EXPLORE SRI LANKA - 15

Jaffna – Trincomalee – Polonnaruwa – Sigiriya – Dambulla – Kandy – Colombo (7Days/ 6Nights)

Day 01 – Arrival at Colombo airport – Jaffna

Moving to Jaffna & Stay Night in there

Day 02 – Jaffna

Stop 01

Kantharodai Viharaya

Temple and Ruins are one of the few remaining Buddhist legacies in the northern province. Paul E. Peiris, the Jaffna Magistrate at 1917, documented nearly 60 gray coral-stone stupas when he discovered the ruins at the turn of the 20th century. Today however, only about 20 stupas remain sprawled across less than an acre of open land under palmyra trees.

Located a half-hour’s drive away from Jetwing Jaffna, the Kadurugoda Temple and Ruins are found on the outskirts of the city in Kantarodai. It is said that this name was derived from the Sinhalese term, Kandavurugoda (a location of a military camp), which was eventually adopted as Kantarodai by the resident Tamil population of the area.

Stop 02

Boat to Nagadeepa

Nagadeepa is the highest place for Buddhists in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. Nagadeepa is an island surrounded by the sea, about 32 km from the city of Jaffna. Nagadeepa sacred area where the Supreme Buddha visited for the second time Dutugemunu, Saddhatissa etc. who ruled in Sri Lanka history records that kings protected and cared for them during their reigns. During the Portuguese, Dutch and English rule many temples in Ceylon were destroyed. During that period, the Nagadeepa temple was also destroyed due to their influence. Nagadeepa has been worshiped by Buddhists for as long as 400 years Nagadeepa lost and could not find a place to stay. In the year 1931 Ambalangoda, the great Thero Somasiri Tissa of Randombe suffered a lot the great ones who came to Jaffna and found Nagadeepa and lost to the Buddhists a shrine was re-cleared for pilgrimage. After a tumultuous life for nearly 30 years after the July 1983 riots, the Chief Prelate took care of the Nagadeepa Temple by taking care of the four sides of the Navy.

Stop 03

Nallur Hindu Temple

Situated about 3km from Jaffna town is the Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil, one of the most significant kovils in Sri Lanka. The 15th century kovil, dedicated to Lord Murugan, the god of war, love and beauty, boasts grand arches and vibrant hues as part of its enthralling Dravidian architecture.

The temple holds both religious and social significance for its Tamil-majority Hindu devotees, to the extent that kovils have been built across the world and carry the same name as the Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil in honour of it.

Every year, the kovil hosts a festival (usually during the full moon in August). The festival, which starts off with a flag-hoisting ceremony, carries on for 25 days. During these days, devotees can be spotted having their bodies pierced with hooks, exhibiting no pain in response, an act of faith that is a fundamental part of their religious beliefs.

Prior to entering the kovil, all visitors are required to cleanse themselves and be dressed in appropriate attire. For men, this includes either pants or sarongs that cover their legs, whereas the upper body should be bare. Women are to wear something long that covers their legs, and the same for their upper bodies, with tank tops and the likes being prohibited. No footwear is allowed within the temple’s premises.

Stop 04

Jaffna Dutch Fort

Today, the 400-year-old fort is a visceral reminder of Sri Lanka’s colonial past, as well as a maritime heritage. The massive fort complex overlooks the Jaffna lagoon, and while much of it remains intact, a certain part of the fort had to undergo extensive restoration efforts.

The fort is known as one of the greatest Dutch forts in Asia, owing to the extensive alterations they made to the original Portuguese design, including adding defensive triangles to mirror something similar to a snowflake (which is especially visible from an aerial vantage point).

The gorgeous fort is settled within the borders of a pentagon, which is, in turn, surrounded by a moat. The fort’s walls were constructed with a combination of mortar, brick, stone and coral, and to this day, are mostly hidden underneath grassy slopes.

Stay Night in Jaffna

Day 03 - Trincomalee

Stop 01

Kinniya Hot Spring

There are seven wells in a square shape. Wells are only 3-4 feet deep and you can clearly see the bottom. The temperature is considerably high but vary from one spring to other wells run out of water, when 10-15 buckets of water are taken out.

Stop 02

Kaneswaran Temple

The temple is built on a grate location with an insane drop into the ocean. Make sure the visit the back of the temple area. Kaneswaran Temple is one such temple complex that was built by Ravana in Trincomalee. It is believed Ravana and his mother used to worship Lord Shiva at this temple.

Stop 03

Nilaweli Beach

Is a stretch of beach which is situated approximately 16 kilometers North of Trincomalee, passing a thriving lagoon on either side and lush coconut palm groves and hordes of cattle, note that the people in the area are predominantly Hindu and consider the cows sacred. Arriving at the hamlet of “Errakkandy”, a sharp right turn will take you down a gravel road to Nilaweli beach, almost a kilometer of in length, white sandy beach with gentle surf. Across the beach about two kilometers into the ocean you will see the famous pigeon island, named due to rock pigeons roosting on it by the hundreds and crystal-clear water around it to snorkel on to the clear depths of a reef. Further up North you will see a cluster of reddish rocks which are referred to as the red rock beach.

