Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Airport - Negombo - Sigiriya:
Arrival, welcome & assistance at the airport. Leave for Sigiriya. En-route visit the fishing village in Negombo which is the center of the island’s fishing community. It is largely Roman Catholic by faith, with huge imposing churches down almost every street. The sea & the catamarans are the backdrop to the Negombo scenery. P.M. climb the rock of Sigiriya built by the patricide King Kashyapa in the 5th century A.D. Today it’s a treasure trove of rare art. In a pocket of the giant rock are the famous frescoes of the "heavenly maidens of Sigiriya". Return to hotel for overnight.
Day 2: Polonnaruwa - Anuradapura:
After breakfast leave for Polonnaruwa & visit the 2nd capital of Sinhala kings dating back to the 11th & 12th century A.D. The entire landscape of the region is punctuated by huge man-made reservoirs, the most famous of which is the "Parakrama Samudra". Numerous monuments are found in this city & "Gal Vihara" complex is one of the best among them with the fine sculpture of the recumbent, Standing and seated Buddha’s. P.M. leave for Anuradhapura & visit the ruins of the first capital founded in the 5th century bc here is found the largest number of ancient monuments of a great civilization.
"Sri Mahabodhi" the oldest historically documented tree in the world is over 2200 years. There are monuments such as Ruwanveliseya dageba, 2nd century bc with its famous Elephant wall; Thuparama dageba 3rd century BC. The pillars of the brazen palace which once had nine storey’s, the image of the Samadhi Buddha, one of the finest places of Buddhists sculpture, the twin ponds, guard stones & moonstones overnight at hotel.
Day 3: Sigiriya - Dambulla - Matale - Kandy:
After breakfast leave for Kandy. En-route visit the rock cave temple of Dambulla. Some of the frescoes in these caves are over 2000 years old. There is also a colossal figure of the recumbent Buddha 14 meters long carved out of rock. Visit a spice garden & batik factory in Matale. En-route to Kandy. Evening arrive at hotel in Kandy, the center of the traditional arts in Sri Lanka. Visit the temple of the sacred tooth relic of Buddha. Return to hotel for overnight.
Day 4: Kandy - Pinnawala - Kandy:
After breakfast leave for Pinnawela & visit the elephant Orphanage. This orphanage was established to feed nurse & house young elephants found abandoned by their mothers. Often the young ones fall into pits and ravines in their request for water during drought period. P.M. visit the city of Kandy. The most famous landmark of Kandy is its lake, in the center of the city. Udawatte-kele is a nature reserve surrounded by city. The Kandy market is a great bazaar full of the sounds of exiting trade. Late in the evening view the Kandyan cultural performance return to hotel overnight.
Day 5: Kandy - Nuwaraeliya:
After breakfast visit the royal botanical gardens of Peradeniya which is well known for it’s large number and variety of plants, ornamental, Decorative, Useful & medicinal. More than 4000 species include indigenous and introduced plants. This garden is best known for it’s collection of orchids the largest in Asia. P.M. leave for Nuwaraeliya the center of hill country, En-route visit a tea plantation and witness the manufacture of the world famous "Ceylon tea". Spend the evening walking in the cool climate. Arrive at hotel for overnight.
Day 6: Nuwaraeliya - Kataragama - Yala:
After breakfast leave for Tissamaharama Region Stop at Ella to admire the magnificent view. & the sacred city of Kataragama. P.M safari in Yala park by jeep. The Elephant is undoubtedly the best known attraction at Yala, seen in small & large herds. Herds of spotted deer are seen all over the park. Monkeys-the pinkish rhesus and the Grey-faced Langur Monkey live and play on the tree-tops and the ground below. Wild buffalo & wild boar could give you a good surprise & the sight of a leopard sunning itself or drinking water at a water hole could be memorable experience .the peacock is easily the most famous of the birds at Yala. The painted stork, many varieties of heron, the spoonbill, the bee-eater, parakeets, and king-fisher & wood pecker are some of the birds can be seen in the park. Arrive at hotel for overnight.
Day 7: Galle - Colombo:
After breakfast leave for Galle. Visit the old Portuguese fort, later rebuilt and extended by the Dutch is still fine preservation. Most of the administration of Galle still takes place from the fort. The view from the ramparts is superb. Continuation towards Colombo. P.M visit the fascinating city of Colombo which links the past with the present. You will visit the fort area, the commercial center, "Pettah" Colombo’s bustling bazaar area, a cinnamon garden which is full of large residences, Buddhist temples, Hindu temples & mosques. Visit the Buddhist temple in Kelaniya. Return to the hotel for overnight.
Day 8: Colombo - Airport:
After breakfast transfer to the airport to connect flight for departure. Rooms till 12h00 in the afternoon. Upon arrival in Cochin our executive will meet you at the airport followed by an arrival transfer to the hotel. Evenign at 17.30hrs visit to the famous dance drama of Kerala the "Kathakali". This dance can be characterized by grotesque gesticulations, amazing costumes and very extensive make-up. The stories are mostly taken from the epics Mahabharatha and Ramayana. Return to hotel and rest of the day at leisure. (Overnight at Cochin).
