Detailed Itinerary
DAY 01: AIRPORT / COLOMBO
Arrive at the airport and be met by our representative and transferred to Hotel in Colombo.

CITY TOUR AND SHOPPING
p.m. City Tour and Shopping.

The City Tour will include places of Tourist interest such as Old parliament, Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, Buddhist Hindu Temple and Town Hall and Independent Square.

Shopping at Odel, House of Fashion, Bare foot and etc.

Overnight stay at Grand Oriental Hotel –Colombo.

DAY 02: COLOMBO / ANURADHAPURA
Breakfast at Hotel. Leave for Anuradhapura via Yapahuwa

YAPAHUWA
The 300 feet high rock of Yapahuwa was the stronghold of a military leader named Subha of the 13th century AD who found it a strategic location to check the invasion of Magha south Indian who led an Army of 24000 Soldiers.

Later King Buwanekabahu 1 also of the latter part of the 13th century made it the Capital and transferred the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha from Dambadeniya to Yapahuwa.

Two motes, Ramparts exquisite cranite carvings and stair way and ruins of structures and cave temple with statues of the Buddha and paintings of the Kandyan period are some of the items of interest of the site.

Proceed to Anuradhapura.

Overnight stay at Miridiya Hotel – Anuradhapura.

DAY 03: ANURADHAPURA / POLLONNARUWA
After Breakfast Leave for City tour of Anuradhapura.
ANURADHAPURA
Anuradhapura the first Capital of Sri Lanka has a recorded history of more than 2500 years and was once one of the best planned and maintained cities in the world. It became even more important when the Arhath Mahinda from India officially introduced Buddhism to king Dewanampiyatissa in the year 247 B.C. King Dewanampiyatissa who was ruling from Anuradhapura embraced the faith of Buddhism and began to spread it throughout the nation, making Anuradhapura the cradle of Buddhism.
* The oldest historically documented tree in the world is found in Anuradhapura. This tree was a sapling of the Bo tree (fecus prlegiosa) under which the Buddha meditated and was enlightened in Buddhagaya India.
* The very first Stupa to be built in Sri Lanka, which is Thuparamaya where a collarbone of the Buddha is enshrined, is also found in Anuradhapura.
The ruined city of Anuradhapura, which was once, the best planned and organized city in the world is today a great tourist attraction and has been declared a world heritage site.

Proceed to Pollonnaruwa.

(OPTIONAL ) MINNERIYA NATIONAL PARK.
visit National Park at Minneriya. This will include a Safari tour by jeep with a jungle tracker, where you can see animals in the Jungle; including elephants , Bears, Wild boar, Dear, Buffalo, Monkeys and many other animals if you are lucky, leopards too. You also could see different types of birds. It’s a small experience for bird watch lovers.

Overnight stay at Sudu Araliya Hotel – Pollonnaruwa.

DAY 04: POLLONNARUWA / SIGIRIYA
Breakfast at Hotel and Leave for City tour of Pollonnaruwa.

POLLONNARUWA
After the taking over of the Island by the Cholas of India who were growing in power and building an empire for them selves, it was decided by them to make Polonnaruwa the capital city. In the year 1055AD a brave and determined Sinhala king from the southern part of the Island over powered the invaders and took over the capital that later fell into the hands of a notorious prince from Kalinga of India who was more intent on looting than ruling. Today the ancient ruined city of Polonnaruwa, a site that is so popular and much visited, contains ruins of the both Sinhala (Sri Lankan) and Indian culture.

Next visit the site of Sigiriya and Climb the Lion Rock Fortress.
SIGIRIYA ROCK FORTRESS
It was the 5th century A.D when the craving for power and wealth led prince Kasyapa to cruelly kill his father in order to ascend the throne. When his half brother sought vengeance against him, king Kasyapa found the rock of Sigiriya an ideal place to build his stronghold. Having fortified and decorated the well-selected site for both security and pleasure the king Kasyapa ruled for a period of 19 years until his half brother return from India with an Army of mercenaries. The King marched forth leading his Army to meet his half brother in battle but was deserted by his Army who misunderstood the king for retreating when he was only making a detour to avoid a swamp. The brave king continued single and on meeting his half brother face to face said “ I will not die by your sword” Then he drew his own sword and ended his life by driving it through his throat.

