This’ Heritage & Cultural Tour’ takes you deep back into history while gaining a better understanding of the island’s remarkably rich cultural and religious history that dates back 2,500 years. The itineraries are designed to uncover lesser-known, but still entrancing remains of Sri Lanka’s cultural past. Of course, we are able to tinker with this itinerary and add an extra night here and there
Arrival at Bandaranaike International Ari Port and transfer to Hotel in Dambulla En route visit Elephant Orphanage at Pinnewele where abandoned and disabled elephants get a lot of love, care, and protection, can enjoy the bathing, feeding & playing of dignified elderly matriarchs to the cutest of babies.
Dinner & Overnight stay at a Hotel in Dambulla
After breakfast leave for Polonnaruwa ruined city, the second kingdom of Ancient Sinhalese became Sri Lanka’s royal medieval capital in 10th c AD and remained the capital until the late 13th century. Today, the ancient city’s ruins remain in remarkably good nick; huge Palaces, Monastic complexes, Giant Stupas, Hospitals, Image Houses, etc… The most impressive are the ancient sculptures of the Buddha at the Gal Vihara cut into Granite stone dating back to the middle of the 12th century.
Dinner & Overnight stay at the same Hotel in Dambulla
After breakfast leave to Sigiriya to climb up the magnificent Sigiriya Rock Fortress Sigiriya; the lion rock, a rock fortress-cum royal palace complex of 5thc AD, was created by king Kashyape who committed patricide and made the rock his hideout in order to stay away from his half-brother who sought vengeance. This king not only fortified his stronghold but also added to its artistic beauty with water gardens, pavilions, courtyards… About two hours can happily be spent walking through its water gardens, and then up the steep steps – either hewn out of the rock or on circular iron staircases – past the frescoes. You will be in no rush to abandon the spectacular views at the summit.
Afternoon, visit Minneriye / Kaudulle / Eco Park National Park. This will include a Safari tour by jeep with a jungle tracker. The Park is an incredible place to observe the elephants that come to bathe & graze on the grasses as well as the huge flocks of Birds that come to fish in the shallow waters.
Dinner & Overnight stay at the same Hotel in Dambulla
After breakfast leave for Kandy. En-route visit the Cave Temple at Dambulla where a large number of Buddha statues are housed in 5 caves, including a 14-meter-long, colossal figure of the recumbent Buddha carved out of the rock, the caves’ rock ceiling covered in one large sweep of colorful frescoes. It is the best place to see the classical Buddhist paintings & murals of the island. Next visit an Ayurvedic herbal & Spices garden at Matale, where spices & herbs used for Sri Lankan cuisine and medication are grown. Evening visits the Temple of the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha & see the Cultural Show in Kandy.
Kandy, the capital of the hill country, was the last seat of Sinhalese kings who ceded power to the British in 1815 after many battles with the western colonial forces, still remains much of its old world charm and traditions of the Sri Lankan lifestyle, Temple of the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha, the most venerated place of Buddhist of Sri Lanka, was built in the 14th Century A.D. solely for the purpose of housing the tooth relic. At the Cultural Show, can enjoy the Dancers & Drums of Traditional artists with their magical Firewalking.
Dinner & Overnight stay at a hotel in Kandy.
After Breakfast leave for Nuwara Eliya. In the morning further Sightseeing of Kandy including Upper Lake Drive Observe the glorious Architecture of that period and experience the tranquility of the atmosphere. And visit Art and Craft Centers, and Gem Factory to see the rich skills of Kandian Traditional Craftsmen & Artists.
En route visits the Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya. This was a pleasure garden of a Kandyan King of the 16th Century and was later made into a Botanical Garden during the British regime. This garden; one of the best in Asia is a place of beauty and a site for bird watchers. Next visit a Tea Factory with rolling tea gardens via crashing waterfalls and reach Nuwere Eliye in the evening: Nuwara Eliya also known as Little England is where the homesick British (The Tea Planters) built themselves a home away from home.
Dinner & Overnight stay at Hotel in Nuwara Eliya
After Breakfast Proceed to Colombo via Kithulgala. En route further enjoys lush tea plantations, majestic peaks, and rushing waterfalls, and stop to view fascinating two waterfalls St.clairs Fall and Devon Fall. Next visit the Film site of “Bridge of The River Kwaii” in Kitulgale (The location of David Lean’s classic in 1957, Oscar-winning film) Kitulgala is a small peaceful village, that become Sri Lanka’s favorite place for White water rafting In River Kelani and its’ scenic main road descending gently from the hill country (Central highlands) to wet lowlands. The village is well known for its Kitul Pani (Kitul palm honey) production too. It’s a beautiful setting; the scenery is particularly dramatic hereabouts, with sheer-sided, thick rainforest-covered hills plunging down to the wild waters of River Kelani.
Dinner & Overnight stay at Hotel in Colombo
After breakfast, visit Colombo city. Colombo, The commercial capital of Sri Lanka, is a fascinating city with a blend of East & West as well as a cozy mixture of past & present; the city is dotted with numerous interesting and important tourist attractions including colonial-era buildings. The City Tour will include places of Tourist interest such as Old parliament, Independent Square, Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, Buddhist, Hindu Temples, and Town
Hall. Evening leave for Airport for Departure (According to your flight times)
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