DAY 01: Arrival / Yapahuwa

Upon arriving in Sri Lanka meet and assist at the airport by our representative and transfer to Yapahuwa from the Bandaranayke International Airport for your first night.

En route visit Ridigama Vihare , a temple worthwhile for its art treasures, including an ivory paneled door frame & Padeniya temple, which is special due to its 28 carved wooden pillars & doorway. It also has a library housed in an ancient clay building.

After Visit Ridigama Vihare we will continue our journey to Yapahuwa.

Yapahuwa was one of the ephemeral capitals of medieval Sri Lanka. Yapahuwa was largely abandoned and inhabited by Buddhist monks and religious ascetics. Yapahuwa fortress is a massive 100 m rock & was the seat of King Bhuvanekabahu 1(1272 – 84), it's main feature is the stone ornamental stairway with carvings.

Overnight stay at hotel in Yapahuwa.

DAY 02: Yapahuwa

After Breakfast visit Arankele Forest Monastery.

Arankele forest monastery is usually attracted by both local and foreign tourists. It is the most appropriate place for the travelers whom are coming to sri lanka purposely to visit peaceful and quietude sites. You will be completely refreshed and relaxed with the first visit to the Arankele forest hermitage.

Gradually the forest is a home to endemic medicinal plants underneath the widely expanded canopy. Hence the whispering of the leaves and the rustling breeze is a peaceful experience that you are gifted without any charge.

After Visit Arankele forest Monastery we will visit Athugala Elephant Rock.

The 'Ethugala rock' or the 'Elephant roc' amidst in the Kurunegala town is a unique feature. While the rock is about 325 m in height. You can see an 88 feet giant Buddha statue on the top of the Ethugala. At a glance of view from kurunegala city you can see this whitish Buddha statue lying on the Ethugala rock.

Overnight stay at hotel in Yapahuwa.

DAY 03: Yapahuwa / Anuradhapura

After Breakfast visit to Anuradhapura and do the city tour in the evening...

Anuradhapura is the most celebrated of Sri Lanka's ancient ruined cities. The city's greatest treasures are its dagabas constructed of small sun-dried bricks and hemispherical in shape. The most notable of these dagabas are the Ruvanveli which dates back to the 2nd Century BC and is 3 00ft in diameter, the Jetawanarama is 370ft and the Thuparama which enshrines the collarbone of the Buddha.

The city's most renowned relic is the sacred Bo-Tree which is said to have grown from a branch of the tree under which the Buddha gained enlightenment. It was planted 2250 years ago and is the oldest historic tree in the world.

In the evening do the city tour in Anuradhapura.

Overnight stay at hotel in Anuradhapura.

DAY 04: Anuradhapura

After Breakfast visit Mihintale, known as the cradle of Buddhism, in year 247 BC , Buddhism was introduced here by Arahat Mahinda to king Devanampiyatissa.

he area of Mihintale surrounds with a jungle and there are rock boulders scattered around the mountainous area. There are many caves which were earlier used by monks for meditation in a quite surrounding away from the main city of Anuradhapura.

The way to Mihintale rock is through a wide stone steps as seen here.

There are 1840 Stone steps to the middle terrace area and the second row of steps starts from there to the Ambastala Stupa at the upper terrace.

In the evening visit Out of the usual path of the pilgrim in the quieter parts of the sacred city of Anuradhapura are the Western monasteries or the Thapowanaya, claimed to be archeologically as well as ideologically one of the most intriguing of our ancient sites.

Overnight stay at hotel in Anuradhapura.

DAY 05: Anuradhapura / Ritigala / Polonnaruwa

After Breakfast leave for Ritigala. Deep inside the Ritigala Strict Nature Reserve, off the Anuradhapura–Habarana road, are the partially restored ruinsof an extensive monastic and cave complex.

The ruins lie on a hill, which at 766m isn't exactly high, but is nevertheless a striking feature in the flat, dry landscape surrounding it.

