Ayuwbuan Sri Lanka (06N-07D)

Early Morning: For guests boarding from Delhi, you would be met by your accompanying Tour
Director 4 hours prior to flight departure at IGI Airport. Our flight UL 192 departs at 0515 hrs.
We all will check in as a group together and the Tour Director will help you with all check in &
immigration formalities. On arrival at Bandaranaike airport at 0850 hrs, we will be met by our
tour guide. We drive to Kandy (120 kms/3 hrs), en-route we will have breakfast at Pinnawala
and watch the elephants bathing in the river.
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage - where an orphanage was started in 1975 to house the
abandoned and the wounded elephants. The number of elephants has increased to more than
65 now, including Baby Elephants brought from various parts, as well as the 23 baby elephants
born as a result of the captive breeding program. The best time to visit is the feeding time
from 0930-1000 hrs and 1330-1400 hrs and the bathing time from 1000-1030 hrs and 1400-
1430 hrs when all the elephants are taken to the river close by.
On arrival in Kandy, check into the hotel. Rest of the day free to get over the jet-lag.
Evening: Visit gem and lapidary museum in Kandy. Here you would know why Sri Lanka is
known as “emerald island’ and “pearl in the ocean” We will also be attending a Cultural show
(if Covid restrictions removed). This cultural show displays various dance forms of Sri Lanka.
The show concludes with “fire dance”.
Overnight in Kandy
Meals Included: Meals on board plane, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Full day city tour of Kandy.
Kandy – The hill capital is another “World Heritage Sites”. It was the last stronghold of the
Sinhalese Kings during the Portuguese, Dutch and British rule and finally lost to the British in
1815 after an agreement. To the Buddhist of Sri Lanka and the World, Kandy is one of the
most sacred sites as it is the home of the “Dalada Maligawa” - Temple of the Sacred Tooth
Relic of Lord Buddha. The Bathing Pavilion (Ulpenge) is by the Lake and in the Center of the
lake is the Island called “Kiri samudraya” (Milk white ocean) used by the kings as the summer
house. Today it is the center of Buddhism, Arts, Crafts, Dancing, Music and Culture.Visitors
can see these Dance & Music at the daily Cultural Performances held at several places in the
city.
Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic - Ever since 4th Century A.D, when the Buddha’s Tooth was
brought to Sri Lanka hidden from sacrilegious hands in an Orissan princess’ hair, the Relic has
grown in repute and holiness in Sri Lanka and throughout the Buddhist world. It is considered
Sri Lanka’s most prized possession.
Royal Botanical Gardens - Peradeniya - 147 acres in extent; Started in 1374 as a pleasure
garden of the Kings of Gampola and Kandy. There are more than 5,000 species of trees, plants
and creepers. Some rare and endemic as well as flora from the tropical world are found in the
gardens. Spice Garden and Orchid House are popular with tourists. There are 5 Palm Avenues
beautifying the gardens, the earliest and tallest Palm Avenue (Royal Palm Avenue) was
planted in 1905 and the Double Coconuts from the Seashells Island, with the largest seed of
all plants in the world is one such avenue
Post lunch, we will proceed to visit Bahirawakanda Vihara Buddha Statue. The Bahirawakanda
Buddha Statue is located alongside the Sri Maha Bodhi Temple which is on the top of the
Bahirawa Kanda hill. This beautifully sculpted white statue displays Buddha in the seated
Nirvana pose and can be seen from the entire city of Kandy that sprawls out before it. It stands
at 88 feet in height and is one of the biggest Buddha statues in Sri Lanka. Visitors can climb
the top of the hill for panoramic views of the City of Kandy, the inside of Bogambara Prison,
and the mountain range nearby. It makes for some spectacular photographs and memories.
Rest of the evening free in the Kandy town for shopping. Return back to hotel for dinner and
overnight.
Overnight in Kandy
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After an early breakfast, we will drive to Nuwara Eliya (80 kms / 2:30 hrs).
Nuwara Eliya - The ‘Little England’ of Sri Lanka, is set against beautiful backdrops of
Mountains, Valleys, Waterfalls and Tea Plantations. It is supposed to be one of the coolest
places in the Island, but it is really just like an English spring day, although the temperature
does drop at night. All around Nuwara Eliya you will see evidence of the British influence,
houses like country cottages or Queen Ann style mansions. The Victoria Park, in the middle of
the town, is a lovely place for a stroll or a picnic. Seasons may be absent elsewhere in Sri
Lanka, but here you can read them by the flowers, which bloom in the spring (March to
May) and the fall (August and September). These are the “seasons” when low-country folk
flock to Nuwara Eliya to escape the sea level heat and humidity.
On the way visit Bhakta Hanuman temple. This temple is one of the important Hanuman
Temples in Sri Lanka located on summit of the very beautiful picturesque mountain in
Ramboda. The temple was constructed by Chinmaya Mission of Sri Lanka. Shri Bhakta
Hanuman temple is dedicated to the God Hanuman. The black 18 feet Hanuman statue is a
soul uplifting sight.
