Family Tour – Sri Lanka

DAY 1

Airport – Kandy

Meeting and Greeting at the Colombo Airport Our representative. Transfer from Airport to Hotel in Kandy En- Route visit Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage Pinnawala orphanage is situated in Rabukkana, northwest of the town Kegalla, half ways between the present capital Colombo and the ancient royal residence Kandy in the hills of central Sri Lanka. It was established 1975 by the Sri Lanka Wildlife department. This 24 acres large elephant orphanage is an also breeding pace for elephants, the first elephant baby was born in 1984, and it has the greatest herd of elephants in captivity in the world. Between 1975 and 2012, 67 animals were born here. Dinner and Overnight stay at Hotel in Kandy

DAY 2

Kandy

Breakfast at Hotel Visit Temple of Tooth relic Temple of Tooth Relic Located in Kandy, long a centre of the Buddhist faith, the stunning 17th-century Temple of the Tooth (Sri DaladaMaligawa) is believed to house the left upper canine tooth of the Lord Buddha himself. This precious relic attracts white-clad pilgrims, bearing lotus blossoms and frangipani, every day. According to legend, the tooth was taken from the Buddha as he lay on his funeral pyre. It was smuggled to Sri Lanka in 313 AD, hidden in the hair of Princess Hemamali who fled the Hindu armies besieging her father's kingdom in India. It immediately became an object of great reverence and was enshrined in a series of nested jeweled reliquaries. The tooth was brought out for special occasions and paraded on the backs of elephants, which are sacred to the Buddha. Where it survived numerous attempts to capture and destroy it. When the capital was moved to Kandy, the tooth was taken to the new city and placed in temples built to honour it. The temple was originally built under Kandyan kings between 1687 and 1707 City Tour at Kandy (Lake Drive, Gem Museum, Silk shop, Batik etc…..) City Tour at Kandy (Lake Drive, Gem Museum, Silk shop, Batik etc…..) Visit Royal Botanical garden Peradeniya Royal Botanical Garden Peradeniya Peradeniya is situated about 5.5 km to the west from the city of Kandy in the Central Province of Sri Lanka and attracts 1.2 million visitors annually; it is renowned for its collection of a variety of orchids. It includes more than 300 varieties of orchids, spices, medicinal plants and palm trees. Attached to it is the National Herbarium. The total area of the botanical garden is 147 acres (0.59 km2), at 460 meters above sea level, and with a 200-day annual rainfall. It is managed by the Division of National Botanic Gardens of the Department of Agriculture. The origins of the Botanic Gardens date as far back as 1371 when King Wickramabahu III ascended the throne and kept court at Peradeniya near Mahaweliriver. This was followed by King Kirti Sri and King RajadhiRajasinghe. A temple was built on this location by King Wimala Dharma, but it was destroyed by the British when they were given control over the Kingdom of Kandy. Thereafter, the groundwork for a botanical garden was formed by Alexandar Moon in 1821. The Botanical Garden at Peradeniya was formally established in 1843 with plants brought from Kew Garden, Slave Island, Colombo, and the Kalutara Garden in Kalutara. The Royal Botanic Garden, Peradeniya was made more independent and expanded under George Gardner as superintendent in 1844.On his death in 1849 George Henry Kendrick Thwaites became superintendent. The Garden came under the administration of the Department of Agriculture when it was established in 1912. Cultural show at Kandy – If time permitted Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel in Kandy

DAY 3

Kandy – Nuwara Eliya

Breakfast at Hotel Transfer from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya Visit Hanuman Temple The Ramboda area is believed to be where Rama's forces were gathered against Ravana. Rampadai means Rama's Force. The hills of Ramboda are also believed to be where Hanuman was searching for Sitadevi. A Chinmaya mission has built an Anjaneyar temple in Sri Lanka with Hanuman as its presiding deity. The temple is called Sri Baktha Hanuman temple and the image of Hanuman here is 16 Feet tall. The service times at the Sri Baktha Hanuman Temple are between 7:00 am to 12:00 noon & again 30.30 to 6.30 pm Visit Ramboda Falls Ramboda Falls is 109 m (358 ft.) high and 11th highest waterfall in Sri Lanka and 729th highest waterfall in the world. It is situated in Pussellawa area, on the A5 highway at Ramboda Pass. It formed by Panna Oya which is a tributary of KothmaleOya. Altitude of the falls is 945 m (3,100 ft.) above sea level. Visit Tea Factory Ceylon Tea Sri Lanka is an island made for tea. The country produces tea throughout the year and the total tea production is about 340 million kilograms per annum. Sri Lanka’s tea-growing areas are mainly concentrated in the central highlands and southern inland areas of the island. At present, a larger portion of the country’s tea is exported as Ceylon Black Tea, while the country also produces Ceylon Green Tea, a type developed from Assamese seedlings. Ceylon White Tea, namely silver and golden tips is celebrated around the world for their finest flavour and is among the most expensive tea varieties in the world. Evening leisure at Gregory Lake Gregory Lake Named after Sir William Gregory in 1873, this is a prominent attraction used for water sports and recreational activities. Lake Park, Boat Rides are available. Travellers can be reached by sea plane which takes only 30 minutes from Colombo. At the southern end of the town is Gregory Lake where the holiday makers can enjoy a leisurely walk on the paved walk ways, with swan shaped paddle boats for the more adventurous. There are pony rides round the lake for the kids and even adults, with plenty of fast food stalls located in a separate area where one can enjoy a meal or a snack. Dinner and Overnight stay at Hotel in Nuwara Eliya