Swim with turtles and sharks on Pigeon Island a 10 minutes boat ride from Nilaweli beach.

Stay Night in Trincomalee

Day 04 – Polonnaruwa

Stop 01

Polonnaruwa Vatadage

A vaṭadāge (Sinhala: වටදාගෙ) is a type of Buddhist structure found in Sri Lanka. It also known as a dage, thupagara and a cetiyagara. Although it may have had some Indian influence, it is a structure that is more or less unique to the architecture of ancient Sri Lanka. Vatadages were built around small stupas for their protection, which often enshrined a relic or were built on hallowed ground. Circular in shape, they were commonly built of stone and brick and adorned with elaborate stone carvings. Vatadages may have also had a wooden roof, supported by a number of stone columns arranged in several concentric rows.

Stop 02

Polonnaruwa Gal Vihara

It was fashioned in the 12th century by Parakramabahu I. The central feature of the temple is four rock relief statues of the Buddha, which have been carved into the face of a large granitic (granite gneiss) rock. The images consist of a large seated figure, another smaller seated figure inside an artificial cavern, a standing figure and a reclining figure. These are considered to be some of the best examples of ancient Sinhalese sculpting and carving arts, and have made the Gal Vihara the most visited monument at Polonnaruwa.

Stop 03

Polonnaruwa Audience Hall

Parakramabahu's Audience Hall is a classic example of the masonry of the period. At the entrance there is a moonstone and a flight of steps with makara figures. Above the makara figures there are beautiful figures of lions. It is recorded that the king had this audience hall specifically designed for his advisers and legal draftsman. In designing this building, the architect broke with tradition, incorporating features (such as balustrades and moonstones) that were previously reserved for monasteries.

Stop 04

Polonnaruwa Rankot Vehera

Rankoth Vehera is structure made entirely of brick, and has a base diameter of 550 feet (170 m) and a height of 108 feet (33 m). However, the original shape of the stupa, particularly its upper portion, has been changed during renovation work carried out by later rulers and it is estimated that the original height of Rankoth Vehera may have been almost 200 feet (61 m). Despite this, it remains the largest stupa in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, and the fourth largest stupa in the country. The stupa has four large Vahalkadas, a structure used for offering flowers and also to support the weight of a stupa. These are also made of brick. The stupa is located in the center of a large square terrace, which is also surrounded by a brick wall. The terrace has four entrances oriented to the four cardinal points, with sand paths leading to them. A stone inscription near one of the entrances mention that King Nissanka Malla observed and supervised the construction of the stupa from there. It is also mentioned that he worshiped the stupa from a small platform, which is located in a corner of the terrace.

Stop 05

Minneriya National Park

This national park is one of the best places in the country to see wild elephants, which are often present in huge numbers. Dominated by the ancient Minneriya Wewa, the park has plenty of scrub, forest and wetlands in its 88.9 sq km to also provide shelter for toque macaques, sambar deer, buffalo, crocodiles and leopards (the latter are very rarely seen, however).

The dry season, from April to October, is reckoned to be the best time to visit (as by then water in the tank has dried up, exposing grasses and shoots to grazing animals). Elephants, which can number 200 or more, come to feed and bathe during what is known as ‘the Gathering’; and flocks of birds, such as little cormorants, painted storks, herons and large pelicans all fish in the shallow waters. However, it's also possible to see large numbers of elephants here at other times of year, too; we saw over 100 in February when we visited.

The park entrance is on the Habarana–Polonnaruwa Rd. A visitor centre near the entrance sells tickets and has a few exhibits about the park’s natural history. The initial 40-minute drive (along a poor dirt road) into the heart of the park is through dense forest, where wildlife sightings are rare. But then the landscape opens up dramatically, and the views across the tank are superb. Early mornings are generally best for birds and late afternoon for elephants.

Moving to Sigiriya & Stay Night in there

Day 05 – Sigiriya – Kandy

Stop 01

Sigiriya Rock

Sigiriya is famous for its palace ruins on top of a massive 200-meter-high rock surrounded by the remains of an extensive network of gardens, reservoirs and other structures. The rock itself is a lava plug left over from an ancient long extinct volcano. One of the eight World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka, Sigiriya is renowned for its 5th century pre-Christian frescoes. It has also been declared by UNESCO as the 8th Wonder of the World. Sigiriya was built by the fifth-century king Kashyapa I, who ruled the native Sinhalese dynasty, the Moriya. The imposing fortress was the capital of the Sinhalese kingdom until Kashyapa was defeated in A.D. 495. (Watch: An ancient palatial fortress overlooks this barren desert in Israel.) It's 1270 steps. Not all in one go. It is a medium to difficult climb as you need to consider heat and humidity. But ages up to 70 will be fine. The abandoned site of Sigiriya wasn't found until 1831. British Army Major Jonathan Forbes rediscovered Sigiriya in 1831. He came across the site during a horseback ride.The climb all the way to the top can take between 1.5 hours and 3 hours – depending on your fitness, how crowded the place is and how many pictures you are shooting. As the view from the top is quite stunning and you might need some time to catch your breath, I'd rather err on the longer side.

