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Day 01 |
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Arrive in Sri Lanka. Greet & meet by a representative of DTSL and transfer to Colombo. |
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Late afternoon visit the Independence Memorial hall and Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple. |
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Overnight : In Colombo |
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Day 02 |
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After breakfast, drive down to Galle Dutch Fort- "A World Heritage Site". En route visit Kalutara Dagoba and a Turtle Hatchery in Kosgoda. |
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Late
afternoon : Walk in the narrow streets, including the Lighthouse Street
(Zeeburg Street), Leyn-Baan Street (Lijnberg meaning rope walk), and
Modarabaay Street (Modder-baai meaning Mud bay) see the Old Dutch
Houses, private Museum where Dutch period antiques could be seen and
part of the Old Sewer system that emptied to the sea with the high/low
tide. |
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Overnight : In Galle |
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Day 03 |
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After
breakfast visit the worlds only white tea plantation. According to
Chinese legend, some 5,000 years ago the emperor Shen Nung was traveling
the countryside. The water was foul and unfit for drinking, so he
ordered it to be boiled. Suddenly the wind blew a tea leaf into his cup
of hot water. The curious emperor let the leaf steep, then drank the
brew. |
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White tea
became revered during China's Song Dynasty (960-1279). It was the choice
of the royal court and was given as tribute to the emperor. White tea
leaves and buds were ground into a silvery powder. |
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Evening :
Visit the Old Dutch Church c. 1752 constructed as a thanksgiving by the
wife of the Commandeur Casparous de Jong, for the gift of a child. |
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Visit the
Bastions including the Sun, Moon, Star, Zwart (with the old water-gate
and hidden entrance identified as the Santa Cruz Bastion of the
Portuguese), Akesloot (where the first Breadfruit tree was planted by
the Dutch), Old Gunpowder Magazine, Aeloes, Triton, Neptune and other
Bastions. |
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Overnight : In Galle |
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Day 04 |
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After breakfast leave for Sinharaja
- Primeval rain and a "World Heritage Site", via Weddagala. Proceed to
the Base Camp at Kudawa and walk from there in the reserve with a
Tracker. |
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Walk in
the "Waturawa Trail" and see some of the 120 different species of trees
(more than 60% endemic) Epiphytic Orchids, Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians
(large number of Endemic Frogs - more than 200 in the country),
Butterflies, Fishes and any Wild Animals. |
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Evening walk back to Kudawa and drive to the hotel. |
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Overnight : Close to Sinharaja Rain |
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Day 05 |
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After breakfast, proceed to Nuwara Eliya. |
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Leave for
Nuwara Eliya also called the "Little England" and is set against
beautiful backdrops of mountains, valleys, waterfalls and tea
plantations. |
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Evening
visit the Market, Victoria Park, drive round the Lake and see the
building constructed in the style of a British city including the old
Post Office and Golf Club. |
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Overnight : In Nuwara Eliya |
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Day 06 |
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Check out from the hotel after breakfast and proceed to Mahiyangana. |
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Evening
walk up on the bund of the Sorabora Wewa constructed in the 2nd C. B. C.