DAY 4

Nuwara Eliya - Bentota

Breakfast at Hotel Transfer from Nuwara Eliya to Bentota En-Route Visit Spice Garden Spice Garden at Mawanella Sri Lanka is world renowned for its valued spices and healing herbs. Our lush spice and herbal gardens feature many important herbs such as Sandalwood, Margosa, Cocoa, Citronella, Almond, Jasmine and Coconut. When visiting us, make the most of the chance to experience first-hand how cloves, pepper, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and saffron are grown in their natural surroundings. At Regent Spice and Herbal Garden you can learn of their medicinal healing properties and how to use them in your day to day needs. Used worldwide in many medicines, the healing powers of spices have been respected from the time of the Pharaohs and Chinese Dynasties, while our herbs are used in Ayurveda concoctions. Evening leisure at the beach Dinner and Overnight stay at Hotel in Bentota

DAY 5

Bentota

Breakfast at Hotel Experience MaduRiver Safari Madu River Safari Madu ganga flows across Balapitiya (approx. 80kms down south of Colombo) and is one of the rarely visited, unspoiled attractions any nature lover can find in Sri Lanka. She boasts of having a cluster of 64 small islands scattered along her path and the most of which are covered with mangroves and uninhabited. The largest island is known as "Ma Doowa" is the largest inhabited island within the country where about 300 families live. The smallest islet of the lot is called "SathaPahaDoowa" where there is a tiny shrine with a statue built in respect of the gods of Kataragama. Water Sport at Bentota Visit Turtle Hatchery Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project ("KSTCP") Dudley Perera's project has been underway since 1988. The main aim of the project is to monitor local sea turtle activity and conserve the local nesting sites. We aim to make the public more aware of how endangered these beautiful creatures are and just how important it is to help protect them before it is too late. One of the most important activities of the project is its hatchery. Within the sanctuary of the project, collected and rescued eggs can hatch safely away from predators before being released into the sea at night-time. In addition, a certain number from each hatching are kept back for a short period for 'head starting' before release. The hatchery program is designed to maximize the number of hatchlings reaching the sea and surviving through the critical stages of their early life. Only a few hatchlings from each batch will ever make it to adulthood. Therefore every nest-ground, every egg, every hatchling and every turtle is crucial to the survival of the species. Unfortunately, sea turtles face many dangers Dinner and Overnight stay at Hotel in Bentota

DAY 6

Bentota - Colombo

Breakfast at Hotel Transfer from Bentota to Colombo Panchamuga Anjaneyar Temple Panchamuga Anjaneyar Temple considered as the first Anjaneyar Temple in Sri Lanka. Also this Panchamuga Anjaneyar Temple in Sri Lanka which dedicated to Lord Hanuman in his Panchamuga form, meaning five faces. This temple is located Colombo Sri Lanka. It is believed that SwamyChandrashekar built the first hanuman temple in Sri Lanka known as Sri Panchamukha Ancheneyar temple. SrimathChandrasekaraswamigal established First Temple in Sri Lanka and a first chariot in the world for Sri Rama’s beloved devotee Anjaneyar. Shopping and city tour at Colombo The largest city and commercial capital of Sri Lanka is Colombo which is located in the western province adjacent to Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (the capital city of Sri Lanka ) Colombo is a vibrant city with a mixture of modern life , colonial buildings and ruins. Due to its very large harbour and its position along the East-West sea trade routes Colombo was very popular among ancient traders 2000 years ago.Colombo houses a majority of the Sri Lanka's corporate offices, restaurants and entertainment venues. Famous land marks in Colombo include the National Museum, World Trade Centre, ViharaMaha Devi Park and the Galle Face Green. Evening leisure at the Galle face green Dinner and Overnight stay at Hotel in Colombo

DAY 7

Colombo - Airport

Breakfast at Hotel Transfer from Colombo to airport for Departure Flight