1. Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi

Dear Jagath,

It's good to hear from you. With the war over, I hope that more tourists are coming to Sri Lanka and giving you more business.

Here is my testimonial:

I have known Jagath since he was a teenager when he was the personal attendant to my dear friend, the late Swiss Buddhist monk, Ven. Bhikkhu Sumedha lived in a cave near Jagath's village.

I can testify that Jagath is an upright and honest young man trained well in Buddhist ethical principles. I have recommended several of my American friends and students who traveled to Sri Lanka to employ Jagath as a tour guide. They were highly pleased with his services.

I joined one such group for part of their tour in 2006. In addition to being knowledgeable about the history of Sri Lanka, its monuments, and art, Jagath is also a careful driver. This is important in Sri Lanka where many drivers tend to drive recklessly and too fast.

I have attached a photo of the two of us together when we were on tour in Sri Lanka.

Did you write to Marcie, Jane, George, Ester, and Deena for recommendations? They could happily provide them to you.

With metta,

Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi

Chuang Yen Monastery

2020 Route 301

Carmel NY 10512

The U.S.A.

E-mail: venbodhi@gmail.com

2. Kinitaa Chandra 

I cannot emphasize enough what an excellent decision it was to choose Jagath as our driver. I usually plan my vacations myself and we picked Jagath because one of his itineraries looked very similar to what I had in mind, covering so many different places in two weeks. As soon as we matched he sent me all his details and he is a certified tourist guide of Sri Lanka which proved really helpful on our trip. I shared my initial travel plan with him and he helped to suggest some changes that better accounted for the time it takes at each site, as well as suggesting amazing other things that we could fit into the itinerary. I did not even have to pull up my guidebooks or notes at historical sights as we was thoroughly knowledgeable on every place we visited and was able to select the best specific places to visit in huge sights like Anuradhapura which we otherwise would have missed. He was able to recommend the best other tours, like the National Spice Garden that is run by the government over private ones that take commission, and made the Botanical Gardens much more enjoyable with his extensive knowledge of plants and wildlife. By following his suggestions, we are able to see hundreds of elephants up close on safari at a lower price than most recommended tours, while still following guidelines for animal welfare. When I mentioned wanting to see traditional Kandyan dance, he got us front-row seats to a performance. He quickly noticed that I am much more into history than my friends, and suggested white water rafting for them which they absolutely loved. At no point did he ever take us to some commission-based shop and we always felt like communication was easy and clear, and that our desires for our trip were completely heard. Still, he managed to make our trip even better than we thought possible. After our time with him, he kept in touch and answered all of our questions, big and small, and it was so helpful to feel like we have a local friend to guide us. Overall, we were actually able to have more fantastic experiences than we planned for less money than we originally budgeted. I absolutely recommend hiring. His prices are beyond reasonable and his services consistently go above and beyond expectations.

E-mail:  kinitaa.chandra@gmail.com

3. Ciera Drake

With Jagath, you don’t just get a driver, you get a tour guide, and information about the country and the culture that you won’t get anywhere else. Jagath went above and beyond to ensure that we had a great vacation. He was very punctual, trust worthy, and and always ensured that we were prepared for what we were doing next. He made suggestions for our itinerary based on what he noticed we liked to do, and always ensured that we were secure at night before leaving our accommodation. He helped us on multiple occasions find new accommodations after our hotels overbooked and left us hanging. With Jagath we saw 5 leopards, a bear, and a tusker all in one day! He is the best tour guide we’ve had! You can trust your Sri Lanka trip will exceed your expectations if you book with Jagath.

4. Ester Barias-Wolf

Dear Jagath,

I traveled with a group of friends on a pilgrimage to Buddhist historical sites a few years back. Jagath was recommended to be our guide throughout our stay. I cannot say enough good things about Jagath. He was professional, knowledgeable, and personable and made every effort to accommodate and answer our questions whether it was about our travel itinerary or personal needs. We started our journey from Colombo and weaved all the way up to Anuradhapura where we attended Vesak ceremonies. Besides visiting Buddhist historical sites, Jagath also took us to shows, markets, restaurants, and the countryside showcasing and sharing his Sri Lankan heritage and country’s history which were both educational and enchanting. My travel mates and I were very happy with Jagath’s personalized travel service. Speaking for myself, my trip is one of my most memorable trips to date and if given a chance to return, I would definitely hire Jagath as a tour guide and driver again. 

Ester Barias-Wolf

Pennsylvania, USA

E-mail: esterbwolf@gmail.com

5. Hogen Bays

Dear Jagath,

I hope all is well with you and your family. Thank you again for the wonderful time we had traveling with you in Sri Lanka a few months ago. Thank you as well for the Buddhist Flag you donated to the monastery. Attached are a couple of photographs from when we raised it.
I will send out a notice to my Buddhist teacher friends about your guide services.
Here is a short testimonial that you are welcome to use. If you would like me to change it in any way please let me know.
with respect, in the Dharma,
Hogen
"Twice we have had the good fortune to visit Sri Lanka and travel with Jagath. I would unequivocally recommend his services. He is a wonderful person responsible and responsive. He is full of insights into Sri Lankan culture and Buddhist history. Jagath was recommended to me by a good friend. With great confidence, I have passed his name on to my friends!" 