Day 9: Cochin – Alleppey:
Check out from the hotel after breakfast and proceed for sight seeing of Cochin visiting - ‘The Jewish Synagogue’ at the heart of what is locally called the Jew Town, ‘The St. Francis Church’, the oldest European Church in India, ‘The Santa Cruz Basilica’ originally built in 1557 by the Portuguese, The Dutch Palace, Spice market at the narrow streets. Later we drive to Alleppey – the land of backwaters. On arrival embark into a private house boat that is waiting to take you on a tour through the backwaters, a splendid area full of canals, lakes and coves. You can sunbathe on the deck or observe the landscape from the protection of the cabin. The population’s whole life takes place here on the water.
The people sail, fish, swim and bathe here. They do their washing and their washing up. They are so adapted to the water that you can see people talking for an hour, while they are up to their necks in water. Peddlers take care of the supplies and the public transport goes on the water. Countless water birds wait for their chance to catch a fish. The trip goes through a wonderful area full of palm trees, rice fields and floating water plants that surround the boat like emerald Green Island. (Overnight onboard Houseboat).
Day 10: Alleppey – Thekkady:
Disembark the houseboat after breakfast and drive to Periyar (also known as Thekkady). The name periyar comes after the Dam made here by the English in 1895. A wild life reserve hence is an ideal place to track down wild life such as Elephants, Bison, Deer and numerous other varieties of birds. The landscape here is with very tropical and you will be surrounded by tea, coffee & other spices. On arrival check on to hotel and at 16.00hrs leave for the most popular boat trip at the National Park - the best way to observe game in wild is by boat. There are many animals to see, including herds of elephants, bison’s and packs of wild boars that roam through the woods and parade along the shores of the lake just before sunrise and sunset. (Overnight at Thekkady).
Day 11: Thekkady – Madurai:
Check out from the hotel after breakfast and drive to Madurai. On route visit guided plantation tour to the nearby garden where in various species of spices and other aromatic plants are cultivated. The guide explains & clarifies your doubts on this tour. On arrival check into the hotel after refreshment proceed for sight seeing tour of Madurai visiting - the famous Meenakshi Temple, where thousands of priests and worshippers come daily, people are blessed by the temple elephant. Further more visit the Tirumalai Nayak palace and Gandhi Museum. Later return to hotel and after dinner visit Meenakshy temple for the ceremony with a fanfare, where the god Shiva is lead to the bedroom of his wife, Meenaksh. (Overnight at Madurai).
Day 12: Madurai – Tanjore:
Check out from the hotel after breakfast and drive to Tanjore. On route visit Trichy ‘a town situated on the banks of river Cauvery’ visiting the famous "Sriranganathaswami temple" at Srirangam - The most revered of the 108 pilgrimage shrines of Vishnu, and the largest temple complex in all India, it is surrounded by seven concentric walls (the outermost wall having a perimeter of over 3 kilometers) and 21 towers called "Gopurams". The most attractive among the Gopuras is the one at the entrance with lot of colors and stands one of the tallest amongst many other temple towers in Tamilnadu. Srirangam enshrines a statue of Vishnu reclining on a great serpent.
As the next place we visit the ‘Rock fort temple’ at the main town. A 437 rock cut steps will reach you to the Ganesh Shrine on top of this rock. A view of entire Trichy town from here is breath taking. Later we head to reach Tanjore. On arrival check into the hotel after refreshment proceed for sightseeing of Tanjore visiting the world famous Brihadeshwar temple (houses one of Asia’s biggest nandi – the bull). The temple built by the cholas is very special for its architecture. The most special is that the temple does not have a shadow falling on ground at any time of day but falls on its own body. Return back to hotel and rest of the day at leisure. (Overnight at Tanjore).
Day 13: Tanjore – Mamallapuram:
Check out from the hotel after breakfast and drive to Mamallapuram. On route visit Pondicherry – Sri Manakula Vinayagar temple, Aurobindo Ashram, Auroville – an universal town. Later we head to reach Mamallapuram. On arrival check into he hotel and rest of the day at leisure. (Overnight at Mamallapuram).
Day 14: Mamallapuram:
After breakfast proceed for sightseeing of Mamallapuram visiting The Arjuna`s Penance (Bass Relief) and onward visiting monuments of Krishnas Butterball, Rayalagopuram, Ganeshratha, Varahacave, Ottikkal mandapam, Trimurthi caves, Koneri mandapam, Lions throne, Mahishasuramardini mandapam, Dharmaraja mandapam, Ramanuja mandapam, Five rathas (symbolises equality of men & women) & to end with at the famous Shore temple. Return to hotel and at rest of the day at leisure. (Overnight at Mamallapuram).
Day 15: Departure, transfer:
Check out from the hotel after breakfast and drive to Chennai airport for onward flight back to home.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
OUR PRICES INCLUDE
Welcome at the airports by our representative. The accommodation in Twin / Double bed rooms in the hotels mentioned or similar as per option selected, Check-in / Check-out 12h00.All applicable taxes. The excursions and sightseeing mentioned in Program (Without all entrance fees & Jeep Charges to visit reserve)
Air-conditioned private vehicle provided for the tour
TOUR PRICE EXCLUDES: - Entrance, camera and guide fees at sight seeing – except which ever is included- Lunch & Dinner except those mentioned above
Expenses of personal nature such as drinks, laundry, telephones, tipping, porters, etc
Lunch & dinner except mentioned in the above. International / Inland flight tickets
Sri Lanka entrance fees USD 115 per person India USD 35 per person
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