Sri Lanka heritage tour – Day 1

On arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport, you will get your first taste of warm Sri Lankan hospitality and a representative from Ceylon My Dream (Pvt) Limited will Welcome you and transfer you to Anuradhapura. It is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, founded in the 5th century BCE, famous for its well-preserved ruins of an ancient Sri Lankan civilization and is now a world heritage site. A visit will be arranged to all the ruins of the kingdom and sites of special interest including the sacred Isurumuniya Temple and Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi,

which is said to be the right-wing branch from the historical Sri Maha Bodhi at Buddha Gaya in India under which Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. It was brought there in the 3rd century BCE by Sanghamitta Thera, the daughter of Indian King Ashoka and the founder of an order of Buddhist nuns. Anuradhapura, a Ceylonese political and religious capital that flourished for 1,300 years, was abandoned after an invasion in 993 CE. Hidden away in dense jungle for many years, the splendid site, with its palaces, monasteries and monuments, is now accessible once again.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Anuradhapura.

Sri Lanka heritage tour – Day 2

After breakfast a visit to Mihintale will be arranged. Mihintale is where Buddhism was first introduced to Sri Lanka. Mihintale is regarded as the cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. The rock is home to many shrines and rock dwellings. A grand stairway of 1,840 steps made out of granite slabs 15” wide leads to the summit from where one could get a splendid view of the surrounding countryside.

The journey continues with a stop at the famous Dambulla Cave Temple also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla, a destination not to be missed if you visit Sri Lanka. There are 05 caves and the first 03 caves are better, older and larger than the other two. This complex dates back to the first century BCE. All the 5 cave walls and ceilings are covered with Buddhist murals and there are more than 130 Buddha statues. Statues of Gods and Kings are also found here.

Proceed to Habarana and overnight stay at a hotel in Habarana.

Sri Lanka heritage tour – Day 3

After breakfast, you can enjoy an elephant back ride in Habarana and afterward proceed to Polonnaruwa, one of the main ancient kingdoms in Sri Lanka.

Polonnaruwa is the second most ancient kingdoms of Sri Lanka and a world heritage site. It comprises, besides the Brahmanic monuments built by the Cholas, the monumental ruins of the fabulous garden-city created by King Parakramabahu I in the 12th century. Here you can see the ruins of the Royal Palace, the Gal Viharaya with 4 four splendid statues of the Buddha in ‘Upright’, ‘Sedentary’ and ‘Recumbent” postures carved out of rock, the Audience Hall, the Lotus Bath, the statue of King Parakramabahu, and the Parakrama Samudraya – the man-made lake, which takes the form of an inland sea built by King Parakramabahu.

In the evening you will be transferred back to the hotel. Overnight stay at a Hotel in Habarana.

Sri Lanka heritage tour – Day 4

After breakfast, we will set off to discover the 8th wonder of the world; the Sigiriya Rock Fortress. Sigiriya is an ancient rock fortress built in to 477 – 495 CE and is now a world heritage site. This astounding ‘city’ on the summit of a high outcrop was the royal citadel of King Kassapa for over 18 years. A miraculous feat of artistry and engineering, its unique features and exquisite frescoes continue to amaze all who visit it, even today.

Next, you will be transferred to the hill capital of Kandy. En Route you will get to visit a Spice Garden at Matale.  Our spices have been sought after for centuries, and continue to be a celebrated export, even today.

In the afternoon you will be engaged in a Kandy City Tour. Kandy is the capital city of the last independent kingdom in the island after the coastal regions were conquered by the Portuguese. The journey includes taking in the sights of the Upper Lake Drive and the Market Square on the way to pay homage to one of the most sacred religious sites in Sri Lanka; the Sri Dalada Maligawa also known as the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is believed to house the ‘tooth relic’ of the Lord Buddha.  A walk around the town will let you indulge in some souvenir hunting with intricate treasures in wood, copper, silver, brass, ebony, bronze, ceramics, lacquer work, handlooms, batiks, jewelry and reed ware to choose from.

Finally, you can round off your day in the evening with a Cultural Show, where the vibrant costumes and pulsating rhythms of traditional dance forms from centuries-old rituals will enthrall you.

Overnight stay at a Hotel in Kandy

Sri Lanka heritage tour – Day 5

After breakfast visits to Gadaladeniya, Embekka and Lankatilaka Temples will be arranged. These are three important attractions located 10km west of Kandy built during the time Kandyan kingdom was ruled from the city of Gampola. These temples are proof of the highly developed construction abilities of Sri Lankan craftsman during the ancient times and the Paintings and wood carvings of these three temples are considered as masterpieces of an ancient artisan of the island.

In the evening a visit will be arranged to the Peradeniya Royal Botanical Garden. This botanical garden was first built as a pleasure garden by an ancient Sri Lankan king and was expanded by the British.  It is 147 acres in extent and provides an amazing variety of trees, plants, and flowers. After experiencing the Botanical Garden, the journey will continue to the upper country.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Kandy.

Sri Lanka heritage tour – Day 6

After breakfast at the hotel you will be transferred to your preferred beach. Sri Lanka being a tropical island is surrounded by mesmerizing beaches and there isn’t much difference in the weather condition regardless of the time of the year you choose to visit.

En Route you can experience The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, established in 1975, commenced with seven orphans. Today some of these orphans enjoy the fortune of seeing their grandchildren born in the same location.

The original objective of establishing the orphanage inclined more towards tourism, but it soon became a conservation and educational center. With the help of local and foreign elephant experts, Pinnawala started a scientific captive-breeding program for elephants. The free movement of the herd enhanced the chances for respective individuals of both sexes to get together and mate. The nearby river played a dominant role in this regard, and in 1984, the first baby of Pinnawala was born. The success story of Pinnawala has drawn the attention of scientists from all over the world. A considerable number of books and research articles on Pinnawala have been published in several languages. The members of the Pinnawala herd have been filmed, videoed and photographed thousands of times by professionals. Depending on the time of the visit, you will get to experience a range of activities such as special shows, feeding & bathing.