Day 1 - Airport - Kandy

Lanka Leisure Travels, official representative will meet and greet you at the Katunayake International airport on arrival and leave for Kandy. En route visit Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

Pinnawala
The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage was established in 1975 by the Sri Lanka Wildlife Department in a 25 acre coconut property near the Maha Oya river. The orphanage was originally founded in order to afford care and protection to the many orphaned elephants found in the jungle. At present, there are about 84 elephants. The main attraction is clearly to observe the bathing of elephants from the tall river bank as it allows visitors to observe the herd interacting socially while bathing.  There are some exceptions as the elephants are taken to the river twice daily for a bath, and all the babies under three years of age are still bottle fed by the mahouts and volunteers.

Kandy
Afternoon visit the highlights of Kandy City, including The Temple of Tooth (the Dalada Maligawa), Royal Palace, and Lankathilaka Temple). Kandy, the last royal capital of Sri Lanka is a major tourist destination. Famous for the Temple of the Tooth and many other temples the city could be called the cultural capital of the island. Thus Kandyan culture was abler to foster and maintain its own social structure, mode of living, art & architecture. The kings of Kandy ensured the safety and sovereignty of the hill capital and it’s great culture until the British finally captured the city in 1815.

The Temple of the Tooth(Dalada Maligawa)
The Temple of Tooth, one of the chief objects of interests in Kandy is the 'Dalada Maligawa' or Temple of the Sacred Tooth. This is the heart of Kandy and the temple is the heart of it. The relics came from India sixteen centuries ago, and moved from capital to capital always with the king. It is rarely shown and never leaves the temple. The most striking features that attract one's attention are the unusual carvings, brightly coloured frescoes representing torments for various classes of sinners and many images of Lord Buddha. The flower-sellers are ranged on either side and the atmosphere is heavy with the perfume of the white blossoms. Yellow-robed priests flit here and there, whilst the music of the temple bells and the rhythmic beat of the tom-tom fill the air with strange melodies that harmonize with the nature of the city. At the entrance to the sanctuary, which contains the sacred tooth is an elaborate door, inlaid with silver and ivory, with two pairs of elephants' tusks on either side. Within this chamber is the huge silver-gilt, bell-shaped shrine that protects the tooth. Inside this shrine are six inner shrines ornamented with precious stones of rare value.

After completing the visits of the sacred tooth temple, opportunity arises to witness the Cultural Dancing Show, a pageant of traditional Kandyan Dancing.

Day 2 - Peradeniya - Sigiriya

After breakfast visit Peradeniya Botanical Gardens.

Peradeniya
A large variety of decorative plants and other creepers that are endemic to Sri Lanka are found in Peradeniya Botanical Gardens. Huge tropical trees are found through the length and breadth of the lawns. The orchid house in the garden is really worth a visit. There are more than three hundred varieties of superb orchids blooming in profusion. The spice garden in the park has trees and plants used for preparing traditional ayurvedic medicine. The magnificence of the garden is heightened by the Mahaweli River, which flows through its outer edge.

En-route visit a spice garden and a batik factory in Matale.

Afternoon climb the Sigiriya rock fortress.  

Sigiriya
Sigiriya was created by King Kassyapa who reigned between 477- 495 A.D. The summit of this almost inaccessible rock is 180 m (600 ft) above the surrounding jungle, and was the setting for a courtly paradise of elegant pavilions amid gardens and pools. The rock was transformed into a recumbent lion by the addition of a brick-built head and foreparts of which only the paws remain. The rock's natural defenses were augmented by broad moats and stone perimeter walls. In the event of an enemy approach, the outer moat was built so as to flood the entire area between the two moats. A series of galleries and staircases emerging from the mouth of a gigantic lion constructed of bricks and plaster provide access to the site.

Sri Lankan architectural tradition is well displayed at Sigiriya, the best preserved city centre in Asia from the first millennium, with its combination of buildings and gardens with their trees, pathways, water gardens, the fusion of symmetrical and asymmetrical elements, use of varying levels and of axial and radial planning.

Visiting highlights of the Sigiriya are- The water gardens, the boulder gardens,audience hall, cobra hood cave,   preaching rock,  terraced gardens,  mirror wall,  lions platform,  frescoes and the palace on the summit

Dinner & overnight stay at the Hotel in Dambulla/Girital

Deluxe hotel- Deer Park Hotel- Giritale, Amaya Lake - Dambulla                              
Standard  hotel- Royal Lotus Hotel- Giritale, Giritale Hotel - Giritale

Day 3 - Polonnaruwa - Dambulla - Colombo

After breakfast leave for Polonnaruwa.

Polonnaruwa
Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka’s medieval capital was established as the city of the land in 11th century A.D.,which replaced Anuradhapura as the capital city of Sri Lanka, because of the invasion from South India.  It comprises, besides the brahmanic monuments built by the Cholas, the monumental ruins of the fabulous garden-city created by Parakramabahu I in the 12th century.

Visiting highlights of Polonnaruwa are - the royal Palace, Nissanka Malla’s palace, Watadage, Alahana pirivana complex, Rankota Vihara, Lankathilaka Gedige, Kiri Vihara, Gal Vihara,  Demala Maha Saya, Siva Devale

En-route visit rock cave temple in Dambulla

Dambulla
Dambulla is a unique and important historical site because of the amalgamation of the material from many eras. There are over 80 caves in the surrounding and some of them have been used by the monks as meditation locations. Major attractions are spread over 5 caves, which contain the statues and the paintings. Since it's founding in the 1st century B.C. by King Valagamba, many improvements and additions have been carried out to the sculptures and paintings over the years. Hindu statues are believed to be of the 12th century A.D. and the latest paintings are of the late 18th century. The temple is a perfect location to view evolution of the ancient Sri Lankan arts.

Late evening proceed to Colombo and visit the city of Colombo for some last minute shopping.

Colombo
Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital, biggest city and major port, draws together all the colours and cultures that make up this island nation, condenses them into a patchwork of markets, gardens and buildings both humble and grand and knocks them against a narrow slab of beachfront. Many visitors will appreciate Colombo’s colonial heritage, its fine dining and shopping opportunities, and the dash of urban buzz in an overwhelmingly rural country. Others will tire quickly of the diesel fumes and the modern buildings on Galle Road, the city’s main artery.

Observe the Colombo City highlights are the Parliament complex, Independent Square, Victoria Park, Town Hall, Galle Face Green, Colombo Harbor, religious places, Colombo Fort and World Market.

Dinner and overnight stay at the Hotel in Colomb

Deluxe Hotel- Cinnamon Grand, Hilton Colombo                        
Standard  Hotels  -Galle Face Hotel, Grand Oriental Hotel             

Day 4 - Airport