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Ancient Cities & Hill Country |
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Catch a glimpse of the ancient glory and experience the cool and freshness of the beautiful hill country. A 6 day 5 night tour visiting the Lion Rock that held the citadel of Sigiriya, the palace of King Kashyapa world famous for its frescos and construction, Polonnaruwa the second capital of Sri Lanka, The picturesque City of Kandy, the elephant orphanage at Pinnawela and a City Tour in Colombo.
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Arrive at Katunayake International airport. You will be met by Tour East representative at the airport and transferred to Galle Face hotel in Colombo.
Check in to Galle Face hotel.
Overnight at Galle Face Hotel. |
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Breakfast at Galle Face hotel.
After breakfast leave for Sigiriya. Climb the 5th century Sigiriya Rock fortress that is a world heritage site, built by King Kashyapa (473-491AD), presently known as the eighth world wonder. The ‘Lion Rock’ is a citadel of unusual beauty rising 200 meters from the scrub jungle. The rock was the innermost stronghold of the 70 hectare fortified town. A moat, rampart, and extensive gardens including the renowned water gardens ring at the base of the rock. Visit the world-renowned
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frescoes of the ‘Heavenly Maidens’ of Sigiriya, which are in a sheltered pocket of the rock approached by a spiral stairway. These frescoes are painted in earth pigments on plaster. Having climbed the rock you will encounter the remains of the Palace and its environs.
Check in at Hotel Sigiriya in Sigiriya.
Overnight stay at Hotel Sigiriya. |
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Breakfast at Hotel Sigiriya.
After breakfast leave for Polonnoruwa and visit the ruins of this ancient city which is the 2nd capital of the Sinhala kings dating back to the 11th and 12th century AD. The entire landscape of the region is punctuated by huge man made reservoirs, the most famous is the “Parakrama Samudra” and other numerous monuments are found in this ancient city which is situated at 216km from Colombo. Visit the |
| ruins of the Royal Palace, Lankathilleke Vihare, Thuparama Image House, Gal Vihare and the Lotus Pounds. |
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Return to hotel. Evening at leisure.
Overnight stay at Hotel Sigiriya. |
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Breakfast at Hotel Sigiriya.
After breakfast leave for Kandy. En-route visit the Dambulla Rock Cave Temple, which was donated by King Walagambahu in the 1st century BC to Buddhist monks. The complex of five caves with over 2000sq. meters of painted walls and the ceiling is the largest area of paintings found. These caves contain over 150 images of the Buddha of which the largest is the colossal figure of the Buddha carved out of rock spanning 14 meters. Visit an exotic Spice Garden in Matale. |
Afternoon visit the Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya to see its magnificent Orchid House and the grove of splendid trees, planted by eminent world figures. Drive around the Kandy Lake and visit Kandy town and Bazaar, the Arts & Crafts Center, Gem Museum & the Lapidary. In the evening witness a cultural show featuring traditional Kandyan and Sri Lankan dancing. Thereafter visit the Dalada Maligawa – the Temple of the Tooth Relic of the Lord Buddha, rescued from the cremation flames. |
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Check in at the Swiss Residence in Kandy.
Overnight stay at Swiss Residence Hotel. |
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Breakfast at Swiss Residence hotel.
After breakfast leave to Colombo. En-route visit the Elephant Orphanage at Pinnawala, this Orphanage is the home for about 60 elephants, which some are baby elephants abandoned or orphaned in the wild. They are cared for, fed & trained by the Wild Life Authorities. The best time to visit is during feeding times when one can witness the baby elephants being bottle-fed. It is also possible to accompany the |
elephants to a river nearby to see them having a bath.
Proceed to Colombo. |
Afternoon leave on a sightseeing tour of Colombo driving through the Commercial area of the ‘Fort' so named, because both the Portuguese and Dutch had a fort at this point. Drive past ‘Pettah' a noisy Oriental bazaar with a hotchpotch of humanity. Ancient vehicles, bargains, mosques and temples. Visit a Hindu and Buddhist temple. Continue the tour through the Wolfendhal Dutch Church and to the residential are of Cinnamon Gardens.
Check in at Galle Face hotel.
Overnight stay at Galle Face Hotel. |
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Breakfast at Galle Face hotel.
Transfer to the Airport for the Departure flight. |
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