The ramparts, motes, the incredible water garden with many pools and primitive fountains. The boulder garden well terraced and laid, the world famous Fresco paintings of the Sigiriya ladies, the mirror wall and graffiti, the gigantic lion paws hewend on granite, the ruins of the place and kings bath which are still preserved in reasonably good condition have made Sigiriya (Known as the eighth wonder of the World) one of Sri Lankas most famous and popular sites not only for tourists but also to the Sri Lankan.

Overnight stay at Eden Garden Hotel – Dambulla.

DAY 05 : DAMBULLA / KANDY
Breakfast at Hotel. Leave for Kandy.

En route visit the Cave Temples of Dambulla,
CAVE TEMPLE DAMBULLA
The cave temple of Dambulla was the hideout of King Valagamba of the 01st Century B.C who fled from Anuradhapura (The capital city) due to an invasion from South India. On recapturing the city and regaining his throne after fourteen years of hiding, the king converted the caves that offered him refuge into temples and gifted them to the Buddhist monks.
King Nissankamalla of the Polonnaruwa period made his contribution to the site by gilding many of the statues after which it was called “Rangiri Dambulu Viharaya”, which means the golden rock temple of Dambulla.
The kings of the Kandyan period also made their part of contribution by adding more statues of the Buddha and murals depicting highlights of the Buddha’s life.
Visit the Rock cave temple of Dambulla and experience the feeling of a place where Time has stood still…

Next Visit
SPICE GARDEN
Visit a spice garden at Matale, where spices used for Sri Lankan cuisine and medication are grown. The Spices of Sri Lanka attracted the early sea faring merchants who made the long voyages to purchase this precious merchandise.

p.m city tour of Kandy including Upper Lake Drive.

Visit art and craft center and Gem Bureau where you will be shown a documentary film on how Sri Lankan Gem mining is traditionally done.

TEMPLE OF THE TOOTH RELIC.
Next Visit the Temple of the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha. This temple, the most important one for The Sri Lankan Buddhists was built in the 16th Century A.D. solely for the purpose of housing the tooth relic.

Overnight stay at Swiss Residence Hotel - Kandy.

DAY 06 : KANDY
Breakfast at Hotel.

At Leisure

Overnight stay at Swiss Residence Hotel - Kandy.

DAY 07 : KANDY / COLOMBO
Breakfast at Hotel. Leave for Colombo

En route visit the
BOTANICAL GARDEN
The Botanical Garden Peradeniya. Which was a pleasure garden of a Kandyan King of the 16th Century and later made in to a Botanical Garden during the British regime

Next Visit
ELEPHANT ORPHANGE
Pinnawala, Visit the Elephant Orphanage, the foster – home of elephants of different age and size feeding, bathing, playing together and even mating. These have been found injured or left abandoned in the wilderness. There are even little baby calves born in captivity.

Proceed to Colombo

Overnight stay at Grand Oriental Hotel – Colombo.

DAY 08 : COLOMBO / AIRPORT
Breakfast at Hotel. Leave for Airport for Departure.

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Above Price Includes
· Accommodation as stated above and 01 Single room on B/B basis.
· Transport exclusively for Mr. Mark by air-conditioned car with English Speaking chauffeur Guide.
· Meeting arrangements at the airport on arrival and departure.

Above Price does not include
Ø Expenses of personal nature such as tipping, porters, laundry, telephones, etc.
Ø Air Port Taxes.
Ø Video and Camera Permits.
Ø Lunch and Dinner throughout the tour.
Ø Entrance Fees to the mention Sites.
· Elephant Orphanage– 06 USD PER PERSON
· Botanical Garden - 03 USD PER PERSON
· Temple of The Tooth Relic of Buddha – 02 USD PER PERSON
· Anuradhapura - 20 USD PER PERSON
· Pollonnaruwa - 20 USD PER PERSON
· Sigiriya - 20 USD PER PERSON
· Dambulla - 06 USD PER PERSON
· Minneriya National Park - 20 USD PER PERSON (Optional)
· JEEP CHARGES - 30 USD PER PERSON (Optional)

(Entrance fees to be paid directly as applicable for different programs. (Entrance Fees are Subject to Change Without Prior Notice)

Ø Any other services not specified above.

IMPORTANT
The official Check in time at all hotels will be 1200hrs.
The official Check Out time at all hotels will be 1100hrs.