Explore Srilanka

Explore sri lanka  (14 Days)

The main purpose of the tour is to explore the island’s ancient history, scenic hill country and the golden sand North and East coast. The Explore Sri Lanka would marvel at the ruins, architecture and the irrigation system that symbolizes the ancient civilization of Sri Lanka dating back to the 5th century B.C. The tour takes you to the salubrious hill capital of Kandy and picturesque Nuwara-eliya nestled in the heart of the hill country. The tour includes visits to the Elephant Orphanage and the Minneriya National Park. You will finish up with a stay at the beach in the surroundings of secluded Indian Ocean beaches.

 

Day 01Colombo / Anuradhapura

Pick up from Colombo.

Transfer to your hotel in Anuradhapura.

 

ANURADHAPURA – The largest and oldest of all Sri Lanka’s ancient cities, Anuradhapura is a fitting climax to any tour of the Cultural Triangle. Arguably, it takes a bit more effort to imagine it as it was more than 2000 years ago, with palaces and huge dagobas standing up to nine storeys high, a main processional avenue 24km (16 miles) long, and the richly decorated, ostentatious mansions of Sinhalese nobles and wealthy foreign merchants. Founded by King Pandukhabaya in 437BC, by the mid-3rd century BC Anuradhapura’s fame had spread as far as the Roman-Hellenistic world of the Mediterranean and by the 1st century AD it had established trade and diplomatic links with China. The Jetavana treasures, unearthed over the past 20 years (some are now displayed in the partially completed Jetavanarama Museum, on site) show evidence of these links to east and west. Anuradhapura was the royal seat of more than 250 Buddhist and Hindu kings recorded in the royal genealogies, and the preeminent city on the island for some 1400 years. If time permits, also visit Mihintale,the cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.

Check in at your hotel & relax

 

Day 02Anuradhapura / Jaffna

After breakfast, leave for Jaffna.

 

JAFFNA – Jaffna District, the northernmost region of the Island of Sri Lanka, is one of the oldest habitation sites in Lower South Asia, populated by Tamil speaking people. Jaffna is situated within ten degrees of latitude to the north of the equator. It is in close proximity to the sub-continent of India and separated from it by the Palk Strait and the Bay of Bengal. The peninsula is actually almost an island; only the narrow causeway known as Elephant P ass – for once elephants did wade across the shallow lagoon here connects Jaffna with the rest of Sri Lanka. Jaffna is low lying; much of it covered by shallow lagoons, and has a number of interesting islands dotted offshore. In all it covers 2560 square km (999 square miles). With just under 900,000 inhabitants, the district of Jaffna is one of the most densely populated areas of Sri Lanka, second only to Greater Colombo.
Check in at your hotel & relax

 

 

Day 03Jaffna

After breakfast, spend the day at leisure.
Optional Visit for Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil

 

NALLUR KANDASWAMY KOVIL – Approximately 2km northeast of the centre, the Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil is the most impressive religious building in Jaffna and one of the most significant Hindu temple complexes in Sri Lanka. Its sacred deity, Murugan (or Skanda), is central to temple activity, especially during the punctual, cacophonic pujas (5am, 10am, noon, 4pm and 5pm), when offerings are made to his brass-framed image and other Hindu deities like Ganesh, Murugan’s elephant-headed brother, in shrines surrounding the inner sanctum. The kovil’s 15th-century structure fell victim to Portuguese destructive ruthlessness in the 17th century; the current one dates from 1734. Its beautifully maintained large and airy space shelters decorative brasswork, larger-than-life murals, pillared halls and a colonnaded, stepped holy pool, all dominated by the golden-ochre, god-encrusted gopuram peering down one length of Point Pedro Rd. Visitors must remove their shoes; men need to remove their shirts as well. The temple is the focus of an enormous and spectacular Hindu festival over 25 days in July/August, which climaxes on day 24 with parades of juggernaut floats and gruesome displays of self-mutilation by entranced devotees.

Return to your hotel & relax

 

 

Day 04Jaffna / Trincomalee

After breakfast, leave for Trincomalee.

