| Day 01 |
Arrive in Sri Lanka. Meet & greet by a representative of HEMTOURS and transfer to Negombo. |
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Late afternoon brief tour of Negombo - The Fishing Village. Visit the Lagoon area, Fish market, “Lellama” where the deep sea caught fish is auctioned to see the type of fish caught in nets, Lagoon to see the number of boats anchored and talk to deep sea Fishermen. |
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Overnight : In Negombo |
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| Day 02 |
After breakfast, leave for Habarana. En route visit the elephant orphanage in Pinnawela. |
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Arrive and Check in at the hotel in Habarana. |
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Afternoon visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sigiriya - 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 |
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| Day 03 |
After breakfast, leave for Polonnaruwa 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 |
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| Day 04 |
Morning leave for Kandy. En route visit the following places: |
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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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Late afternoon Sri Dalada Maligawa, also known as the Temple of the Tooth where a sacred tooth relic of the Lord Buddha is enshrined |
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Overnight : In Kandy |
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| Day 05 |
Morning visit the Royal Palace of Kandy (now a museum), Vishnu Devala, Natha Devala, Audience Hall of the Kings of Kandy, other buildings used by the Queens and Ministers. |
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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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Late afternoon 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 |
After late breakfast leave for Galle, en route visit Matara Dutch Fort and Hituwalena Cave a Muslim holy place which is said to possess an underground cave that runs all the way to Mecca. |
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Overnight : In Galle |
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| Day 07 |
Morning at leisure. |
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Afternoon 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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Overnight : In Galle |
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| Day 08 |
After breakfast proceed to the Dutch Fort- “A World Heritage Site” and 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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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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Enjoy a relaxing afternoon at the Unawatuna Beach. |
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Overnight : In Galle |
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| Day 09 |
After breakfast leave for Mount Lavinia / Colombo |
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En route visit Kalutara Dagoba. |
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Overnight : In Mount Lavinia / Colombo |
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| Day 10 |
Transfer to Airport for departure |
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