ITINERARY 18

You will be met and assisted by a representative of Traveller Global and transferred to Colombo. . Leave baggage at the hotel and after a light snack, proceed on a city tour of Colombo beginning from the Fort area which has been so named as it was a fort during the times of the Portuguese and Dutch.

After lunch at an Indian Restaurant, you will be at leisure until 1500 hours. Thereafter, enjoy the rest of the sightseeing of Colombo along with shopping.

Dinner & overnight in Colombo

• After breakfast, proceed to Dambulla visiting the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage along with lunch en-route.

Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage is home to the world’s largest herd of domestic elephants.

The Elephant Orphanage is situated near Kegalle and this orphanage was started in 1975 to house the abandoned and wounded elephants and has grown to be a big family today. The best time to visit is the bathing time when the elephants are taken to the river close by, a rare experience never to be missed. Evening: visit Dambulla Rock Cave Temple.

Dambulla – This magnificent rock temple consists of 5 caves, on a hill 340 m high, containing 150 serene statues of Buddha, numerous carvings & murals. The fascinating & memorable site was founded by King Valagambahu during the 1st century BC in gratitude for the shelter he found in the caves during an invasion by marauding Dravidians from southern India.

Dinner & overnight in Dambulla

• Morning: climb the Sigiriya Rock Fortress.

Sigiriya was the Royal Citadel of King Kasyapa who ruled in the 5th Century A.D. You will see terraced, water, fountain and boulder gardens, moats, stone stairways and the beautiful ancient frescoes of heavenly maidens in a pocket of the rock. On top of the rock are ruins of the palace & two intact man-made pools of water.

Afterwards, proceed to Kandy visiting a spice garden in Matale along with lunch en-route.

Evening: visit the Temple of the Tooth and enjoy a cultural dance performance. Kandy was the last independent kingdom of the Sinhalese kings and is the most important place for Buddhists because it’s the final resting place of the sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha known as “Sri Dalada Maligawa”. It is famous for its carvings and the beautiful art that is unique to Sri Lanka.
Dinner & overnight in Kandy

• Morning: sightseeing of Kandy visiting the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, an Arts and Crafts Centre, gem lapidary and museum, market square and upper lake drive.

Afterwards, proceed to Nuwara Eliya visiting a tea plantation and factory along with the Hanuman Bhakthi along with lunch en-route.

According to the legend, this is where Hanuman searched for Sita in the jungles above and behind the temple. There is supposed to be a stretch of barren land known as the ‘Chariot Path’ on which Ravana took Sita to Ashoka Vatika to showcase the beauty of his kingdom to her. There is also said to be a pond – the ‘Sita Tear Pond’ – here, which was formed from Sita’s tears. The temple itself is one of the more enterprising establishments devoted to this legend, and contains a granite statue of Lord Hanuman that is said to be over 40 feet tall.It is believed that Lord Hanuman was searching for Sitadevi from these hills of Ramboda. The Ramboda area is believed to be an area where Rama’s forces were gathered against Ravana. Ram Padai means Rama’s Force. The hills of Ramboda is also believed where Hanuman was searching for Sitadevi.

Evening: brief tour of Nuwara Eliya town.

Nuwara Eliya – set in the heart of tea country is a beautiful town where the British succeeded in creating an English country-side with homes in styles from Georgian to Queen Anne. Well kept lawns with hedges, an Anglican Church and the famous Golf Course and beautiful parks give the place an air of nostalgia. Situated 1890 metres above sea level, the air here is cool and fresh and serene retreat from the hustle and bustle of Colombo.

Dinner & overnight in Nuwara Eliya

• After breakfast, proceed to the beach resort town of Beruwela or Hikkaduwa via Kitulgala with (optional) white water rafting and lunch en-route.

For tourists who would like an action-packed adventure on the water, white water rafting is the ideal sport for them. The sport is full of great fun for first timers as well as experts alike, with a wide range and grading of rapids on some of the island’s more turbulent waters such as the Kelani River. The small Kitulgala river made its mark on the map, when it became the site of filming for the famous 1957 Oscar-winning film ‘The Bridge on the River Kwai’.

Dinner & overnight in Beruwela

• After breakfast, morning will be at leisure. At 1200 hours, check out from the hotel and proceed to Colombo for shopping. Lunch will be at a local restaurant.

Evening Tea & Snacks prior to departure transfer to the airport.

End of services.