Tropical Paradise: Sri Lanka Escape

Day 01

On arrival in Sri Lanka, you will be welcomed and assisted by a representative of Jetwing Travels and you will be then transferred to your hotel Kandy.

En route Visit Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage,

Breakfast at outside Local Restaurant,

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage - Approx. 55 miles from Colombo, off the Colombo - Kandy road is Pinnawala, where an orphanage was started in 1975 to house the abandoned and wounded elephants. The number of elephants has increased to more than 65 now; including Baby Elephants brought from various parts, as well as the 23 baby elephants born as a result of the captive breeding program. The best time to visit is the feeding time from 0930-1000 hrs and 1330-1400 hrs and the bathing time from 1000-1030 hrs and 1400-1430 hrs when all the elephants are taken to the river close by

Check into the Hotel & Rest …

Overnight stay at Hotel, Kandy

Day 02

Breakfast at the Hotel & Proceed to Temple of the Tooth, Gem Museum, Gem Shop & Kandy City tour

Kandy – The hill capital is another “World Heritage Site”. It was the last stronghold of the Sinhalese Kings during the Portuguese, Dutch, and British rule and finally lost to the British in 1815 after an agreement. To the Buddhists of Sri Lanka and the World, Kandy is one of the most sacred sites as it is the home of the “Dalada Maligawa” - Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. The Bathing Pavilion (Ulpenge) is by the Lake and in the Center of the lake is the Island called “Kiri samudraya” (Milk white ocean) used by the kings as the summer house. Today it is the center of Buddhism, Arts, Crafts, Dancing, Music, and Culture. Visitors can see these Dances & Music at the daily Cultural Performances held at several places in the city.

Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic - Ever since the 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.

Royal Botanical Gardens - Peradeniya - 147 acres in extent; Started in 1374 as a pleasure garden of the Kings of Gampola and Kandy. There are more than 5,000 species of trees, plants, and creepers. Some rare and endemic as well as flora from the tropical world are found in the gardens. Spice Garden and Orchid House are popular with tourists.

There are 5 Palm Avenues beautifying the gardens, the earliest and tallest Palm Avenue (Royal Palm Avenue) was planted in 1905 and the Double Coconuts from Seashells Island, with the largest seed of all plants in the world,     is one such avenue

We will then proceed with a city tour of the historical city.

Visit to Gem and lapidary museum in Kandy

Evening visit Cultural show in Kandy

Overnight stay at Hotel, Kandy

Day 03

After Breakfast proceed to Nuwara Eliya,

Visit Tea Factory, Tea Garden, Sitha Amman Temple, Gregory Lake, Victoria Park & Nuwara Eliya City Tour,

The Tea Factories found on most tea estates play a vital role in the final value of the manufactured tea. Regardless of how carefully the leaf has been grown and plucked, if the processes at the factory are not carried out properly the end result will be of poor quality. A tea factory is a multi-storied building, almost always sited on the tea estates to ensure that the time between plucking and processing tea is kept to a minimum. Once the tea leaves arrive at the factory they are spread across the upper floors of the building in troughs – a process known as withering. Withering removes all excess moisture in the leaf to make it pliable.

Nuwara Eliya - The ‘Little England’ of Sri Lanka, is set against beautiful backdrops of Mountains, Valleys, Waterfalls, and Tea Plantations. It is supposed to be one of the coolest places on the Island, but it is really just like an English spring day, although the temperature does drop at night. All around Nuwara Eliya, you will see evidence of the British influence, houses like country cottages or Queen Ann-style mansions. Victoria Park, in the middle of the town, is a lovely place for a stroll or a picnic. Seasons may be absent elsewhere in Sri Lanka, but here you can read them by the flowers, which bloom in the spring (March to May) and the fall (August and September). These are the “seasons” when low-country folk flock to Nuwara Eliya to escape the sea-level heat and humidity.

Overnight stay at Hotel, Nuwara Eliya

Day 04

Breakfast at the Hotel & then proceed to Bentota,

Via Kithulgala …

Overnight stay at Hotel, Bentota

Day 05

Breakfast at the Hotel,

BENTOTA

Facing the Indian Ocean, a tropical lagoon, and a major river Bentota offers water Sports possibilities nowhere else to be found. Apart from swimming, body-surfing, or diving in the sea, you can jet-ski, windsurf, parasail, or enjoy a romantic river safari on the river and lagoon. Safe swimming conditions combined with fun water sports and exciting excursions are providing for the ideal background for a relaxed holiday in Sri Lanka. Being one of the most established beach resorts in Sri Lanka, Bentota is known for its professional touristic infrastructure.

Visit the turtle farm hatchery & Mangrove Boat Ride

Evening city tour Bentota also sightseeing & leisure at the Bentota beach.

Overnight stay at Hotel, Bentota

Day 06

After your breakfast at the hotel, we will then proceed to Colombo, the commercial capital of Sri Lanka.

Colombo – is the business and commercial center and the new capital is Sri Jayawardhanapura Kotte, which is only a few miles away. The remains of the buildings during the period and the Portuguese, Dutch, and British rule are found in every area of the city. None of the Portuguese & Dutch fortifications are found today but some of their buildings and churches could be seen in the Fort & Pettah areas. Visit Fort, the former British administrative center and military garrison, Sea Street - the old smith’s quarters in the heart of Pettah, the Bazaar area where there is also a Hindu Temple with elaborate stone carvings, the Kaymans Gate with the Belfry at the original gate to enter the Fort, the Dutch Church of Wolfendhaal dating back to 1749, Kelaniya Buddhist Temple, Davatagaha Mosque. Also, visit the BMICH (Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall), and see the replica of Avukana Buddha and Independence Square.

PM shopping….

Overnight stay at Hotel, Colombo

Day 07

Breakfast at the Hotel,