Gem city, Wild Life, Hill Country, Kandy, Dambulla & Sigiriya ( 5 Days 4 Nights )

Day 1

Morning – leave for Ratnapura “City of Gems “Visit a Gem pit and a Gem Museum en route. Proceed to Udawalawa National park Famous for elephants.  Afternoon we will visit the evening safari for the jeep. Check-in at your hotel. Overnight stay Udawalawe.  

Ratnapura (“City of Gems”)

Ratnapura (“City of Gems”)Frim ancient Rathnapura is Known as the city of gems. The names come from Sinhala and ”Rathna” means ‘ gems” wile ‘Pura’ means city ‘the city of gems’  other than most of Sri Lanka’s World-renowned precious stones such as blue sapphires, rubies are founding the Rathnapura area. The name of the provincial capital of Sabaragamuwa Province of Sri Lanka and the Ratnapura District in which the town is situated. 

Some say the modern name is derived from the Portuguese name Rapadura for jaggery, the palm candy produced traditionally in this region, but the more common explanation in Sri Lanka is that it comes from the Sinhala “Ratna” meaning gems and “Pura” meaning city.Ratnapura is also spelled as Ratnapura. It is the center of a long-established industry of precious stone mining including rubies, sapphires, and other gems. 

Apart from gem mining, the town is known for rice and fruit cultivations. Large plantations of tea and rubber surround the town. Tea grown in this region is called low-country tea. You will see how they pick up the stones from the pit. We will visit one of the museums after that we will visit a gem workshop this will give you the opportunity to see a variety of precious stones, such as rubies, sapphires, cat’s eyes, alexandrites, aquamarines, tourmalines, spinels, topaz, garnets, amethyst, zircons, etc.

Udawalawe National Park                    

For over four decades since its inception, the Udawalawe National Park has successfully attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors, including both local and foreign tourists, while prolifically contributing to the development of the entire tourism sector of Sri Lanka. The number one and predominant factor that has attached a high degree of prestige to the National Park of Udawalawe is the high probability of sighting Sri Lankan elephants. 

Tourists will most certainly catch a glimpse or even get within several meters of one or multiple elephants at Udawalawe during each safari tour. Furthermore, other exotic creatures, such as the Sri Lankan Water Buffalo, Water Monitor, Lizards, Sambar Deer, Monkeys, leopard, and endemic species of birds, can also be witnessed at Udawalawe.

Udawalawe National Park is located approximately 230 km southeast of Colombo city and is a major eco-tourism destination in Sri Lanka. It is most famous for the many Elephants that live there (about 400 in total). A 4WD open-top safari is the only way to see all the wonders that this protected reserve has to offer and our experienced and knowledgeable nature guides will make this an unforgettable experience

Day 2 

After breakfast visits the Nuwara Eliya. And drive around the mountains, viewing endless tea plantations and Ravana waterfalls brings you to Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka’s “Little England” where time seems to have stood still since the days of the British occupation. Check in to your hotel. After you will enjoy Gregory Lake, Victoria Park, and the City Tour of Nuwara Eliya. Overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya.

Nuwara-Eliya

Nuwara-Eliya is one of the cities that lie at the highest altitude of Sri Lanka and is popular as a paradise holiday destination. Located in the central hills, 180km away from Colombo; Nuwara Eliya is a classic example of the climate diversity of Sri Lanka. It is also a city where the influence of Colonial architecture is visible. Covered and cornered from three of the highest mountains of the country is Piduruthalagala, the Great Western & Haggala, it becomes a paradise of its own isolating itself from other bustling cities and towns. However, it offers many activities for tourists such as hiking, pony riding, boating, golfing, visits to the tea plantations, and the lovely landscapes & parks.

Gregory Lake

Governor William Gregory constructed the lake during his rule from 1872 to 1877 utilizing water from Nanu Oya which runs across the town. It is about 91.2 hectares in extent and was used for water sports and recreational activities at the time of British rule. Lake Gregory is a significant tourist attraction loved by locals and foreigners alike. Boat Yard offers boating for people who love & enjoy being with the water.

Victoria Park

Originally used as a research field .1897 it was declared ‘Victoria Park’ in commemoration of the 60th Jubilee Coronation. It is said that this was established as a park after a German Princess planted an Oak tree here. It is a Beautiful landscape of more than 27 acres with 90% of trees being not indigenous.

Day 3

After breakfast leave to Kandy, sightseeing waterfall, Tea plantation, and visiting Tea Factory En-route visiting the Peradeniya Botanical Garden. Enjoy traditional dancing in Kandy. Check-in at your hotel. Overnight stay in Kandy.

