Ayubowan Sri Lanka

Welcome to Sri Lanka, A land of myth, legend, history and one of the richest cultures. Colombo - The busi- est place in Sri Lanka is Colombo, the commercial capital of the country. After immigration & clearance meet our local guide and transfer to Kandy.

En route visit Pinnawala Elephant orphanage. Pinnawala is situated in the Sabaragamuwa province of Sri Lanka close to Kegalle town. An orphanage, nursery and captive breeding ground for wild Asian elephants is located at this village remarkably known as 'Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage'. The orphanage has the largest herd of captive elephants in the world and visited daily by many local and foreign tour- ists. The main attraction is clearly to observe the elephants bathing and feeding which is quite an experi- ence. The orphanage was launched to provide a lifeline to the orphaned baby elephants and adult elephants lost in the wilderness. Lunch at restaurant and proceed to Kandy

KANDY - the hill capital. Venue of the annual Perahera. The last stronghold of the Sinhala Kings was final- ly ceded to the British in 1815. Kandy is an example of Buddhism's inftuence in Sri Lanka today. Temple's shrines and monasteries keeping alive Buddhist traditions are everywhere. Kandy, which is a world herit- age site. Many of the legends, traditions and folklore are still lovingly kept alive. Drive around the Kandy Lake built by the last Sinhala king Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe in 1806.

Evening visit Temple of Tooth Relic. TEMPLE OF THE TOOTH RELIC - ever since 4th Century A.D, when the Buddha’s Tooth was brought to Sri Lanka hidden from sacrilegious hands in an Orissan princess’ hair, the Relic has grown in repute and holiness in Sri Lanka and throughout the Buddhist world. It is consid- ered Sri Lanka’s most prized possession. Proceed to the Gem Gallery and thereafter witness cultural dance show. Kandyan dance compasses various dance forms native to the area called Kandy of the cen- tral hills’ region in Sri Lanka. But today it has been widespread to other parts of the country..

After breakfast checkout from hotel. Proceed to visit Nuwara Eliya.

Enroute Visit Sri Bhakta Hanuman Temple in Ramboda. Ramboda Hanuman Temple according to the ancient stories, Ramboda is an area, where the forces of Rama's gather to fight against King Ravana. This temple was built by the Chinmaya mission of Sri Lanka and dedicated to Hanuman. This temple houses for 16 feel height statue of Hanuman.

There after proceed to Nuwara Eliya. Nuwara Eliya is a city in the hill country of the Central Province, Sri Lanka. The city is one of the most important locations for tea cultivation and well known for its cool climate being the coolest area in Sri Lanka. Many of the buildings have still preserved features from the colonial period. Many private homes have also maintained their old English-style lawns and gardens. The town wakes up with many activities in April for the Sinhalese and Tamil New year. Main allure during April season include the motor and horse racing events.

Evening visit Sita Amman Temple and Ashoka Vatika. Sitha Amman Temple, a spot believed to be the exact place where Sita was held captive by the demon-king Ravana in the Lanka of the epic, Ramayana. Myth has it that Sita, the wife of King Rama, was imprisoned in the Ashoka forests of the region. The temple trustees believe that this is no myth and that Sita’s imprisonment at this spot is a historical fact.

After breakfast check out from hotel and proceed to Bentota. Upon arrival at Bentota visit TURTLE HATCHERY - Where you can see five species of turtles-Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas), Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmo- chelys imbricata), Loggerhead Turtle (Caret- ta caretta), Leatherback Turtle (Dermoche- lys coriacea) and Olive Ridley Turtle (Lepido- chelys olivacea). The eggs collected by the Villagers and Fishermen are purchased by the Kosgoda Hatchery and kept in sandy pens until they are hatched. The newly hatched ones are kept in seawater tanks and released to the sea in the night. This Hatch- ery alone has released more than 1,750,000 young turtles to the sea. An endowment by the Hasselblad Estate was responsible for the establishment of this hatchery

Thereafter do boat ride in Madhu River. MADU RIVER – 915-hectare Madu Ganga Estuary is connected by two narrow channels to the Randombe Lake, forming a complex wetland system encompassing 64 man- grove islets.

In the year 2000, International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) undertook a detailed biodi- versity survey of the region & revealed the existence of no less than 10 major wetland vegetation types supporting over 300 plant species & 248 species of vertebrates. This remarkable diversity has led to its being classified under RAMSAR Convention on Wetlands in 2003

Breakfast at the hotel. Checkout an proceed to Colombo. Proceed for Colombo city tour. Colombo is a beautiful city with modern high-rise buildings amidst old colonial ones making it a picturesque place. Colombo offers a lot for the tourists including the National Museum and the Zoological Gardens in Dehi- wala which are worth a visit. Galle Face Green in Colombo, the favorite hangout spot for locals and tour- ists alike overlooking the beautiful Indian Ocean and surrounded by tall, beautiful buildings. Viharamaha Devi Park with tall ftowering trees is a quiet serene place in the middle of the busy city.

Evening free time for Shopping. Colombo is also a shopper’s paradise with posh shopping malls and the Local markets.

Breakfast at the hotel. Checkout an proceed to Colombo airport to board ftight, it is time to return home. The Colombo International Airport is ready to take you in, for our return journey to India.