Culture & Heritage

Arrival, welcome by a Representative of Lanka Sportreizen and transfer to Hotel
Evening City Tour of Negombo including a ishing Village, Old Dutch Fortress from 1678 converted to prison, the Hamilton Canal which was built by the Dutch for the transportation of Cinnamon; St. Mary’s Church and the Old Dutch Cemetery and naturally the Negombo Fish Market.
Overnight stay at Negombo

After breakfast leave for Anuradhapura – “The first Capital - 5th Century BC”.
En route visit the Elephant Orphanage to see the world's largest herd of domestic Elephants including babies who are still being fed by bottle thrice a day, Yapahuwa Rock - where the majestic Gateway remains to be seen as the proof to the grandeur that this former capital enjoyed and any other place of interest
Visit many sites of the City of archaeological and historical interest including Isurumuniya - the first temple to be built in the island, Sri Maha Bodhi Tree- with an authenticated history of more than 2300 years which has been planted from a sapling from the original tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment , Ruwanveliseya - the largest stupa in the island , Jethawanaramaya and Abhayagiriya - which in their original form have been matching in size to the Great Pyramids in Giza being the tallest brick buildings in the world and have thus been declared as World Heritage Sites , Twin Ponds, Thuparamaya- the first Stupa to be built in Sri Lanka enshrining the left collar bone of the Buddha, the Samadhi Statue - meditating posture etc In the afternoon
Overnight stay at Anuradhapura

After breakfast leave for Dambulla.
Visit the Dambulla Cave Temple
Visit the Dambulla Cave Temple considered being the largest painted caves in the world with more than 22,000 sq ft of painted surfaces with many paintings, sculptures, statues of Lord Buddha, his disciples, Kings, Gods etc
Continue to Sigiriya
Climb the Rock fortress of Sigiriya.
Overnight stay at Sigiriya

After breakfast leave for Polonnaruwa – “The Medieval Capital of Sri Lanka- 11th Century AD”
En route visit the Avukana Standing Buddha Statue - 12m tall - a magnificent master piece of Sri Lanka Craftsmanship.
In Polonnaruwa, visit the many sites of archaeological and historical interest in the Sacred City of Polonnaruwa including the Grate Statue, Quadrangle, Royal Palace, Vatadage, Hatadage, Siva Devalaya, Gal Viharaya, Alahana Pirivena Complex, Kumara and Lotus Ponds, Thuparamaya, Rankoth Vehera, Pabalu Vehera, Thiwanka Image House, The Museum etc some of which depict the influence that Hinduism had on the Buddhist Civilisation during that period of history.
Leave for Kandy via Riverstone – “The Hill Capital”
Engage hike in the Pitawala Pathana
Walk in to a Spice Garden and take part in a conducted tour to get some knowledge about the growth and use of spices in the day to day life.
In a Batik Making Factory, see how beautifully the village girls turn out beautiful colored cloths for different purposes with colourful designs.
Overnight stay at Kandy

After breakfast leave for a City Tour including the Upper Lake Drive - a place where one could have a bird's eye view of the city below, the Royal Botanical Gardens - one of the best of its kind in Asia with more than 5000 species of different varieties of flora which incidentally was the Headquarters of Lord Louise Mountbatten - the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces during the 2nd World War, a Gem Museum - to see how the valuable gems that you see on a shop shelf are turned out from a raw stone with the back ground history.
In the evening watch a Cultural Performance by traditional Kandyan Dancers and Drummers including devotional “Fire Walking" and walk across in the star lit night to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha - by far the most important place of worship for Buddhists world over.
Overnight stay at Kandy