Kandy

Sri Lanka’s second-largest city after Colombo, 1551 above sea level, Kandy is a historic city of the highest religious and cultural importance. The last capital of Sinhalese King until it fell into the hands of the British in 1815, Kandy which is also known as Senkadagalapura was established by the Wickramabahu 111 (1357-1374 CE). Kandy remains the most sacred Buddhist since it is the home of the temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa) – the most venerated Buddhist shrine in the world and this historic sacred site was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO 1988.

Peradeniya Botanical Gardens

The Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya occupies a horseshoe-shaped peninsula and the scenic splendor of the garden has been raised to greater heights by the longest river of Sri Lanka, The Mahaweli which flows through its fringes. The total area is 147 acres (about 60 hectares) containing about 4500 plant species. It is situated in the serene hill capital; it is near the Mahaweli River. It is renowned for its collection of orchids.

Day 4

After breakfast, we will visit the beautiful Dalada Maligawa in Kandy, the Temple Of The Sacred Relic of the tooth of Gautama Buddha. If you need shopping, Kandy is one of the best places to buy gems, Handicrafts, silk act. After leaving for visiting the 5th c. Sigiriya Rock Fortress and Dambulla Cave Temple. Proceed to Habarana Check in your hotel. OverNight stay in Dambulla.

Dalada Maligawa

Temple of Tooth, Sri Dalada Maligawa, or the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a Buddhist temple in the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is located in the royal palace complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy, which houses the relic of the tooth of the Buddha. The most sacred place of Buddhist worship in Sri Lanka and perhaps the world’s most sacred Buddhist shrine is venerated by millions of Buddhists all over the world. The temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic or Dalada Maligawa is a monumental palace built in the heart of the city of Kandy to house the sacred relic of the tooth of Gautama Buddha. Brought from Kalinga in India during the reign of Sri Meghavanna.

The sacred relic of the tooth was taken from the funeral pyre of Gautama Buddha in 483 BC. Later on, the princess Hemamali with her husband prince Danta smuggled it into Sri Lanka hidden in her hair on the instructions of her father Guhasiva a during the 4th Century AD and it was first enshrined in Isurumuniya Temple in Anuradhapura. The first established kingdom in ancient Sri Lanka. Then it moved through a number of kingdoms across the country from time to time and in the end, it was brought to Kandy by Hiripitiya Diyawadana Rala and Devanagala Ratnalankara Thera. during the reign of king Wimaladharmasuriya 1(1591-1604)who built a two-story building to place the sacred relic of the tooth. After that, it was improved by various kings who ruled the Kandyan kingdom, and the last improvement was done by King Sri Wikrama Rajasinha (1798-1815).

Dambulla cave temple

Dambulla is a commercial town with Sri Lanka’s largest produce vegetable market and is most famous for the cave temple and also for the iconic golden temple. Dambulla heritage site with a history extending from prehistoric and proto-historic times, right down to the modern period, makes Sri Lanka’s heritage really splendorous, Sightseeing the city and proceeding to the Dambulla Cave temple. It is believed that when king VattaGamini was fleeing from his enemies in the 1st century BC.

Sigiriya (Lion’s rock)

Sigiriya (Lion’s rock) is a wonderful ancient palace built atop 660 feet high rock column. This wonderful rock castle is a creation of King Kassapa (477-495CE). He built his Palace on the top of this rock and decorated its sides with colorful frescoes. The painting woods have covered most of the western face of the rock. An area is 140 meters long and 40 meters high. There are references in the graffiti to 500 ladies in these paintings However, most have been lost forever. Sigiriya is one of the most attractive historical sites in Sri Lanka and it is most famous for its stunning frescoes. Sigiriya today is a UNESCO-listed world heritage site.

Day 5

After breakfast, we leave to Katunayaka International Airport En route to visit an Elephant Orphanage at Pinnawala.

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is. Established in 1975 with five orphaned elephants in an area of 25 acres of land at Pinnawala. Pinnawala is notable for being the largest herd of captive elephants in the world. Nearly there were 80 elephants. The Orphanage which serves as a conservation and breeding center as well as a place of informal education on elephants and their conservation is a world-famous attraction due to its unique way of maintaining such a large free herd of jumbos. Around 1:15 p: m starts the feeding of Baby Elephants and fruit feeding get their milk. 

The Elephants Parade to the river to Barth around at 02:00 p: m. 04.00 p: m Head returns from the river. Following this, you will drive to Airport.