 

TRINCOMALEE – Trincomalee is a port city on the east coast of Sri Lanka. The city is located on a peninsula, which divides the inner and outer harbours.Trincomalee is an anglicized version of the Tamil word Tirukonamalai (which means “lord of the sacred hill”); it is a hill situated in the end of a natural land formation that resembles an arc. It is one of the main where Tamil is spoken at large scale. Historically referred to as Gokanna or Gokarna it has been a sea port that has played a major role in maritime and international trading history of Sri Lanka. The Bay of Trincomalee provides security and is openly accessible to all types of sea crafts in all weathers. The beaches are used for recreational purposes such as surfing, scuba diving, fishing and whale watching. The city is renowned for housing the largest Dutch fort in Sri Lanka. It is home to major Sri Lankan naval bases and a Sri Lankan Air Force base.

Check in at your hotel & relax

 

Day 05 & 06Trincomalee

After breakfast, spend 2 days at leisure by the beach.
Optional Visit to Nilaweli beach

NILAWELI BEACH – One of the finest beaches in Sri lanka, the pearly sands, the breath-taking coastline this is a tangible proof of serenity in our island. It is so unique that the feeling you experience when you see it, is unique itself. One can really connect with nature at this beach at an intense level. This is a place where most people come to take a break from the hectic lives and rejuvenate.

The beach is ideal to visit during April and October. The Sun is at its most intense during this period so that you can work out on your tan. Water sports are also a huge feature in this beach, surfing and windsurfing are the major excursions undertaken here.

Return to your hotel & relax

 

 

Day 07Trincomalee / Polonnaruwa

After breakfast, leave for Polonnaruwa.

POLONNARUWA – Located in the North Central province, Polonnaruwa was the capital of Sri Lanka from the 11th to 13th century A.D. Along with Anuradhapura and Kandy, this ancient city forms one of the points of the “cultural triangle” of Sri Lanka, and contains a wealth of remarkable sites and monuments. Once the favorite country retreat of the royalty of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa was a key settlement even before the medieval period, largely due to its strategic location near the river crossings of the Mahaweli river. It was King Vijayabahu I who first established Polonnaruwa as the capital of his kingdom in 1055. The visitor who travels the city from the south to the North will find the following monuments of particular interest: Library Monastery, The Citadel and the palace complex and Vatadage.

Check in at your hotel & relax

 

Day 08Polonnaruwa / Minneriya

After breakfast, proceed to Minneriya & do a jeep safari at the National Park.

 

MINNERIYA NATIONAL PARK Minneriya National Park is a national park in North Central Province of Sri Lanka. The area was designated as a national park on 12 August 1997, having been originally declared as a wildlife sanctuary in 1938. The reason for declaring the area as protected is to protect the catchment of Minneriya tank and the wildlife of the surrounding area. The tank is of historical importance, having been built by King Mahasen in third century AD. The park is a dry season feeding ground for the elephant population dwelling in forests of Matale, Polonnaruwa, and Trincomalee districts. The park earned revenue of Rs. 10.7 millions in the six months ending in August 2009. Along with Kaudulla and Girithale, Minneriya forms one of the 70 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) of Sri Lanka. The park is situated 182 kilometres (113 mi) from Colombo.

 

Return to your hotel & relax in Sigiriya

 

Day 09Sigiriya / Dambulla

SIGIRIYA – A massive monolith of red stone rises 600 feet from the green scrub jungle to accentuate the lucid blue of the sky. How overpowering this rock fortress of Sigiriya must have been when a palace crowned it 15 centuries ago. At the brief height of its glory, a flowering of only 18 years in the late 5th Century, it was one of the loveliest royal cities that ever graced the earth. And today, it is perhaps the single most remarkable memory for visitors to Sri Lanka. Beautiful bare-breasted maidens still smile from incredible fresco paintings. Surrounding the foot of the rock, extending for several hundred meters, are Asia’s oldest surviving landscape gardens, incorporating lovely ponds around Sigiriya’s plinth of fallen boulders.

