Historical Wonders of Sri Lanka

Let’s start with a visit to Beira Lake, which is an artificial lake located in the center of Colombo and surrounded by many skyscrapers. With Gangaramaya Park and a temple Gangarama Sima Malaka on the water, the lakeside is great for taking a stroll and enjoying the view. Take a short walk and you will next reach Gangaramaya Temple - one of the most important Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka. The temple’s buildings are a mix of Sri Lankan, Thai, Indian and Chinese architectural styles. Stepping into the temple, you might be amazed at the large collection of thousands of Buddha statues. There is even a museum and a library in the temple, full of precious ancient coins, religious artifacts, and even the hair relic of Buddha. Every February, the temple celebrates the traditional “Navam Perahera” festival, during which elephants are draped and adorned to parade with dancers and musicians in front of the temple.

Next, follow the guide to visit Colombo National Museum, the oldest museum in Sri Lanka. Here you could meet the nation’s cultural heritage, including old weaving, statues, paintings, Chinese porcelain and the throne and crown of the Kandyan monarchs. Besides, you could also see the Galle Trilingual Stele of Zheng He which is a witness of Maritime Silk Road. (The museum is open Monday to Sunday except on public holidays such as the monthly Full Moon Poya Days, and if it’s on the closing day, we will skip this.) Then, delve into the vibrant Pettah Market, which is in the old downtown area of Colombo. The intricate alleys in the market are lined with shops and stands selling fruits, vegetables, groceries, traditional sari clothing and textiles made in India and Bangladesh. Strolling around the market, you might notice the nearby Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque. This beautiful mosque features striking red and white striped exterior, making it a popular photo spot in Colombo. In the late afternoon, you will be accompanied to Galle Face Green - Colombo’s largest open park. Facing the Indian Ocean, Galle Face Green is attractive especially at sunset. The park comes alive every evening with the locals picnicking, children flying kites, and couples walking by the sea. You could also try local food like prawn fritters (isso wade) and fried crabs sold by street vendors. After that, we will escort you back to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Radisson Hotel Colombo (4 stars) or similar

After breakfast, your private driver guide will pick you up at the hotel and drive you to Kandy. In the midway, we will stop to visit Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage. As the world’s first elephant orphanage, it has become a sanctuary for numerous homeless, injured or sick elephants for over 40 years. Every day from 10 to 12 am, the elephants are guided to bathe in the river nearby. If you like, you could pay to feed them or help the baby elephants bathe. In addition, there is a local company that recycles elephant dung into paper that is not only odor-free but also has a unique texture of crude fiber. The dung paper products like notebooks and bags have even been given as national gifts to visiting leaders from other countries.

Upon arrival in Kandy, the guide will lead you to visit Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, or Sri Dalada Maligawa in local language. Nestled by Kandy Lake and backed by green hills, the temple is like a pearl embedded in the old city. Built in 1595, it is famous for housing Sakyamuni Buddha’s tooth relic which has been the symbol of royalty in Sri Lanka over centuries. Walking into the temple, you will be embraced by splendid murals and carvings that are hundreds of years old. Every day, many white-clad devotees come and offer lotus to the Buddha in the main temple building. The tooth relic is placed in an inner chamber on the second floor. You may join the queue to have a close-up view of the casket that houses the tooth.

► Tips on Visiting Religious Sites in Sri Lanka:
Modest clothes that can cover your shoulders and knees are necessary. You may also need to take off your shoes and hat before entering, so a pair of thick socks can protect your feet from being hurt or burnt.

Next, you will be treated to a traditional Cultural Dance Show. Used to be a type of sacrificial dance to drive away evil and keep safe in ancient times, the dance is still full of vitality and energy in today’s Sri Lanka. Before all the performances, you will hear a blowing of the conch shell, which is the traditional invocation of the ritual. Immerse yourself in the Raban Natuma dance accompanied by the Rabana drum, Kulu Natuma dance to celebrate the harvest, and the most spectacular fire dance and fire walking. After the show, your driver guide will escort you to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Thilanka Hotel, Kandy (4 stars) or similar

After breakfast, we will drive to Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya for a morning visit. Famous for its orchid collection, it’s one of the best tropical botanical gardens in the world. It used to be the imperial garden of the Kingdom of Kandy. Surrounded by Mahaweli Ganga River on three sides, the oasis is covered with dense trees and plants, making it fresh and cool inside. Towering trees can be seen everywhere in the gardens, of which the giant Java Fig Tree is the most remarkable one with its sprawling branches covering an area of 1,600 square meter (1900 sq.yd.). You may also encounter bats that hang around the trees which can help spread the seeds. Next, proceed to Sri Muthumariamman Temple. This Hindu temple features its 108-meter-high (354 ft.) Gopura tower - Raja Koburam which is decorated with beautifully colored statues of deities. The temple gets its name because of the enshrined goddess of rain and fertility named Muthumari Amman. Every February or March, Vettai Thiruvizha festival is held by the temple with chariots parade.