Also visit a tea factory and plantation to buy famous Srilankan tea. The tea factories found on
most tea estates play a vital role in the final value of the manufactured tea. Regardless of how
carefully the leaf has been grown and plucked, if the processes at the factory are not carried
out properly the end result will be of a poor quality.
A tea factory is a multi-storied building, almost always sited on the tea estates to ensure that
the time between plucking and processing tea is kept to a minimum. Once the tea leaves
arrive at the factory they are spread across the upper floors of the building in troughs – a
process known as withering. Withering removes all excess moisture in the leaf to make it
pliable.
Later drive back to Nuwara Eliya to visit Gayathri Peetam. This site is believed to be the place
where Meghnad meditated on Lord Shiva to acquire a weapon to kill Lord Rama and
Lakshmana. Our last stop would be Gregory lake. Named after Sir William Gregory in 1873,
this is a prominent attraction used for water sports and recreational activities. At the southern
end of the town is Gregory Lake where the holiday makers can enjoy a leisurely walk on the
paved walk ways, with swan shaped paddle boats for the more adventurous. There are pony
rides round the lake for the kids and even adults, with plenty of fast food stalls located in a
separate area where one can enjoy a meal or a snack.
Return back to hotel for dinner and overnight.
Overnight in Nuwara Eliya
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast check out from the hotel and proceed to visit Seeta Amman temple. This site
is believed to be the place where Sita mata was held captive by Ravana. There is a stream by
the side of the temple where Sita Mata bathed. It is interesting to note that foot prints akin
to Lord Hanuman’s are found on the rocks along this river and some are of small size and
some are of large size, which indicating the immense power of Lord Hanuman transforming
himself into any size.
Later drive to Bentota, en-route stop for lunch at Kitulgala, the location where Oscar winning
film ‘Bridge on the River Kwai’ was filmed.
On arrival in Bentota, we check into our hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure on the beach.
Dinner at hotel.
Overnight in Bentota
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, we drive to Galle, en-route we visit a turtle hatchery. Here you will find lots
of information about Sri Lanka's pioneering sea turtle conservation project - why Sri Lanka
(and the village of Kosgoda in particular) is a prime turtle nesting site, why the conservation
project is needed and how the project is operated by local people with the help of
international volunteers.
On arrival in Galle, Visit the Galle Fort, the fortified old city founded by Portuguese colonists
in the 16th century. Stone sea walls, expanded by the Dutch, encircle car-free streets with
architecture reflecting Portuguese, Dutch and British rule.
Notable buildings include the 18th-century Dutch Reformed Church. Galle Lighthouse stands
on the fort’s southeast tip.
We then drive back towards Bentota and on the way we will enjoy a 1 hour boat cruise in
Madu Ganga river. Madu Ganga lagoon which opens to the Indian Ocean, is a very wide and
a beautiful lagoon in Sri Lanka. It is in the wet zone of Sri Lanka with a high biodiversity. Madu
River has been proclaimed a Ramsa wetland in the world in 2004. A boat cruise here takes
you through mangroves and an open lagoon dotted with “fish pedicure” floating platforms.
During the early evening boat ride one has an opportunity to spot the monitor lizard. Dinner
and overnight in hotel.
Overnight in Bentota
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After an early breakfast, drive to Colombo (80 kms/2 grs), en-route we do an orientation tour
of Colombo. Colombo – is the business and commercial center and the new capital is Sri
Jayawardhanapura Kotte, which is only a few miles away. The remains of the buildings
during the period and the Portuguese, Dutch and British rule are found in every area of the city. None of the Portuguese & Dutch fortifications are found today but some of their
buildings and churches could be seen in the Fort & Pettah areas. Visit Fort, the former British
administrative center and military garrison, Sea Street - the old smith’s quarters in the heart
of Pettah, the Bazaar area where there is also a Hindu Temple with elaborate stone carvings,
the Kaymans Gate with the Belfry at the original gate to enter the Fort, the Dutch Church of
Wolfendhaal dating back to 1749, Kelaniya Buddhist Temple, Davatagaha Mosque. Also visit
the BMICH (Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall), see the replica of
Avukana Buddha and the Independence Square.
We will stop at Arpico Super centre to buy Sri Lankan spices. There are plenty of food joints
here for you to have a quick lunch. We check into our hotel for some time to relax. Our dinner
today is at an Indian specialty restaurant. Return back to hotel for overnight.
Overnight in Colombo
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, we check out of hotel and transfer to airport. On the way visit the famous
Gangaramaya temple. It is a Hindu-Buddhist temple as well as a museum of artifacts. Our
flight UL 195 departs at 1410 hrs and we arrive IGI airport at 1745 hrs with fond memories of
Ceylon.
Meals Included: Breakfast, meals on board plane