Monks found Ritigala's caves ideal for an ascetic existence, and more than 70 such caves have been discovered.

After visit Ritigala we will continue our journey to Polonnaruwa.

You will be heading to one of the Historical Unesco World Heritage Site and this city gained more reputation during the late period royal family and nobility of Sri Lanka strongly supported Buddhism.

Do the city tour in the evening.

Polonnaruwa - the capital from 11th -13th century A.D. Here the monuments are better preserved. The circular relic house (Vata-da-ge) Lankathilaka, Thuparama, Royal Palace, Rankoth vihara and Galvihara with the beautiful rock cut Buddha statues are the most interesting.

Overnight stay at hotel in Polonnaruwa.

DAY 06: Polonnaruwa / Sigiriya / Pidurangala / Polonnaruwa

After Breakfast visit Sigiriya & Climb the Sigiriya rock fortress.

The 5th century Sigiriya rock fortress which is a world heritage site, built by King Kashyapa (477-495 AD). The 'Lion Rock' is a citadel of unusual beauty rising 200 metres from the scrub jungle. The rock was the innermost stronghold of the 70 hectare fortified town.

A moat, rampart, and extensive gardens including the renowned water gardens ring the base of the rock. Visit the world-renowned frescoes of the 'Heavenly Maidens' of Sigiriya, which are in a sheltered pocket of the rock approached by a spiral stairway. These frescoes are painted in earth pigments on plaster.

In the evening visit to Pidurangala.

History of Pidurangala flows beyond the 1 & 2 century B.C. Pidurangala was used as a Monastery from those days. But this place becomes a prominent Buddhist Monastery during the King Kasyapa time. Where we found a large resting Buddha statue, from where we could witness a beautiful panoramic view of the surrounding area. On top was one of the greatest views you can witnessed. You could see the Sigriya rock almost at touching distance, but in a different angle to what you would usually see.

The rest of surroundings were lush green forestry stretching far. It was pretty much flat and rough on the top and you could walk almost to the edge of the rock while the smooth breeze gave us such a refreshing feeling that tempted you to stay there forever.

Overnight stay at hotel in Polonnaruwa.

DAY 07: Polonnaruwa / Matale / Kandy

After breakfast, leave for Kandy, en-route visit Alu Vihare Rock Monastery is one of the most important cultural sites in the island.

Matale Alu Viharaya - The Aloka Vihara became Aluvihara. The history of Aluvihara is traced back to the 3rd Century B.C in the reign of King Devanampiyatissa. Another view is that although there is a huge rock, east of the main rock cave, it has not cut off the light . Therefore it was known as the Aloka lena.

On our way you could enjoy the scenic hill country environment which will make us forget the tediousness of the journey.

Your journey passing through a panorama of contrasting landmarks of coconut and rubber plantations with paddy fields.

After we head to Sri Lanka's hill capital - the small lakeside city of Kandy. Well known as the center of Buddhism.

Overnight stay at hotel in Kandy.

DAY 08: Kandy

After breakfast, visit Bodimalu Vihare, 100 years old, with 24 benedictions drawn on the walls.

Degaldoruwa, a cave temple with interesting paintings and Buddha statues, & also of interest are Embekke, Gadaladeniya. & Lankatileke Vihare.

Evening with an escort explore the Temple of Tooth Relic, the most venerated place for the Buddhists all over the world.

The golden roofed Dalada Maligawa where the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha is enshrined. There are many shrines and temples in and around Kandy, where you will see rare paintings, frescoes, wood and stone carvings.

Overnight stay in Kandy.

DAY 09: Kandy / Bandarawela

Today after Breakfast you travel north to the central highlands - a stirring land of lush tea plantations, majestic peaks and gushing waterfalls.

Bandarawela has a mild weather condition throughout the year hence.

In the evening you can visit Tea Factory.

Sri Lankan Tea - Tea was first planted in Sri Lanka in 1824, when a few plants were brought from China. More were introduced from Assam in 1839. In 1867, a Scottish Planter named James Taylor planted tea seedlings on 8 hectares of forest land, in the Loolkandura Estate.

