| A PEEK INTO THE GREAT ANCIENT CULTURE |
| PROGRAMME |
: Culture & Nature Tour |
| DURATION |
: 6 Nights / 7 Days. |
| PERIOD |
: Valid till 31-Oct-2006 |
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Hightlights of the Tour
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- Day 1. Waikkala-Negombo - Observe the Nature in the coastal belt and the Culture
influenced by the Catholic Church.
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- Day 2. Mihintale-Anuradhapura – Visit the World’s First Wildlife Sactuary and the “the Tree
of Enlightenment”. Nature in central lowland, Culture influenced by Buddhism and
very important Buddhist sites (“A City of Ruins”).
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- Day 3. Sigiriya – Climb the 600ft high Gigantic “Rock Fortress” proposed to be Eighth
Wonder of the World.
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- Day 4. Kandy – The beautiful bustling City of the most sacred “Temple of the Tooth”
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- Day 5. Kitulgala – Enjoy the thrill of White Wa ter Rafting & finish the day with a Bicycle Ride to “a cave of th e ancients”.
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| Day 1 - Arrival
& transfer to a hotel in Waikkala / Negombo (HB) |
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| Arrival and transfer to a hotel in “Waikkala”
or “Negombo”. |
| WAIKKALA
is located in the Puttalam District, which falls into the
dry zone category. Waikkala is in the midst of marine, coastal,
estuarine, mangroves, marshland and man made habitat systems.
All of these have contributed to the avifaunal diversity visible
in the immediate surrounding. Much of the avifauna is characterististically
wetland.
SOME OF THE BIRDS IN WAIKKALA
More than 60 species of birds can be observed here.
Eg: Common sandpiper, little ringed plover, Purple coot, Painted
stork, Stork-billed kingfisher and others.
NEGOMBO
Bustling Negambo town is a historically interesting place
strongly influenced by the Catholic Church. The narrow strip
of land between the lagoon & the sea and the many cannals
make for a good exploring. The Dutch captured the town from
the Portuguese in 1640, lost it again in the same year, then
captured it again in 1644. The British then took it from them
in 1796 without a struggle. Negambo was one of the most important
sources of cinnamon during the Dutch era, and there are still
reminders of the European days.
SCHEDULE
• Arrival & transfer to a hotel in Waikkala or Negombo.
• At leisure after a long flight.
• Dinner & night stay over at Waikkala / Negombo. Value
– Hotel Sunset Beach or similar / Standard – Ranweli Holiday
Village or similar / Deluxe – “The Beach” Hotel or similar.
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| Day 2 - Waikkala / Negambo – Anuradhapura
– Mihintale - Anuradhapura (FB) |
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| Leaving to Anuraddhapura with a
visit to Mihintale. |
| MIHINTALE
TEMPLE
This is a beautiful site, revered for being the place where
the king was converted to Buddhism in 243BC enabling the religion
to spread over the whole island. The hilltop site is worth
the climb, even in 95 degrees. The triple hills you struggle
up give you superb views, one hilltop has a modern Buddha
which is beautifully carved, another has an impressive dagoba
and temple and the other is a climb up stone cut grooves to
a meditation rock outcrop.
ANURUDHAPURA
This sacred city was established around a cutting from the
"tree of enlightenment", Buddha's fig tree, brought
there in the 3rd century B.C. by Sanghamitta, the founder
of an order of Buddhist nuns. Anuradhapura, a Ceylonese political
and religious capital that flourished for 1,300 years, was
abandoned after an invasion in 993. Hidden away in thick jungle
for a long time, the splendid site, with its palaces, monasteries
and monuments, is once again accessible.
SCHEDULE
• After an early breakfast or packed breakfast proceed to
Anuraddhapura to visit the ruins.
• Lunch at a restaurant or hotel in Anuraddhapura.
• An evening visit to Mihintale.
• Dinner & night stay over at Anuraddhapura. Value – Nuwarawewa
Rest House or similar / Standard – Miridiya Hotel or similar
/ Deluxe – Palm Garden Village Hotel or similar.
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| Day 3 - Anuradhapura - Aukan
Budda Statue – Sigiriya (FB) |
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| Leaving to Sigiriya |
The ancient city of SIGIRIYA
was designated a cultural World Heritage Site in 1982. It
is also proposed that the site should be named the eighth
wonder of the world, indicating it is in the same league as
other international wonders such as the Grand Canyon and Ancient
Pyramids. Translated as ‘Lion Rock’ into English, the name
of the monument indicates the way in which visitors used to
begin their final ascent to the top – through the open jaws
and throat (‘giriya’) of a lion (‘sinha’). Unfortunately,
the only remains of this lion figure are the gigantic paws,
sculpted into the side of the rock. The topography of the
area is flat except for the massive rock outcrop of the fortress
itself (which rises an incredible 600 ft up from the green
scrub jungle). The unusual rock is particularly interesting
due to its flat top (nearly an acre in size), that was used
in its entirety to build King Kasyapa’s fortress complex,
still evident by the presence of the extensive ruins.
SCHEDULE
• After breakfast leaving to Sigirya with a visit to Aukan
Budda Statue.
• Lunch on the way at a hotel or restaurant.
• Climb the Sigiriya Rock.
