SRI LANKA PILGRIMAGE TOUR

On arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport, you will meet our representatives and transferred directly to Habarana. Visit Dambulla Cave temple. Dambulla – located in the north-central province this UNESCO World Heritage Site which dates back to the 01st century BC, is an amazing complex of 05 caves, first used as a refuge by an ancient king who on regaining his throne, commissioned magnificent carved images within the living rock. Later kings made further improvements and the caves contain over 150 images of the Buddha of which the largest is a colossal figure spanning 15 meters. Cave inscriptions from the 2nd Century BC are found and on the walls are many paintings most of which belong to the Kandy period (early 19th century). This temple is a perfect location to view evolution of ancient Sri Lankan art and is an important historical site due to the amalgamation of the material from many eras.

Check-in at the hotel. Evening Visit Sigiriya Lions Rock. Overnight at Habarana.

After Breakfast proceeds to Anuradhapura. Explore The Sacred City of Anuradhapura (Ancient Ruins / Buddhist monuments / Sacred Bodhi Tree / Stupa etc.) (UNESCO World Heritage)Proceed to Mihintale: Mihintale is a mountain peak in close proximity to Anuradhapura. This site (believed by Buddhists) is a meeting place between the Buddhist monk Mahinda and King Devanampiyatissa who later spread the message of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. You will see several religious monuments and abandoned structures in the area. On completion transfer back to Habarana. Overnight stay in Habarana.

After Breakfast proceeds to Polonnaruwa. Polonnaruwa - this medieval city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, rose to fame as the capital (10th - 12th century AD) after the decline of Anuradhapura. The entire landscape of the region is punctuated by huge man-made reservoirs, the most famous of which is the Parakrama Samudra or

the Sea of Parakrama, larger in size than the Colombo harbour. The monuments are relatively well preserved and give clear evidence of the glory of Sri Lanka's past. Highlights are the Royal Palace complex including the Kings Palace and Audience Hall, the Quadrangle with its concentration of ancient heritage and the spectacular Gal Vihare complex of four massive images of the Buddha, cut from a single slab of granite - a highlight of ancient Sri Lankan rock carving. Some of the best examples of the Hindu influence – the Temples of Shiva, intricate statues of Hindu Gods, fascinating Budhist temples, the Lankatileka and Watadage, the Galpotha, the Lotus bath, the Kiri Vihare Dagoba and the remains of a former Temple of the Tooth are other impressive sights. On completion transfer back to Habarana. Overnight stay in Habarana

Breakfast at the hotel. Check out and leave for Kandy. Check in at the hotel in Kandy and relax till evening.

Evening Visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic and witness a cultural show later that evening. Sri Lanka's hill capital, stronghold of the Sinhala Kings, is our most beautiful town. The focal point of the town is, without doubt, the golden-roofed Dalada Maligawa. The highlight of the year is the Esala Perahera, when a replica of the relic casket is taken in procession accompanied by exotically costumed dancers, drummers and elephants during ten glittering nights in July/August. Visit Kalapuraya in the beautiful Dumbara valley. There are many shrines and temples, where you will see rare paintings, frescoes, wood and stone carvings. Overnight stay in Kandy

Breakfast at the hotel.

Visit 03 Temples.

Situated 7 kilometers from the town of Pilimathalawa in Kandy district and surrounded by tea plantations and paddy fields, the historic Embekke Devalaya is an ancient shrine and a temple dedicated to lord Kataragama. Build by King Vikramabahu the 3rd of Gampola (A.D 1357-1374), the shrine consists of three sections: the sanctum or the Garbha, the Digge or dancing hall and the Hevisimandapaya or the Drummers hall. Embekke is world famous for wood carvings in the pillars of the drummer's hall which are considered to be some of the best exhibitions of ancient Sri Lankan craftsmanship. The annual perahhara pageant which features traditional dancers, drummers, and decorated elephants attract a lot of devotees and spectators and is presided by the Basnayaka Nilame who is the Patron of the Devalaya. Embekke Devalaya, Kandy is a wooden temple situated in the Ambakka village, three kilometers from the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens. It was built in the 14th century by King Wickremabahu III. Adajacent to the main temple in the Embekke Devalaya, Kandy is a digge and inside the temple there is a courtyard where originally the hewisi were played. There are many legends which tell how the 'devale' or the 'devalaya' came into existence.

Gadaladeniya Temple is one of the oldest temples located close to Kandy and about 15 km from Kandy.

Temple itself is located on a small hilltop, but easy climb. The temple was built around 1344 during the

Gampola Kingdom. The temple is built with stones and those were carved from the same hill its being

built and the Sinhala meaning of the name “ Gadaladeniya ” means the place where stone bricks came

from. The whole temple is under renovation by the government now.

Lankathilaka in Sinhala “the beauty spot on Lanka’s brow” Temple is one of the oldest temples located

close to Kandy and about 15 km from Kandy. Temple itself is located on a huge rock hilltop, not easy to climb during the Day time (extreamly Hot). The temple was built around 1344 during the Gampola Kingdom. The temple contains lots of amazing stone, wood carvings and large stone Buddha statue inside the temple. Completed in 1344, but in a more traditional Sinhalese style. Situated on a top of a gray rock above the fertile highland green, it justifies its name: "the beauty spot on Lanka's brow." The shrine contains an ancient Buddha image of brick and plaster, plus devalas to the four guardian deities of the island, each with his consort. A Pali language rock inscription at the site records the valuable gifts to craftsmen who toiled on the temple. Woodcarvers still work at the foot of the rock on which the temple stands. This is a Magnificent building shining in white against the blue sky in the background. Being a brick

building in three stories, it has a peculiar architectural design. Amidst the painted doors of wood and frescoes still bright with their original paint on walls and ceilings in the shrine room is found a superb

seated image of the Buddha. Overnight stay in Kandy.

Breakfast at the hotel. Proceed to Colombo. En route visit the Pinnawala elephant orphanage.

PINNAWELA ELEPHANT ORPHANAGE - Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage – set amongst the verdant hills of Kegalle is a unique orphanage, where the tiny tots weigh 60 kg or more. This is the Pinnewela Elephant Orphanage, the world's first and only elephant orphanage established to feed, nurse and house young elephants lost or abandoned by their mothers. Other occupant s are elephants displaced from their natural environs by development projects or those found wounded. Established in 1975, by the Wildlife Department and National Zoological gardens which subsequently led to a Breeding programmed through which more than twenty-five elephants have been born since 1984. Visit Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya

Kelaniya Temple is a sacred Buddhist temple dating to the time before chronologically recorded history of Sri Lanka. It is believed to be the place where lord Buddha visited Sri Lanka for the third time and the Mahawansa state this visit was due to an invitation from king Maniakkika and lord Buddha arrived in Kelaniya with 500 arhattheros. The initial temple is said to be built on the ground where lord Buddha preached dharma to people in Kelaniya, enshrining the jeweled seat lord Buddha sat on for the preaching (in 543 B.C). Check-in at the hotel Overnight stay in Colombo.

Breakfast at the hotel.As all the good things must come to end, our chauffeur guide will take you to the airport to catch the departure flight