Day 1 |
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Description: |
Met
by AAA representatives. Club & Casino hopping
tour at night.
Overnight stay at AAA Accommodation.. |
Day 2 |
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Description:
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Colombo
city tour & shopping.
Colombo - a drive through the city taking
you to the busy commercial areas as well as the
tree-lined residential, Cinnamon Gardens. Visit
Fort, the former British administrative center and
military garrison, Sea Street - the Goldsmith's
quarters in the heart of Pettah, the Bazaar area,
a Hindu Temple with elaborate stone carvings, the
Dutch Church of Wolfendhal dating back to 1749.
Visit the BMICH, see the replica of Avukana Buddha
and Independence Square.
Proceed to Galle. (Overnight stay) |
Day 3 |
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Description:
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After
breakfast city tour of Galle.
Galle - The most ancient and important
harbour of the country, until the Colombo harbour
was established. Was captured by the Portuguese
in 1587 A.D, Dutch in 1640 A.D, and British in 1796
A.D. Most of the existing buildings dates to Dutch
period. Famous for lace making, Ebony carving, Gem
cutting & Polishing.
Proceed to Kataragama.(Overnight)
Kataragama - Kataragama is a place of worship
not only for Hindus, but for Buddhists, Muslims
and some Christians as well. Kataragama Devala is
situated by the Menik Ganga (river). Still, the
major part of devotees who actively participate
in the Kataragama Festival are Hindus, as the proceeding
honour Skanda (also known as Murugan), the deity
of Kataragama. |
Day 4 |
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Description:
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To
Ella.(Overnight)
Ella Gap - The most beautiful location
in Sri Lanka where the Gap ranges is exposed as
far as the sea, a distance of nearly 40 miles. The
Ella Gap is situated off the Bandarawela-Badulla
road, 10 kms away from Bandarawela on the Wellawaya
road close to the Ella railway station. On the left
of the gap is a low mountain range covered with
beautiful pastures and on to the right is a high
mountain range . In this range is the Rawana Ella
( 1080 ft high) and also the Rawana Cave used by
Rawana as one of the thirteen Palaces he had in
Sri Lanka. Archeologists found the remains of the
prehistoric man in this cave. Visit Cave Temple.
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Day 5 |
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Description:
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To
Nuwara Eliya, including a visit to Seetha Eliya.
Nuwara Eliya - The 'Little England' of
Sri Lanka, is set against beautiful backdrops of
Mountains, Valleys, Waterfalls and Tea Plantations.
It is the coldest place on the island, but is really
just like an England spring day although the temperature
does drop at night. All around Nuwara Eliya you
will see evidence of the British influence. Houses
are like country cottages or Queen Ann style mansions.
Seetha Eliya Kovil - 7 kms on the Nuwara
Eliya - Bandarawela road, bordering the Hakkgala
Strict Nature Reserve is the area called Seetha
Eliya, where a quaint little devala is found by
the side of the road at a slightly lower elevation
by a stream.
The Devala "Seetha Amman Kovil" is the
only one in Sri Lanka (or may be in the whole world)
dedicated to Seetha, Queen of Rama (another form
of Shiva) in the famous Indian Epic called Ramayanaya.
According to this epic, RAVANA, King of Sri Lanka,
abducts Seetha and brings her here in his wooden
flying machine -"Dandu-Monara". She was
kept in hiding in the 13 palaces of Ravana, until
Rama comes here with an army of monkeys and rescues
her. In the Devala are the Statues of Seetha, Rama,
Hanuman-the Monkey God, and Lakshmana, represented
as gods. Seetha Eliya is the area where she used
to go for bathing. A cave on the summit of Hakgala
is believed to be one of the hiding places, and
the Strict Nature Reserve is believed to be the
"Ashok Vanaya" of the Ramayanaya.
Overnight stay at hotel. |
Day 6 |
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Description:
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To
Kandy, visiting a tea estate & factory en route.
Afternoon city tour of Kandy, including Upper Lake
Drive, Market Square, Arts & Crafts Centre and
Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.
Kandy - the hill capital, venue of the
annual Perahera. The last stronghold of the Sinhala
Kings was finally ceded to the British in 1815.
Kandy is an example of the Buddhism's influence
in Sri Lanka today. Temple's shrines and monasteries
keeping alive Buddhist traditions are everywhere.
Temple of the Sacred 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 considered Sri Lanka's
most prized possession.
Evening witness a cultural show featuring various
dance types of Sri Lanka.
Overnight stay at hotel. |
Day 7 |
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Description:
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To
Negombo - Rest day Beach. Depature |