Hogen Bays

hogen@greatvow.org

E-mail: hogen@zendust.org

6. Chozen and Hogen Bays

Dear Jagath,

Here is a testimonial.
You can use any part of it that you like.
Jagath has been a wonderful guide for our two trips to Sri Lanka. He is very knowledgeable and considerate, going out of his way to make sure we had a good experience.We toured the ancient cities of Anuradhapura and Pollonaruwa, were astounded by the art in the Dambulla caves, climbed to the top of Sigiriya and Mihintali, and saw the amazing elephant parade at the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy. Last year we enjoyed a new experience, an exciting tour of the wild animal park.
If you are interested in Buddhist sites, Jagath is an expert. You can see the living Bodhi Tree, brought from India by King Asoka's daughter just 200 years after the Buddha's death, the Aluvihara rock caves where the Pali canon was first written down on palm leaves, the huge stone trough used to feed the monks at Anuradhapura, many huge stupas and ancient Buddha statues, the original Abayaghiri Monastery, and many other heart-warming Buddhist historical sites.
Jagath is a great guide and trustworthy companion for anyone's trip to the beautiful (but relatively undiscovered) country of Sri Lanka. 

Chozen and Hogen Bays

Oregon, USA

E-mail: chozen@zendust.org

7. Nancy Kodo Conover

Hi Jagath,

It is very nice to hear from you. Below is a testimonial. Attached are pictures:
In June of 2012 four of us from the Zen Community of Oregon took a wonderful trip to Sri Lanka. Jagath Tours made the trip easy, interesting, and worry-free. Jagath is a great driver and a wonderful guide. He has in-depth knowledge of his country and was able to recommend and take us to some of the most amazing ancient Buddhist sites along with cultural and wildlife interests. Jagath was very sensitive to our interests and made the stay one that we will not forget. We hope to return to explore more of this delightful and varied country.
I highly recommend Jagath's Tours and would definitely use his services again whenever I return to Sri Lanka. 

Nancy Kodo Conover

Portland, Oregon USA

E-mail: kodo.conover@gmail.com

8. Nina Meledandri

Hi Jagath,

We will travel to Sri Lanka only when Jagath is available for a tour. He kept our group informed, safe, and comfortable during our entire 7-day trip. His services were the most important part of our incredible visit to Sri Lanka. We are looking forward to our next vacation with Jagath! *.

Nina Meledandri,N.D., L.Ac

Naturopathic Physician

Licensed Acupuncturist

9. Bibi Tucker

Dear Jagath,

My boyfriend and I took a tour of Sri Lanka with Jagath as our guide in 2009. It was one of the most fantastic adventures of my life! Jagath could not be a friendlier, more knowledgeable guide. He also translates and drives very well. We always felt safe and comfortable. I highly recommend him and trust that he does his best to please his clients. Sri Lanka is one of the most beautiful, lovely places in the world I have visited! 

Bibi Tucker

California, USA

E-mail: bibisue@hotmail.com

10. Deena

Dear Jagath,

I am writing to you to thank you for the marvelous tour of Sri Lanka you gave us. Thanks to you we have come to love the country.
Your knowledge of the history and culture of the island nation was extraordinary; your car was as comfortable as our living room couch. You took us to the country, to the city, to the farms, to the magnificent beaches, and you knew all the best places to eat, sleep, and shop. It was a perfect trip thanks to you. Who knew you could get great pizza at the top of a mountain in Sri Lanka? I would return for the pizza alone.
I also want to thank you for finding us a reasonably priced hotel in the center of Kandy. The staff there became our friends, their food was excellent, and as I mentioned, you could not beat the price.
While we were in Sri Lanka we spoke to you often (even when you were not guiding us) to get your advice on a variety of issues, you were always so kind and understanding, never impatient).
The trip to the tea plantations was especially interesting and it was fun touring around them. I will never forget that place.
I would not hesitate to recommend your services to anyone seeking to understand and travel around Sri Lanka. Your price was reasonable and your extensive knowledge of the country was a bonus. Your English was great and we really appreciated that. Much Love,

Deena (Scherer) (otherwise known as madam)

PO BOX 354,BEDFORD, NY 10506,USA

914-234-9464,

deenascherer@verizon.net

11. Yen & Gary

Dear Jagath,

If you're thinking of touring magical Sri Lanka and need a professional and licensed guide, look no further than Jagath Tours. From the moment we reached out to him we felt at ease with his demeanor and flexible touring approach.

He's quick to reply to preliminary tour email questions and always has solid suggestions on how to get the most out of your trip. When we set up our tour he was willing to work with our itinerary, but also added to it so we were able to see so much more than we originally planned. As a guide, he's very approachable, patient, and knowledgeable about the varying areas that Sri Lanka has to offer. He's a small business owner running his tours personally and passionately.

From the plethora of temples to the thick of the safaris, he knew the ins and outs of the land and we always felt safe in the areas he took us to. Also important to note, he's an excellent driver who doesn't take unnecessary risks on the road.

From a characteristic viewpoint on Jagath I'd describe him as honest, caring, and gentle. A family man who loves his country and genuinely wants to share what it has to offer.
We felt fortunate to have Jagath as our personal Sri Lankan guide. If you have any questions please feel free to email us at gkata1@gmail.com

Yen & Gary

New York, New York

gkata1@gmail.com