Stop 02

Dambulla Golden Cave Temple

A sacred pilgrimage site for 22 centuries, this cave monastery, with its five sanctuaries, is the largest, best-preserved cave-temple complex in Sri Lanka. The Buddhist mural paintings (covering an area of 2,100 m2 ) are of particular importance, as are the 157 statues. There are 364 steps in the Dambulla cave. Cave Temples. The idea of constructing Buddhist temples by hollowing out rock faces was brought to China from Central Asia, where monuments of this sort had been constructed for centuries. Over the years, more and more caves would be excavated and decorated as pious acts on the part of monks and artists.

Moving to Kandy & Stay Night in there

Day 06 – Kandy

Stop 01

Tooth Relic Temple

Visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha (Sri Dalada Maligawa), which houses the most important Relic of the Buddhists in Sri Lanka. A gold canopy was erected some years ago over the roof of the shrine room where it is placed. After the parinirvana of Gautama Buddha, the tooth relic was preserved in Kalinga and smuggled to the island by Princess Hemamali and her husband, Prince Dantha on the instructions of her father King Guha Siva.

Stop 02

Mount View

Stop 03

Batik & Silk Factory

Stop 04

Peradeniya Botanical Garden

Situated in Kandy’s suburb of Peradeniya, the spectacular Peradeniya Botanical Garden dates to 1371. Once enjoyed for pleasure by a Kandyan queen, this spectacular garden is enclosed on three sides by a large bend in the Mahaweli River. A Kandyan prince’s residence during the 18th Century, in the early 1800s the leafy green tangle became one of the greatest Botanical Gardens in the British Empire. For a short spell during the Second World War, it was used as the Allied Forces Headquarters for the Asian region.

The gardens display over 4 000 different species of plants, regarded amongst the most superior in Asia. The highlight is the spectacular Orchid collection and a mighty avenue of palm trees. In addition to a plethora of flowering plants, there is also an extensive collection of medicinal plants and spices which can be spotted on your meander across the gardens. Encompassing over 60 hectares of sublimely designed lawns, pavilions and plant houses, the extraordinary array of Sri Lankan, Asian and international flora is a fragrant, colorful view on the eye. Gorgeous avenues lead on to sections exploding in bursts of tropical color and vast lawns dotted with enormous trees.

Reserved in advance, &BEYOND can organize buggy carts from the Gardens, and offers specialist botanical guides to accompany you during your garden visit. They will share their experiences and practical knowledge about flora and fauna hidden within the garden. A visit usually takes two to three hours.

Stay Night in Kandy

Day 07 – Pinnawala - Mawanall – Negombo

Stop 01

Elephant Orphanage, Pinnawala

En-route visit the Elephant Orphanage at Pinnawela.The orphanage was created to protect abandoned and orphaned elephants. It has now grown into the most popular elephant attraction in the country and with good reason, for nowhere else except at Pageants (processions) are you likely to see so many elephants at close quarters. The elephants are controlled by their mahouts (keepers) who ensure they are fed at the right times and don’t endanger anyone but otherwise the elephants roam freely around the sanctuary area.

There are many elephants in residence from babies to young adults. Among the attractions, you will be able to witness elephants being led to a nearby river for bathing. You could also see the feeding of the baby elephants which is the highlight of the visit.

Bathing at river – 10.00am – 12.00pm

02.00pm – 4.00pm

Fruit Feeding - 9.00am – 9.45am

12.00p.m – 1.45pm

Stop 02

New Paradise Spice & Herbal Garden in Mawanalla.

01. The gardens introduce you to the different spices in Sri Lanka and their uses. 02. They also allow you to see how the spices are grown, harvested and produced. 03. High quality spices, traditional remedies and natural cosmetics made with spices are available for purchase at very fair prices. 04. The Spice Gardens are also quiet, peaceful places to spend some time close to nature. 05. The gardens give a chance to try out amazing aromatic meals complete with the spices that tease your senses are a favorite here as well. 06. The gardens are usually open for visitors, though some may charge a minor entrance fee. So it’s a great way to spend your holiday if you are on a budget.

Not all spices are grown in a single garden, of course, since various climates and soil types are necessary for cultivation of the different spices. Therefore taking a guide or finding a formal tour package with a guide and transport method is a good idea.

A guide will take you through rows of cinnamon, panda leaves, allspice , vanilla, and other spice plants. At the onsite shop you can buy different spice or herbal products for consumption or as a souvenir.

Stop 03

Negombo City Tour

Departure

Transfer to Airport for departure flight.

Tour Includes

• Accommodation on sharing a double/twin/triple room at the hotels specified in hotel collection.

• Include Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

• Transport in a Private Vehicle, inclusive of all Chauffeur accommodation, cost of fuel, parking & highway tolls.

• Private Transport with airport transfers in an Air-Conditioned Vehicle throughout the tour

• Service of an English-Speaking Chauffeur Guide.

Tour Excludes

• Entry Visa Fees, please visit www.eta.gov.lk for more details

• International / Domestic Airfare.

• Any expenses of personal nature.

• Tips & Portages.

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