Srilanka - 6D

Day 1 Airport – Colombo (35Kms - 45 Mins)

Day 2 Colombo – Dambulla – Sigiriya (197Kms - 4.5Hrs)

Cave temple- SIGHTSEEING

Dambulla cave temple also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla is a World Heritage Site in Sri Lanka, situated in the central part of the country. This site is situated 148 kilometres east of Colombo and 72 kilometres north of Kandy. Dambulla is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. 

Sigiriya Lion Rock- SIGHTSEEING

The Sigiriya Rock Fortress- SIGHTSEEING

Sigiriya or Sinhagiri is an ancient rock fort located in the northern Matale District near the town of Dambulla in, Sri Lanka. A massive column of rock fort nearly 200 meters high. According to the ancient Sri Lankan chronicle the Culavamsa, this site was selected by King Kasyapa for his new capital. They built their castle over this rock and decorated their sides with colored graffiti. On a small plateau about half way about the edge of this rock, he made a gateway in the form of a huge lion. The name of this place is taken from this structure - Siagiri, Sher Rock. After the death of the king, the capital and the royal palace were abandoned, it was used as a Buddhist monastery for the 14th century.

Day 3 Dambulla – Matale – Kandy (83Kms - 2.15Hrs)

Kandy city tour- SIGHTSEEING

The city was born in the 14th century and became the capital of the Kandyan kingdom in the 16th century. It was the seat of much of Sri Lanka’s culture. The Royal City fell to the British in 1815, when the last Kandyan King, Sri Wickrema Rajasinghe was captured. For Buddhists, Kandy is the sacred city. The focal point is the Dalada Maligawa also known as the temple of the tooth, where the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha is enshrined. There are many shrines and temples in and around Kandy, where you will see rare paintings, frescoes, wood and stone carvings. Kandy is still the home of the arts and crafts, music and dance and song which flourished under the patronage of the Kandyan Kings. The highlight of the year is the Kandy Esala Perahera, when a replica of the relic casket is taken in procession accompanied by exotically costumed drummers, dancers and about 80 – 100 caparisoned elephants during ten glittering nights in July/ August. The beautiful city, surrounded by hills and valleys, rivers, lakes and cascading waterfalls, boasts of the Royal Botanical gardens at Peradeniya . Kandy is an exciting place for shopping with souvenirs of wood, copper, silver, brass and bronze. Ceramics, lacquer work, handlooms, batiks, jewellery, rush and reed-ware too could be purchased. While in Kandy, an outing to a tea factory as well as a tea plantation should also be made to witness first hand, the process that leads to the creation of the famous ‘Ceylon Tea’. 

Spice garden- SIGHTSEEING

Sri Lanka is known all over the world for its rare spices and herbs. In fact to spice lovers Sri Lankan spices mean an expression of a colorful history and delightful surprise, just like the Island. At New Ranweli Spice and Herbal Garden you will get the chance of seeing how spices and herbs like Turmeric, Pepper Corns, Cloves, Cardamom, Nutmeg, Vanilla, Cinnamon, Cocoa, Aloe Vera, etc. are grown in their natural environment. 

Temple of the Tooth- SIGHTSEEING

Dalada Maligawa is also know as the temple of tooth relic.It is a Buddhist temple in the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. Dalada Maligawa is located in the royal palace complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy, which houses the relic of the tooth of the Buddha. After Buddha was cremated, his four canine teeth were taken from the ashes. These teeth are regarded as the holiest relics of Buddhism. King Vijayabahu II was succeeded by his son, who took the throne under the name Parakramabahu II . An erudite scholar, Parakramabahu II complied some of Sri Lanka's classical literary texts, including the Kavusilumina.

Kandy Lake- SIGHTSEEING

It is also known as Kiri Muhuda or the Sea of Milk. Around the lake, there is nice temples, shops, restaurants, and cafes so it’s really crowded. Kandy Lake, which is man-made, is a large stretch of water right in the center of Kandy. You can’t go anywhere in this capital city without passing along the shores of this lake. The west end is right in the middle of the Kandy attractions and the lake provides nice views in all directions. A walk around the whole thing would only be a few kilometers. Despite the rubbish in it, there is a lot of water life even close to the temples but it gets nicer and quieter if you head east.

Royal Botanical Gardens- SIGHTSEEING

The garden has more than 4000 species of plants. Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya has located about 5.5 km in the west of the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka.The garden includes a fine collection of orchids, a stately avenue of royal palms, the extraordinary, aptly named cannonball fruit tree and 40m-high Burma bamboo. Another big hit is the giant Javan fig tree on the great lawn, with its colossal central trunk and umbrella-like canopy of branches. 

Tea Museum- SIGHTSEEING

Tea Museum at Hantane, three kilometres from Kandy city is served by a motorable road that circles the museum, provides easy access and adequate parking facilities for cars and tourist coaches. The museum consists of four floors. The ground floor and the second floor exhibit very old items of machinery and the first floor consist of a library and an auditorium with facilities for audio visual presentations. The third floor is allocated to tea sales outlets, where a selection of Sri Lanka's fine tea is available. The entire top floor is a tea cafe. A panoramic view of the Kandy town surrounded by the beautiful Hunasgiriya, Knuckles Range and the Matale range of hills can be viewed through a telescope mounted on the fourth floor. The grounds surrounding the Tea Museum are landscaped with different varieties of teas.  

