500 to 3000 years. The fascinating ancient ruins include huge statues built of small sun dried bricks, temples, sculptures, places, and ancient drinking water reservoirs (Weva in Sinhalese). Anuradhapura is a city of great history, religious importance and serene beauty.

 

Day 3:

Designated a World heritage Site, Polonnaruwa was the capital of Sri Lanka between the 11th and 13th Centuries, the city flourished as a cultural, artistic and imperial centre. Three concentric walls protected the city, enclosing gardens, palace buildings and temples. There are many impressive artificial lakes designed by kings, which has provided water for irrigation. The ruins at Polonnaruwa are a definite highlight of Sri Lanka and should not be missed. Most of the ruins are masterpieces of the Buddhist Sinhalese kingdom.

 

Day 4:

Kandy is Sri Lanka’s second city, its cultural capital, and the first stop for most tourists eager to escape Colombo for the beauty of the hill country. Built around a stunning 18th century lake, the city is the spiritual home of the Sinhalese people and Sri Lankan Buddhism, as the very famous Temple of the tooth ( where the sacred tooth relic of the budda is enshrined) is situated in the heart of the city, and a potent symbol of national pride and identity. its regarded as the most beautiful town in Sri Lanka with The annual Esala Perahera, a cultural pageant venerating the Tooth Relic of the Lord Buddha, is a spectacular parade which goes on for ten nights in the month of August. Peradeniya Botanical GardensNo trip to Kandy is complete without visiting the Royal Botanical gardens at Peradeniya, which is also known as Peradeniya Botanical Gardens. This is located 6.5km south from the town, on the Colombo road. Its origins go back to the 1770’s when it was a royal residence and park. The gardens consist of nearly 150 acres dedicated to the flora of Sri Lanka with a spectacular arboretum that includes many endemic trees. There are over 110 endemic plants, as well as major collections of palms, bamboo, cacti, flowers and orchids in a delightful orchid house.

 

Day 5:

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
Visiting Pinnawela Elephant orphanage provides an opportunity to enjoy the spectacle up close of a large herd of elephants interacting together. These elephants are remarkable, Beautiful, utterly friendly creatures, who’ve been lived their whole lives in the orphanage and are completely comfortable with humans. The days highlight is the elephants at their bathing hours 10.00 am and 2.00 pm daily. The animals are led in a giant procession to the river Maha Oya where they were allowed to splash and play for two hours. The visitors can be seated on the rocky banks of the river, and are given the opportunity, to enjoy the sight of the herd of elephants bathing and playing at the river. The bathing hours are followed up with the feeding hour at the orphanage where the Baby elephants are bottle fed and selected visitors have a chance of bottle feeding milk to the baby elephants.
Nuwara EliyaSituated at around 2000m above sea level and surrounded by lush tea plantations Nuwara Eliya is in the heart of Sri Lanka – Hill Country which is Home to the famous Ceylon Tea. Once a pleasure retreat of the British planters, the town is still very much an English town with many English style bungalows and buildings The old post office, the racecourse and the 18-hole golf course all somehow seem more British than Britain itself. Nuwara Eliya is a good escape for those who miss cool breeze in tropical Sri Lanka at any time of the year. There are many popular waterfalls around the town. And the popular Natural world Heritage sites of Central Highlands are also located close by. Sri Lanka’s highlands are situated in the south-central part of the island. The property comprises the Peak Wilderness Protected Area, the Horton Plains National Park and the Knuckles Conservation Forest. These forests, where the land rises to 2,500 metres above sea-level, enhance the country’s richly-varied landscape.

 

Day 6:

Udawalawe National Park is famous for its large Elephant population and the best and the easiest place to watch Elephants. Keeping company to the herds of Elephants, the main attraction of the park are Water Buffalo, Wildboar, Spotted Deer, Sambur Deer, Jackal, Samber, Black-naped hare, mongooses, bandicoots, foxes, etc. Sighting Leopard and other smaller cats like Fishing cat & Jungle cat would be a bonus.

 

Day 7:

Yala National Park is world renowned as one of the best places to watch elephants and leopards for nature enthusiastic and photographers. And The Yala National Park, Located in the southernmost part of the Island, is the second largest national park in Sri Lanka. And it is the most visited and most popular National Park in the country. Yala National Park is famously known for its highest concentration of leopard in the world. The park is primarily shrub jungle with rocky out crops that dot the park, along with several salt and fresh water lagoons.

 

Day 8:

Galle is the capital of the southern province is a city with a colorful history. The World Heritage Site of 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. Today’s town has grown greatly and spreads into the hinterland but the Fort is the slow-beating heart of Galle’s history. The walled city has stood since the early sixteenth century, through the Colonial periods of the Portuguese, Dutch and British and in our present times is proclaimed as an Archaeological Reserve and been identified as a living World Heritage Site. The southern coastal belt (Unawatuna/Hikkaduwa/Bentota) 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.

 

Day 9:

Hikkaduwa Beach which is located 98 kilometers south of Colombo is treated as one of the most popular beaches in Sri Lanka. It is also very famous for surfing. You can enjoy Hikkaduwa doing snorkeling, surfing or just relaxing in the beach. Majority of beach parties in Sri Lanka are held here. It is known for its great resorts lining the coast and sandy beaches. Scuba diving is also much in demand in Hikkaduwa because of its legendary coral gardens. This beautiful beach will not be short of activities like warm sea baths, water sports, Swimming and Sunbathing to beautiful coral reefs and shipwrecks exploration with fascinating habitat of marine and bird life. Hikkaduwa offers world-class Scuba-Diving experiences. A wide coral reef surrounds Hikkaduwa coast providing excellent sites for skin-diving.

 

Day 10: Hikkaduwa to Colombo or Air Port

 


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