Then, we will drive 1 hour to visit Dambulla Cave Temple. The cave temple complex is located on the mountainside. You will first see the Golden Temple at the foot of the mountain, which looks like a lion with its mouth wide open, and on the lion there is a 30-meter-high (98 ft.) gold statue of Buddha. You need to walk up the stairs to see the 5 caves of the temple, where you could get up close with a number of perfectly-preserved murals and exquisite statues from 2,000 years ago. Be amazed at the 14-meter-long (45 ft.) reclining Buddha statue and appreciate the vivid murals on the walls that tell the history of Sri Lanka and the story of Buddha. After visiting the temple, you will be transferred to the hotel in Sigiriya.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Aliya Resort and Spa, Sigiriya (4 stars) or similar

Today, continue your cultural heritage exploration. We will first take you to visit Sigiriya Rock Fortress, one of Sri Lanka’s oldest and most incredible architectural wonders. Different from other fortresses, most of its buildings were built in the 5th century on a 200-meter-high (650 ft.) massive rock hidden amidst the jungle. It is said that the history of Sigiriya can be traced back to 7,000 years ago, thus some people believe that, like the mysterious Egyptian pyramids, maybe some other creatures constructed these elaborate carvings, smooth steps and ingenious water facilities. Sigiriya Rock Fortress is also called the “Lion Rock” because it was originally carved like a huge lion. It may be a challenging climb to the top, but the views are definitely worth it. You could enjoy the golden Mirror Wall which was once highly-polished into mirrored surface, and the frescos depicting women with various appearances: some wearing jewelries and some topless. At the top of the rock, you might be shocked by the ruins of the king’s palaces, the banqueting hall and the meeting hall that make you wonder how the ancient people constructed these grand buildings.

► Tip: It is very hot and humid in Sri Lanka all year round and the temperature is higher on the rock, so it is recommended to wear sunscreen, sunglasses and a sun hat. You may also bring insect repellent to protect from mosquito or bug bites.

Next, we will proceed to visit Ancient City of Polonnaruwa, which was the second capital city of Sri Lanka. Due to the large scale of the ancient city, we will drive you to tour the sites to help save your time and energy without walking too long in the hot sun. Although the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa lasted only about 200 years, the glory of it was like a renaissance in Sri Lanka. With a history of over 1,000 years, most buildings in the city like the palaces, temples and the imperial pools are well preserved. They have become mottled and dark over a long time of erosion, but it’s not difficult to get a glimpse of the ancient architectural skills through the stone columns with beautiful reliefs and the wrinkles on the clothes of the Buddha statues. Be prepared to marvel at King Parakramabahu’s royal palace complex. The former 7-story architecture was constructed with more than 1,000 chambers and supported by hundreds of columns. Inside the palace there were many ancient halls including Audience Hall and Jewel Hall. The crumbling columns and walls are not as glorious as before, but you can always feel the grandiosity and artistic excellence of the old times. After visiting the ancient city, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Sigiriya.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Aliya Resort and Spa, Sigiriya (4 stars) or similar

This morning, we will drive for about 1 hour to visit Ancient City of Anuradhapura, which was the first capital city of the island. Being the political center from the 3rd century BC to the 10th century AD, it has a longer history than Polonnaruwa. One of the most iconic buildings in the ancient city is the magnificent Ruwanwelisaya Stupa. The white drop-shaped stupa was built in the 2nd century BC with an original height of 103 meters (338 ft.) and now 55 meters (180 ft.). Stepping south of Ruwanwelisaya Stupa, you will see the Sri Maha Bodhi tree. It is the oldest bodhi tree in the world with a history of over 2,600 years and Sri Lanka’s second most important national treasure after the sacred tooth relic. Having seen countless pious believers and the rise and fall of kingdoms for thousands of years, the tree is still lush and leafy. Next, we’ll embark on a 4-hour long road trip to the hotel in Negombo.

► Recommended Activities in Negombo
As one of the biggest port cities in Sri Lanka, Negombo is popular for its beautiful beaches and fresh seafood. It’s a good idea to relax yourself on Negombo Beach near the hotel. You may enjoy your dinner at Salt Restaurant (11/A St. Jude Lane Ettukala Rd, Negombo 11500) - the number one restaurant in the city and just a 5-minute tuk-tuk ride from your hotel. Try some local food like curry crab and curry fish, or have a taste of the fresh tuna steak. It costs USD 12 per person.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Jetwing Sea Hotel, Negombo (4 stars) or similar

Today, your memorable tours in Sri Lanka will come to an end. The driver guide will escort you to Colombo Airport for your departure flight. Wish you a nice journey home!

► Recommendations for Late Departure
If you are an early riser, head to Negombo Fish Market around 6 am. The bustling market is attractive for its rich flavor of life. You may take some good pictures of the colorful fishing boats, the busy fishermen, and the freshly-caught fish in the market. Next to the market is a fishing village with picturesque views. You might explore the village by simply walking along the path or chatting with the locals.

► If you want to extend your tour to other cities, such as taking a jeep safari in Yala National Park or tasting Ceylon black tea and picking tea leaves in Nuwara Eliya, or if you want to explore more countries like India and Maldives, please contact our travel consultant to tailor your itinerary.

Meals: Breakfast