Sri Lanka > Leisure Tour > Wisdom Walk…
When you wish for the best traveling experience in Sri Lanka, you can think about visiting Pinnawala, Dambulla, Kandy and Polonnaruwa. You should really set aside numerous days to visit these places even when you’re traveling to Sri Lanka for the first time. Throughout the tour, you will visit many World Heritage Sites, monuments, temples and more. During this 5 days tour, we shall visit Pinnawala, Dambulla, Polonnaruwa, Kandy, and Colombo. As soon as we settle in Pinnawala, our tour guide will lead you to the elephant orphanage, where you can watch the herd of elephants trained by the Wildlife Authority. Later, when we are at Dambulla, we will take you to the Dambulla Rock Temple which looks magnificent due to the art work on the cave temples. We shall also visit the Sigiriya rock fortress and the ‘Heavenly Maidens’ of Sigiriya. As we proceed with some sightseeing at Polonnaruwa, you can think about capturing the beauty of many places through your HD camera. These include the Lankathilake, the Watadage, the Kiri Vehera, the Galpotha and the Shiva Temple. In Kandy, we shall lead you to a spice garden, and plantations along with the Temple of the Tooth Relic and the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens. You will also enjoy the orientation drive in Colombo and shopping at a supermarket or some well-known shops.
Note: The tour can be customized further with the interest of the traveller. Please do write to us to know more options and special interest tours.
After arriving at the Colombo Airport, a local team member shall welcome you. An appointed driver will also help you check in at the Sigiriya hotel. As we start off for the day, we shall visit The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage and enjoy a sumptuous breakfast. This orphanage is nothing but the habitat of 60 elephants which have been abandoned in the wilderness. Within the premises, the Wildlife Authority not only takes care of the elephants but also trains them. Further ahead, you can also stop by a nearby river to watch the elephants having their daily bath. Once we leave for Dambulla, en route, we will spend some time at The Spice Garden in Mawanella. The vast landscape is known for its plantations and the spices as well. While you are introduced to the spices, we shall also check out the way in which the spices are cultivated as well as processed. Later, as soon as we arrive at Dambulla, you shall settle in a hotel. After enjoying a tasty lunch, we shall be visiting The Dambulla Rock Temple, which was offered by the king Walagambahu to the Buddhist Monks. Apart from being the world’s heritage site, Dambulla is famous for its cave temples. With five caves sprawled across 2000 sq. meters of area, you will be awestruck by the beautiful paintings on the walls and ceilings. While the caves boast 150 images, they are known for the colossal figure of the Buddha which has been intricately carved from rock. Soon after the sun sets, you will be relaxing at a hotel in Sigiriya or Dambulla.
As we wake up early in the morning with a cup of tea/coffee, we shall climb uphill to the 5th century Sigiriya rock fortress, which is yet another world’s heritage site. This fortress was built by the king Kassapa during his rule in 477-495 A.D. As you roam around the place, you will have every other excuse to spend some more time near the ‘Lion Rock’ which is as high as 200 meters from the scrub jungle. This rock is known to protect the 70 hectare town against attacks. Moreover, you can amble across gardens, surrounded by a lake just near to the base of the rock. You can further visit the “Heavenly Maidens’ of Sigiriya through the spiral stairway to admire the frescoes. These paintings exemplify the art through earth pigments on plaster. As we return to the hotel for breakfast, we shall proceed for Polonnaruwa and spend time for a city tour. While Polonnaruwa is known as the world’s heritage site, it is also the second capital city of Sri Lanka. At this place, you can also view The Audience Hall, the Lotus Bath, the Parakrama Samudraya, the statue of king Parakramabahu and four rock carved statues of Buddha is different poses. Among the different places, you shall visit the monuments like the Kiri Vehera, the Watadage, the Shiva Temple, the Lankathilake, and the Galpotha. Moreover, the place is also famous for the remains of the temple of the Tooth Relic. Later, we shall leave for Kandy and post arrival, we shall settle in the hotel. You can then go ahead for a refreshing nap at the hotel. During the evening, we shall go for a tour in Kandy which is not only the World’s Heritage Site but also the last capital during the reign of the ancient kings. When you come across the name ‘Kandy’, it brings in the vision of magnificence and splendour. Most of the traditions in the city are still followed by the inhabitants. A bit later, you will drive around The Kandy Lake which the last Sinhala king, Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe built way back in 1798. You can also walk down the local market and visit the gem lapidary along with the arts and crafts centre. Towards the end of the day, you can watch the Kandyan dance, which had become very much popular during the reign of the kings from the 16th to the 19th centuries. In modern era, this dance is now the national dance of the island nation. At night, we shall spend time relaxing in a hotel in Kandy.
Soon after a delicious breakfast, we shall visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy. This temple is a holy place as the “Dalada Maligawa” dwells within the temple. While Kandy is known as the capital from period 1592-1815, it is protected against attacks by a terrain. Further ahead, we shall start off with a trip to The Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, The Geragama tea factory & tea plantation, and the Matale spice garden. While we are at Matale, you can check out a wide range of spices that the island nation is known for. You could also get an opportunity to check the cooking style through a demonstration. Situated near Kandy, The Geragama Plantation was established in 1903 and is known for the cultivation of long leaf tea and long grown tea. This tea center has always been on the list of travel enthusiasts who want to buy Ceylon Tea. The Peradeniya Botanical Gardens was designed with an aim of seeking bliss for a Sinhala King. Moreover, the British had expanded the botanical garden with an extensive range of flowers, plants and trees. As evening sets in, you get sufficient time to relax and later spend time resting in Kandy.
Post breakfast, we shall be leaving for Colombo and soon be settling in a hotel after arrival. Soon after catching some sleep, the chauffeur will lead you to the Colombo City orientation drive with some places for candid snaps. As you drive across the city, you will visit the fort, some commercial areas, the Cinnamon Gardens, The military garrison, the market area, and the Sea Street-the Goldsmiths quarters. You shall also stop by the Hindu Temple known for elegant stone carvings. When you’re around the Cinnamon Gardens, it’s worth visiting the former eye hospital and the Dewatagaha Mosque. Additionally, you shall also spend a wonderful time at the BMICH to appreciate the beauty of the Independence Square, and the replica of Aukana Buddha. In the evening, the driver will take you to The Beira Lake where you can spend time strolling around the area. You can also dwell in the tranquil atmosphere as you visit The Buddhist Temple, Seema Malaka. Once you avail the entry pass, you can stop by the Buddhist Temple, Gangaramaya. Here you can experience a totally different atmosphere with visitors worshipping the gods. A bit later, you can head for the supermarket or shops like the Barefoot & Paradise Road. While Barefoot is a place with a bookshop, café, gallery and an area for a performance, it’s also a place to chill out. Besides, you can think about items to spruce up your home at the Paradise Road. In the end we shall be concluding the tour with a walk around the Marine Drive and having a meal at a popular restaurant. During the night, we shall be back in Colombo and shall be relaxing at the hotel.
After a yummy breakfast, we shall be departing for the airport and boarding a flight to come back home.
