Sri Lanka Exploration Tour for europe

EXPLORATION TOUR - 15 DAYS / 14 NIGHTS

Arrive at Bandaranaike International Airport by flight No. UL and met by "Don Voyage" Representatives and transfer to a hotel in Colombo.

CITY TOUR & SHOPPING
The City Tour will include places of Tourist interest such as Old parliament, Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, Buddhist Hindu Temple and Town Hall.

SHOPPING
Shopping at Odel, House of Fashion, Bare foot and etc.

After breakfast leave for Anuradhapura.En route visit Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage.

ELEPHANT ORPHANGE
The foster – home of elephants of different age and size feed, bathe, play together and even mate. These great animals have been found injured or left abandoned in the wilderness. Now they even breed in captivity.

CAVE TEMPLE
Cave Temples of Dambulla, contain more than 150 Statues of the Buddha. This was where a king of the 1st Century B.C. took refuge and latter converted them into a monastery.

ANRADHAPURA
The first Capital of Sri Lanka founded in the 4th Centuary B.C. City Tour includes, visits to “Isurumuniya”, Sacred Bo-tree, the Brazen – Palace, Ruwanweliseya, Samadhi Statue, Abyagiriya, Moonstone Twin Ponds and Jethwanaramaya.

MIHINTALE
Where Buddhism was officially introduced to a king of the 3rd century B.C. Today it is very popular with Buddhist pilgrims and tourist the complex consists of rocks caves ponds and stupas. First monastery of Sri Lanka and the worlds first declared sanctuary.

POLLONNARUWA
After the taking over of the Island by the Cholas of India who were growing in power and building an empire for them selves, it was decided by them to make Polonnaruwa the capital city. In the year 1055AD a brave and determined Sinhala king from the southern part of the Island overpowered the invaders and took over the capital that

SIGIRIYA ROCK FORTRESS
which contains beautiful frescoes of heavenly maidens with flowers and fruit baskets and a palace garden with an intricate irrigation system - Sigiriya is called the 08th Wonder of the World. This was the Royal Citadel of King Kasyapa who ruled in the 5th Century A.D.

SPICE GARDEN
Visit a spice garden at matale which grows spices and herbs used for Sri Lankan cuisine and medication. Spices of Sri Lanka attracted the early sea faring merchants who made the long voyages to purchase this precious merchandise.

P.m. Visit art and craft centre and Gem Bureau where you will be shown a documentary film on how Sri Lankan Gem mining is traditionally done.

UDAWATTE KELE SANCTUARY.
This is a trek of rainforest rich in species that has enjoyed protection from historical times. It supports many species of bird life. Some of the common birds are Layard’s Parakeet, Gold-fronted and Blue-winged Leafbirds, Spotted and Emerald Doves, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher,Yellow-fronted, Crimson-fronted and Brown-headed barbets and

BOTANICAL GARDEN
En-route visit the Botanical Garden Peradeniya. Which was a pleasure garden of a Kandyan King of the 16th Century and later made in to a Botanical Garden during the British regime. This gardens, one of the best in Asia is a place of beauty and site for bird watchers.

TEMPLE OF THE TOOTH OF RELIC
Visit the Temple of the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha. This temple, the most important one for The Sri Lankan Buddhists was built in the 16th Century A.D. solely for the purpose of housing the tooth relic. Observe the magnificent Architecture of that period and experience the tranquility of the atmosphere.

Nuwara Eliya, the misty city is located over 6000 feet above sea level.
The drive will be through refreshing Tea Plantations covering the hills like carpets and cascading waterfalls to mesmerize you.

NUWARA ELIYA CITY TOUR
Drive through the little town of Nuwara Eliya observing the well-maintained buildings of colonial Architecture. Visit the busy market where the tea plantation workers rush in and out with their days provisions. Visit the lake Gregory built for generating power during the British Colonial age but now a feature that adds beauty to the city.

Rare species of fauna and flora are found here. This Plains was once the hunting ground for the British Governor Mr. Farr. Today the home of Mr. Farr has been turned into a Rest House and is called “Farr Inn”.

BUDURUWAGALA.
The rock carvings of Buduruwagala are believed to be over a Thousand years old The rock carvings of Buduruwagala are believed to be over a Thousand years old. There are seven figurers carved in high relief on a Rock that rises beyond the stream and the tallest one is of the Buddha, which is 51 feet tall.

YALA NATIONAL PARK
visit Ruhunu National Park at Yala. This will include a Safari tour by jeep with a jungle tracker, where you can see animals in the Jungle; including elephants, Bears, Wild boar, Dear, Buffalo, Monkeys and many other animals if you are lucky, leopards too. You also could see different types of birds. It’s a small experience for bird watch lovers.

En route visit Kirinda.
KIRINDA
The temple of the Kirinda marks the place where Princes Viharamaha Devi landed when her Father, a King of Kelaniya, set her adrift on a Golden Boat in the Indian Ocean.
The King who tortured to death a member of the Sanga believed that the subsequent sea inundation that consumed a great part of his Kingdom was the punishment that came as Roth of the Gods, which could be atoned only by sacrificing his Daughter.
However the princes who survived and came Ashore in the Southeast Point of Kirinda was wedded by the King Kawantissa who ruled in that region and their son was the famous King Dutugemunu who succeeded in liberating Sri Lanka from the Indians and also repulsed many invasions.

GALLE DUTCH FORTRESS
An ancient city which is now a modern and buzzing town today. It was the most important sea port way back in history, where the sea faring merchants arrived to trade and barter. This is also where the Portuguese first set foot in the year 1505 and built a fortress, Which was later captured and fortified by the Dutch. The fortress is one of the best

preserved in the island. A visit to the fortress and to watch the sunset from the rampart is an experience unforgettable. The oldest Protestant church in the country called the ‘Groote Kirk’ built by the Dutch is located inside the Fort. It is situated close to New Oriental Hotel also built by them as the Governor’s Residence in 1684.

TURTLE HATCHERY
Projects have been launched to conserve the population of turtles that are reaching extinction and such projects are found along the southern coast of Sri Lanka where turtles come as hop to lay their eggs. The turtle digs a hole on the Beach, Lais hers eggs and covers it with sand where it is suppose, incubate by the heat of the sun. What often

happens is the eggs are dug out by fisherman and sold to people who consume them.
But now the eggs are bought up by the conservation projects and hatched the Natural way in enclosed areas and the Birds don’t have a chance of picking them up. This offers them a better chance of survival.

BEACH STAY
p.m At leisure – Beach Stay with many choices of spending your time. Leisurely strolling on the Golden Beaches enthralled in the magical atmosphere. Lazing on a Sun deck reading a book of you choice, and sipping a cool fresh tropical fruit drink of pine apple, Mango, Banana. Water skiing, Wind Surfing, Snorkeling or cutting through the

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