In contrast, experience the colonial heritage of the country by
heading south to the mid-17th c. Dutch fort at Galle, the best
preserved in Asia. With 14 massive bastions, a grid system of
streets, and some original Dutch bungalows, the fort bustles with
life just as it did when Galle was the country’s main port. It’s
simply one of the most unique attractions in Sri Lanka
Touristic Places
Day 01
Airport to Anuradhapura
Meet and assist on arrival at Airport by Lily Tours
representative. And we are start a journey, first day we are
travel airport to Anuradhapura. Anuradhapura is one of the most
significant and sacred cities, that belong to the ancient world
and first capital of Sri Lanka. Hosting UNESCO world heritage
sites, this city is the core of Buddhism and its people due to its
grandeur history and the vast array of Buddhist monuments that
dates back to more than 2000 years. The stone Buddha statues in
Anuradhapura are some of the best classic icons of the world. The
Samadhi Buddha statue in Abhayagiriya is popular the world
over.
Overnight in Anuradhapura
Day 02
Polonnaruwa | Minneriya
After the breakfast we will visit Polonnaruwa cultural &
heritage site. Today the ancient city of Polonnaruwa remains one
of the best planned archaeological relic sites in the country,
standing testimony to the discipline and greatness of the
Kingdom's first rulers. The ancient city of Polonnaruwa has been
declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO. After lunch we travel
Polonnaruwa to Minneriya National Park .
Minneriya National Park is mostly famed for the large numbers of
Sri Lankan elephants that gather here in the dry season-there have
even been herds as large 400 reported. The gathering of Elephants
in Minneriya National Park is the largest seasonally recurring
concentration of wild elephants found in the world.
Overnight in Minneriya
Day 03
Sigiriya | Dambulla
After the breakfast we will climb on Sigiriya Lion rock. King
Kassapa (477-495 A.D) who shifted the Capital from Anuradhapura to
Sigiriya made a fortress to surround his palace, which was
constructed on the summit of a 500ft high rock, with necessary
facilities. The Palace was surrounded by an outer-moat and wall
and Inner moat and wall pleasure garden, Mirror-wall, light
coloured and dark coloured damsel’s frescoes, to cover the western
wall and a beautiful staircase through the body of a Crouching
Lion are some of the attractions here. After Lunch we travel
Sigiriya to Dambulla.
Golden Temple of Dambulla, A sacred pilgrimage site for 22
centuries, this cave monastery, with its five sanctuaries, is the
largest, best-preserved cave-temple complex in Sri Lanka. The
Buddhist mural paintings (covering an area of 2,100 m) are of
particular importance, as are the 157 statues.
Overnight in Dambulla
Day 04
Matale
This midsize regional city at the heart of the island lies in a
broad, fertile valley at an elevation of 300m. Matale is a
featureless urban sprawl with a congested one-way system, so
you're unlikely to want to linger long. However, the road north of
town is lined with dozens of visitor-friendly spice plantations
where vanilla, rubber, cinchona, jackfruit, cocoa and cardamom
thrive. The area is also famous for kohila (a type of watercress)
and small, mild chillies. The historical Buddhist site of
Aluvihara just north of the town is also worth a visit. Spice
garden in Matale, you can see many different types of spices Sri
Lanka is famous for, and You will be introduced to different
spices and shown how some of these spices are grown and processed.
Overnight in Matale
Day 05
Kandy
After the breakfast, will visit Kandy area. Kandy enjoys a
salubrious climate and still breathes the ancient lifestyle of the
people. Present day, Kandy is a city of many attractions. Its
natural beauty with misty mountains, verdant slopes, landscapes
with urban rain forests consorted by a congenial climate with
temperatures ranging from 20-25C around the year. The heritage of
Kandy, Architecture, Sculpture, painting, Dance and Music, all
such cultural traditions are endemic to Sri Lanka. The Temple of
the Scared Tooth Relic constitutes the premier Buddhist
Institution of Sri Lanka and remains the cynosure of the world
Buddhist and is a great tourist attraction. And recognition of the
sacred temple it has been declared Kandy as a World Heritage City
by UNESCO. The annual pageant (Esala Perahera) constitutes the
greatest religious festival of Sri Lanka which attract thousands
of pilgrims as well as tourists from all over the world.
Lankathilake Vihare & Embakke Devalaya, The majestic
Lankathilake Vihare, believed to be one of the most magnificent
architectural edifice in the Gampola kingdom, was built at the
crest of a large rock named Panhalgala. Embakke Devalaya build
around 1370. It was the best place to see the finest wood carving
works in Sri Lanka. Evening we can watch Cultural Show.
Overnight in Kandy
Day 06
Nuwara Eliya | Ella
Today we wake up early morning, then we will travel Nuwara Eliya
to Horton plains. Horton Plains, coldest and windiest location in
Sri Lanka. Horton plains consists of ecosystems such as Montane
evergreen forests, grasslands, marshy lands and aquatic ecosystem.
We can see, World’s End, Mini World’s End and Bakers waterfall.
After we back to Nuwara Eliya - Nanu Oya, For train ride, Nuwara
eliya to Ella. This train powers up through Sri Lanka’s southern
hill country, through the tea plantations, into the clouds and
then weaves in and out of the many mountain tunnels as it descends
to reach Ella. Nine arch bridge and Ella Gap you can see in there.
After the train ride we’ll pick you in Ella.
Overnight
in Ella
Day 07
Tissa | Galle
Today we travel to Tissa. On the way we can visit Buduruwagala.
Buduruwagala “the rock with the statue of Buddha” Seven figured
are carved in this rock with a massive 51 foot Buddha statue in
the Abhaya Mudra gesture at the center. The rock it self has shape
of a kneeling elephant with its head own. Different historians
have dated these statues from the 6th century to late Anuradhapura
period. After the lunch will travel Sithulpawwa. Sithulpawwa rock
temple is historically significant and identified as one of the
greatest 2nd century sites of Buddhist scholarship. With a history
of over 2200 year. If you like you can do wild safari in yala.
Then we travel back Tissa to Galle, on the way we can visit
Kirinda, Blow Hole and Dondra Light House. The legendary Kirinda
temple & Great Basses Reefs are some of the attractions in
Kirinda worth exploring.
Overnight in Galle
Day 08
Galle | Bentota | Airport
After the breakfast will visit Galle Fort. Galle Fort, in the Bay
of Galle on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka. It was built first
in 1588 by the Portuguese, then extensively fortified by the Dutch
during the 17th century from 1649 on wards. It is a historical,
archaeological and architectural heritage monument. The heritage
value of this fort has been recognized by the UNESCO and the site
has been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
After lunch will travel Galle to Ariport. On the way we can do
Amazing Eco boat ride in Bentota river .