Cultural Show- SIGHTSEEING

The Kandy Lake Club Cultural Dance Show is a stimulating Sri Lankan Arts, Dance & Cultural Heritage Show that is a must see for any visitor who visits the historic city of Kandy. The Kandy Lake Club Dance started in 1982 with the view of having a cultural dance performance bringing together all Sri Lankan dance types to one platform. It is the first Cultural Dance Show of its kind to be established in Sri Lanka. It has since become a tourist attraction for many people visiting the country and keen on a glimpse of its rich cultural heritage. Hence it has been performing continuously for the last 35 years.  

Day 4 Kandy - Pinnawala – Nuwara Eliya (145Kms - 2.30 Hrs)

Pinnawala elephant Orphanage.- SIGHTSEEING

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is an orphanage, nursery and captive breeding ground for wild Asian elephants located at Pinnawala village, 13 km (8.1 mi) northeast of Kegalle town in Sabaragamuwa Province of Sri Lanka. Pinnawala has the largest herd of captive elephants in the world. In 2011, there were 10965 elephants, including 4643 males and 968 females from 3 generations, living in Pinnawala. The orphanage was founded to care and protect the many orphaned unweaned wild elephants found wandering in and near the forests of Sri Lanka. It was established in 1975 by the Sri Lanka Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC). 

Tea plantation, waterfalls, tea factory.- SIGHTSEEING

Nuwara Eliya is in the heart of green inland of Sri Lanka and here they grow tea of best quality in the world. It lies high, on almost 2.000 meters above sea level and is good starting point for trekking, exploring waterfalls or train ride between plantations. You shouldn´t leave out visiting tea factory and tea tasting, because the quality of that healing tea is much higher than in those we can by in Europe or elsewhere as green or black tea from Sri Lanka. Waterfalls that we explored and visited on our trip to green inland of Sri Lanka are: Ramboda Falls, Devon Falls, St. Clair Falls, Ravana Ella Falls… Among them I would definitely expose Ramboda Falls, but you have to hire a guide that knows surroundings around Nuwara Eliya and that leads you to the starting point. So you should find a guide in this high attitude town, which climate resembles ours and allows you to cool down of tropical heat of Sri Lanka. 

Lover's leap Waterfall- SIGHTSEEING

These beautiful 30-meter high lovers leap in the highest mountain in Puduruthalagal streams and waterfalls in the Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka. This water flows on hard granite lamps and water is collected in a tank and is used for drinking. Lovers Leap is a popular attraction which is the story behind the waterfall name. A prince living in Nuwara Eliya met a beautiful girl in a nearby village and fell in love with him, but the king did not allow Prince to walk with his love affair. With the decision of his father, Rajkumar climbed on a full moon day along with his fiancé and jumped off the rock fall. Thus, the waterfall was appropriately named the lovers leap of the name.

Day 5 Nuwara Eliya - Colombo (176Kms - 4.5Hrs)

Cinnamon Gardens- SIGHTSEEING

Cinnamon Gardens is an affluent neighbourhood of Colombo, Sri Lanka located 3 kilometers south-east from Colombo's centre. Cinnamon Gardens is named from the former cinnamon plantation in this area. In the year 1789, there were 289 acres of cinnamon trees in the gardens. 

Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple- SIGHTSEEING

The Gangaramaya Temple is strikingly beautiful, and it is also the most important place of worship for Buddhists in Sri Lanka. It is immaculately designed, with a hint of Chinese, Indian and Thai influence in its architecture. The Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple is quite a sight in itself. It also houses a museum and a library.

Galle Face Green- SIGHTSEEING

Galle Face is a 12 Acres side of ocean urban park which stretches for 500 m along the coast The area was initially put to plan and laid out in 1859 by Governor Sir Henry George Ward. It was initially used for many recreational activities.Activities like horse racing and golf. It was also used to play cricket, polo, football tennis and rugby.  

Independence Hall- SIGHTSEEING

Independence Hall is a national monument in Sri Lanka.It is built for a commemoration of the independence of Sri Lanka. This Hall is based on the architecture of the Audience Hall located in Kandy. The column and pilers in the independence hall are decorated with traditional Sri Lankan designs and statues of lions are placed around the building.In the front of this monument statue of late Hon. D.S is located, who was the first prime minister of Sri lanka. 

Lover's leap Waterfall- SIGHTSEEING

These beautiful 30-meter high lovers leap in the highest mountain in Puduruthalagal streams and waterfalls in the Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka. This water flows on hard granite lamps and water is collected in a tank and is used for drinking. Lovers Leap is a popular attraction which is the story behind the waterfall name. A prince living in Nuwara Eliya met a beautiful girl in a nearby village and fell in love with him, but the king did not allow Prince to walk with his love affair. With the decision of his father, Rajkumar climbed on a full moon day along with his fiancé and jumped off the rock fall. Thus, the waterfall was appropriately named the lovers leap of the name.

Kitulgala- SIGHTSEEING

Day 6 Colombo – Airport (35Kms - 45Mins)