 

DAMBULLA – This World Heritage Site is one of the foremost centers of Buddhist pilgrimage as well as one of the largest cave temple complexes in South Asia. It is a major attraction for tourists and locals, who flock to see the dazzling and numerous rocks and wall paintings of Lord Buddha. The monastery was discovered in the 3rd century B.C. Of the numerous chambers found in the shelter, only five are in use today, the best known of which is the Maharaja Vihara.

Check in at your hotel & relax in Sigiriya

 

 

 

Day 10Dambulla / Kandy

After breakfast, leave for Kandy visit the Royal Botanical Gardens en route

ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS – This Botanical Garden was first built as a pleasure garden by a Sinhala king and was expanded by the British. It is 147 acres in extent and provides an amazing variety of trees, plants and flowers.

Proceed to Kandy.

 

 KANDY – The last capital of the Sri Lankan kings is a World Heritage Site. The name “Kandy” conjures visions of splendor and magnificence. Many of the legends, traditions and folklore are still lovingly kept alive. Drive around the Kandy Lake built by the last Sinhala king, Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe in 1798. Visit the Kandy town and Bazaar, the arts and crafts center, a gem museum and a lapidary.

Evening, do some shopping in Kandy & witness a beautiful cultural show.

Check in at your hotel & relax.

 

Day 11Kandy / Nuwara-Eliya

After breakfast, leave for Nuwara Eliya

NUWARA-ELIYA – A cool green mountain valley, the heart of Sri Lankan hill country boasts rolling hills interspersed with gushing streams and tumbling waterfalls. It is also acclaimed for its golf courses and amazing tea plantations.
Optional visit for Horton Plains and Worlds End.

 

 HORTON PLAINS – Horton Plains National Park is in the highlands of the country belonging to central province. This is the highest plateau in the country. This was declared as a National Park in 1988. The park area is 3160 hectares. The second & third highest mountain of the country namely Kirigalpotta & Thotupola respectively are found within the borders of the park. Park receives rainfall from both northeast & southwest monsoons as well as inter-monsoonal rains. Frequently occurring mist and clouds are one main source of precipitation. With annual precipitation of about 5000mm. Horton Plains is the most important catchments area of the country. Park consists of montane cloud forests embedded in wet montane grasslands. Horton Plains has rich biodiversity. Most of the fauna and flora found in the park are endemic and furthermore some of them are confined to highlands of the island.

Check in at your hotel & relax

Overnight: Heritance Tea Factory / Heaven Seven Hotel

 

Day 12Nuwara-Eliya / Hikkaduwa

After breakfast, leave for Galle & do a brief city tour of Galle.

 

GALLE – Capital of southern Sri Lanka in 1587, the Portuguese annexed Galle from its Singhalese kings and built its first fortress naming it “Santacrusz”. Its old world charm appeals as a tourist destination. To this day it looks back to 500 years of nurture under Singhalese, Portuguese, Dutch and British stewardship. The influence of the Dutch on the people of the city architecture and especially the dress code is evident today. The town is the first international commerce and trade center of the island. Galle plays an important role in Sri Lanka’s economy. The sandy beach here enhances the natural beauty the city is blessed with.

Check in at your hotel & relax

 

Day 13 & 14Hikkaduwa / Colombo

 

HIKKADUWA-Popular for its beach and corals, Hikkaduwa is primarily a tourist attraction serving as a place to snorkel, surf and simply enjoy the sun amongst other activities. It is located in the Southern Province, about 20 km north-west of Galle. Hikkaduwa has a reputation for its vibrant nightlife. It is also well liked for board surfing and is known as a international destination for board-surfing. It is especially well known as a surfing destination on the international circuit and annually attracts surfers from all over the world. There are plenty of good surfing points as the wave size ranges up to 3 meters during the season. Dive in the beautiful paradise island with hundreds of fabulous dive sites. Come dive the dozens of famous ship wrecks dating back to the colonial era and also visit coral reefs, under sea caves & rock formations all around our island.  

 

Check in at your hotel & relax