• Dinner & night stay over at Sigiriya. Value – Sigiriya
Rest House or similar / Standard – Sigiriya Hotel or similar
/ Deluxe – Sigiriya village or similar.
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| Day 4 - Sigiriya - Kandy
(FB) |
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| Leaving from Sigiriya to Kandy. |
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| KANDY,
Sri Lanka’s hill capital stronghold of the Sinhala
kings, repository of culture, religious center
is Sri Lanka’s most beautiful town. Focal point
of this city is the Dalada Maligawa, were the
sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha is enshrined.
Highlight of the year is the Kandy Esala Perahera,
when a replica of the relic casket is paraded
in the streets, accompanied by exotically costumed
dancers, drummers and anything from eighty to
a hundred gaily-caparisoned elephants, for ten
littering festival nights. Once in Kandy you can’t
miss the lovely artificial lake built by the last
Sinhala king, Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe, in 1806.
DALADA MALIGAWA
The Temple of the Tooth or Dalada Malgawa dates
from the 16th century, though most of the present
buildings were built in the 19th century. Entering
the shrine over a moonstone step, you pass a stone
depicting the Indian goddess Lakshmi and a wall
with frescoes illustrating the Buddhist conception
of hell. The upper stories house the relic of
the tooth, caged behind the gilded iron bars.
Behind the tooth relic sanctuary is a hall with
a number of golden Buddha statues and modern paintings,
showing Buddha’s life and the arrival of Buddhism
in the land. We end our tour just before the evening
drumming begins, which precedes the ceremonious
opening of the window for the public viewing of
the casket with the tooth.
SCHEDULE
• After breakfast proceed to Kandy.
• After lunch at Kandy, a city tour.
• Visit the “Dalada Maligawa” (temple of the tooth)
& view a culture show in the evening.
• Night dinner & stay in Kandy. Value – Gem
Inn or similar / Standard – Suisse Hotel or similar
/ Deluxe – Earls Regency or similar.
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| Day 5 - Kandy
- Kitulgala (FB) |
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| Departure to Kitulgala. |
“An interesting affair
between currents & rapids”…………
WHITE
WATER RAFTING IN KITULGALA.
This thrilling adventure on the white water
sections of Kelani River is suitable for
amateurs as well as professionals alike.
During the run you will experience the thrill
of shooting rapids and euphoria of making
it through. The river’s clear water is born
in the heart of the peak wilderness reserve
and tumbles through a rocky gorge just above
Kithulgala.
BELILENA
CAVE which is situated 2000 feet
above sea level in scenic surroundings .The
excavations have helped to uncover many
fossils more than 32,000 years old.
SCHEDULE
• After an early breakfast or packed breakfast
proceed to Kitulgala.
• White water rafting at 10 am
• Lunch at the rafting centre
• After lunch Belilina Cave visit on cycles.
• Night dinner & stay at Kitulgala.
Value – Kitulgala Rest House or similar
/ Standard – Plantation Hotel or similar
/ Deluxe – Enduruella Bungalow (Plantation
hotel) or similar. |
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| Day 6 - Kitulgala
- Colombo (BB) |
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| Leaving to Colombo. |
COLOMBO
Like many capital cities in developing countries
is fast changing its face. Almost overnight,
skyscrapers arise from where old buildings
once stood. Yet in some parts, the Old World
charm is retained. As an example there is
a 100-year-old clock tower and several British
built colonial buildings. Other places of
interest are the Pettah bazaar where one
can shop for a bargains, the old Parliament
in Fort, a Hindu and a Buddhist temple,
residential areas where you find the stately
homes of the affluent and the Bandaranaike
Memorial International Conference Hall -
BMICH, an outright gift to Sri Lanka from
the People's Republic of China.
SCHEDULE
• After breakfast proceed to Colombo
• Evening Colombo city tour.
• Night dinner & stay in Colombo. Value
– Grand Oriental Hotel or similar / Standard
– Galle Face Hotel or similar / Deluxe –
Trans Asia Hotel or similar. |
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| Day 7 - Airport
- Departure |
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SCHEDULE
• Departure after breakfast |
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| - End of Programme - |
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No
of Pax |
01 Pax |
02 Pax |
03 Pax |
04 Pax |
Value |
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Standard |
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Luxury |
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Naturally our ready made programmes will come cheaper than the tailor make programmes. How ever we are flexible enough to do minor changes to the ready made itineraries, with out any charge. ?
Please write to us.
Do you own programme – Visit the location and activity pages on our site and you will come across mini tours in all of those pages. By combining them you can design your own tour. We will complete it by adding on the hotels and other cultural locations you may require.
Your tour will be handled by an experienced travel consultant who will provide a personalized service.
Our programmes are offered in the following 3 standards. Accommodation options have been selected after careful evaluation.
Standard -Value: Basic but clean. With a typical Sri Lankan touch , relaxed atmosphere and personalized service at Small family / enterprise run operations.
Standard - 3 Star equal: Better comforts and facilities with extra comforts. Mostly large establishments with Standardized service.
Standard - Deluxe: High standards of quality, décor, service and much more, with many extra comforts and activities to indulge yourself. We have offered locations with a unique Sri Lankan individuality, measuring up to international standards. |
 Please
inquire for our special group rates for more than 4 pax. |
| Tour operators/agents & tourism related web portals may
contact with all information for special rates. |
Please read
Expectations ours and yours before confirming a tour. |
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