and enjoys the peaceful natural atmosphere of the place. See the
"Bisokotuwa" (Sluice Valve Pit) constructed by cutting the rock to 25
feet in depth with the tools available in the 2nd C.B.C. |
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Overnight : In Mahiyangana |
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Day 07 |
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Morning
visit Dambana to see the settlement of the Veddhas (Aborigines) of Sri
Lanka, whose ancestors had lived in Caves from about 40,000 years Before
Present (B. P.) as attested by the skeletal and other remains found in
caves and open air habitations. |
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The
Veddhas are still living in the jungle, in small mud huts, doing basis
agriculture and living as food gatherers and hunting wild animals with
bow and arrow. |
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See
their Cultural Center, meet the Chief of all Veddhas, Uruvarige
Vanniyaleaththo at Kota Bakina, and give those presents of betel chewing
items and cloths. See how they live in the jungle, look after the
jungle, collect bees honey and make a living in their ancestral ways. |
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Overnight : In Mahiyanagana |
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Day 08 |
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After breakfast leave for Knuckles Range via Looluwatte. |
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Enter
Knuckles Range on foot from Looluwatta and walk through the jungle
observing trees & plants, ferns, orchids, reptiles, amphibians,
butterflies, birds, and enjoying the beauty of the 35 mountains above
3500 feet some of them rising up to 6200 feet. Knuckle Range of
mountains is a protected area under the Man & Biosphere (MAB)
Project. It consists of 90 sq. Miles of Jungle, and gets rain from both
the South West and North East Monsoons. |
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Also visit
the "Corbet's Gap" - one of the most scenic places in the range. From
here you can observe the mountain peaks and the range ends on the
eastern side and the view from the Gap extends to all the way up to the
Sea. |
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Continue
to Kandy - A world Heritage Site - via Hasalaka, Rantembe, Randenigala
and Victoria Reservoirs passing through Victoria - Randenigala -
Rantembe National Park. |
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Overnight : In Kandy |
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Day 09 |
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After
breakfast visit the Kandy Market, National Museum, Old Royal Palace -
now a museum, Audience Hall, Vishnu and Natha Devala and visit the
Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic at 11.00 a.m. to see the 'Pooja'
(offerings). |
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Afternoon
visit Peradeniya Botanical Gardens - 147 acres, more than 4,000 species
of trees and plants consisting of many rare and endemic tree species.
See the Orchid House, Spice section and the Palm tree sectors. |
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Late evening view a Cultural Show |
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Overnight : In Kandy |
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Day 10 |
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Leave for Habarana en route visit Dambulla - A World Heritage Site. |
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Dambulla
Cave Temples (5 caves) dating from 1st C.B.C. to 18th C.A.D. These
Temples contains the largest painted surfaces of 21,000 square feet of
Buddhist murals covering all the walls and ceilings of the 5 caves,
large number of Buddha statues (more than 150), statues of Gods and
Kings in the caves. |
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Afternoon
visit Sigiriya - A World Heritage Site - the "Fortress in the Sky" and
see the remains of the Palace on the summit, Lion-staircase, Sigiri
Graffiti- the verses written on the Mirror Wall, Paintings of the
Damsels-Light coloured (Vijjulatha) and Dark coloured (Megalatha) in
"fresco-en-secco" and the beautifully designed Pleasure Garden (Water
garden, boulder garden), the caves with pre-Christian inscriptions,
remains of inner & outer fortifications. |
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Overnight : In Habarana / Sigiriya / Dambulla |
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Day 11 |
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After breakfast, leave for Polonnaruwa
- A UNESCO World Heritage Site - and explore this ancient city. See the
monuments including the Royal Palace & Audience Halls of King
Parakramabahu I (1153-1186 A. D.) and King Nissankamalla (1187-1196
A.D.). Thuparama, Vata-da-ge, Heta-da-ge, Pabalu Vehera, Siva Devala,
Rankot Vehera, Baddhasima-prasada, Lankatilake, Gal Vihara - to see the 4
rock-cut Buddha statues, Tivanka Image House-for beautiful 12th C.A.D.
murals on the walls etc. and the old Hospital where surgical instruments
were found. |
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Overnight : In Habarana / Sigiriya / Dambulla |
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Day 12 |
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Breakfast at the hotel and proceed to Anuradhapura
- A World Heritage Site. Visit Abhayagiriya Monastery including the
Alms Hall and the Museum, Jetavanarama Monastery, Western Monasteries,
Museum, Royal Palace, (old) Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Samadhi
Statue, Twin Ponds, Vessagiriya caves, and other monuments. |
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Return to
the hotel to freshen up and leave for Mihintale - the "Cradle of
Buddhism in Sri Lanka". Climb 1840 steps and see the Ambastala Dagoba,
Aradhanagala, Maha Thupa, Kantaka Cetiya, Naga & Kaludiya Pokuna,
Indikatu Seya, and Old Hospital etc. |
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Evening
see some monuments including the Sacred Bo-tree, Ruvanweliseya Dagoba,
Thuparama Dagoba and Issurumuniya Buddhist Temple. |
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Overnight : In Anuradhapura |
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Day 13 |
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After breakfast check out from the hotel and proceed to Negombo |
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Overnight : In Negombo |
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Day 14 |
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Transfer to Airport for departure |
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