In 1873, the tea export industry of Sri Lanka began with a modest 23lbs being shipped to London. Tea will grow only on rolling terrain and is classified into 3 main groups of elevation as low grown, medium, grown and high grown.

Overnight stay at hotel in Bandarawela.

DAY 10: Bandarawela

After Breakfast visit Muthiyangana Raja Maha Viharaya. Over two thousand years, originally built by King Devanampiyatissa.

En route visit the famous Sankapali Temple in Embilipitiya.

It is believed that a mighty king called Rawana was ruling this country with Badulla as the capital. It is also believed that the War of Rama and Rawana in Ramayana also happened in this area.

Buddhists believe that this site has been visited by Gautama Buddha, and it is regarded as one of the Solosmasthana, the 16 sacred places in the country.

After Visit Muthiyangana Raja Maha Viharaya we will continue our journey to Bogoda. Visit Bogoda Temple, There is an unusual wooden bridge, the roof clad with flat tiles of the kandyan period.

After Visit Bogoda Temple continue your journey to Dowa Cave Temple, 3rd Cen BC, a 8m high bas-releif standing Buddha is carved on the rock, also the strip stories on the interior walls & the rock shelter dedicated to the Cobra.

Overnight stay at hotel in Bandarawela.

DAY 11: Bandarawela / Tissamaharama

After Breakfast leave for Tissamaharama, Visit Maligawila ruins with a crystalline limestone Buddha Statue, 40 feet lies fallen & the stone bath, pond, the remains of the image house is of interest.

Also visit Buduruwagala, the group of statues, finest example of Mahayana sculpture in the island is over 1000 yrs old.

Buduruwagala is an ancient buddhist temple in Sri Lanka. The complex consists of seven statues and belongs to the Mahayana school of thought. The statues date back to the 10th century.

The gigantic Buddha statue still bears traces of its original stuccoed robe and a long streak of orange suggests it was once brightly painted.

After Visit Buduruwagala we will proceed to Tissamaharama.

Overnight stay at hotel in Tissamaharama.

DAY 12: Tissamaharama / Beruwala

After Breakfast explore the ancient kingdom of Tissamaharama.

After Breakfast visit Kataragama. En route visit Tissamaharama town is provided by the sprawling Tissa Weva (lake) built by King Kavantissa 2,300 years ago as well as the Debarawewa Lake located nearby.

These lakes provide life to the surrounding villages as well as attracting many species of water birds including cormorant, purple heron, Caspian tern and the painted stork.

Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians visit this ancient holy site.

It is believed that King Dutugemunu the warrior king and Sinhala folk hero built a shrine here for the worship of the Kataragama God in the 2nd century BC.

There is also a first century BC Buddhist Dagoba - 'Kirivehera' at this site. There is also the 'Maha Devala' – main Hindu shrine of God Skanda, the Hindu war God, and several other adjoining Hindu shrines.

Overnight stay at hotel in Tissamaharama.

DAY 13: Tissamaharama / Beruwala

After Breakfast leave for Beruwala, Visit Mulkirigala rock Temple,less than 150 years ago the key was discovered to Mahavamsa & Culavamsa chronicles which recorded the story of this island from 543 BC to modern times.

Also visit the Wewrukannala Vihare, to discover the largest Buddha statue in the island. At Dondra, the temple celebrates the annual perahara & a highly venerated place for the Buddhists.

Also visit Totagamu Raja Maha Viharaya at Telwatte, dates back to the 3rd Cen.BC. It was a great seat of learning in the 15th Century equivalent to a university headed by a Buddhist prelate of high interlect with knowledge of six oriental languages. Also interesting are the beautifula traditional paintings.

In the evening relax at the beach.

Overnight stay at hotel in Beruwala.

DAY 14: Beruwala / Departure

After breakfast transfer to the Airport in time to connect with the departure flight.