Day 2: Negombo, Dambulla, Sigiriya
Explore the World Heritage Site – Golden Temple of Dambulla
The Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple, also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla, is a sacred pilgrimage site in Sri Lanka, declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991. Situated around 150 kilometres east of Colombo, this cave monastery is also the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in the country that has attracted a lot of pilgrims and visitors each year. Dating from the 1st century BC, the rock and caves tower 160 m over the plains with more than 80 documented caves in the grounds, of the major attractions are five cave shrines of varying size and magnificence under a vast overhanging rock. Inside these caves, you’ll find 157 statues of the Lord Buddha, and several statues of Sri Lankan kings and Hindu gods. The murals covering an area of 2,100 square metres are also of particular importance with stories about the Buddha and his life. Visitors have to climb up many steps to the temple, yet the views from the top of the rock is as awe-inspiring as the temple caves.
Explore the impressive Sigiriya Fortress
Sigiriya or Sinhagiri is an ancient rock fortress nearly 200 metres high from the central plains located in the northern Matale District of Sri Lanka, which is famous for its out of this world sight and significant archaeological importance. Meaning the Lion Rock and named a world heritage site by UNESCO, this rock is full of an ancient civilisation’s ruins, thought to be once the capital of the short-lived kingdom of Kassapa in the fifth century before abandoned and served as a Buddhist monastery until the 14th century. For the first look, the fortress is bounded by lush jungles and remains of lily-pad-covered moats, cave shrines and water gardens that are among the oldest landscaped gardens in the world. To reach the top, visitors have to follow the passageway between a giant pair of lion paws and climb a series of vertiginous staircases attached to sheer walls. On the way you’ll see exquisite frescoes depicting apsaras and dancers with offerings. The walkway will lead to the palace garden at the top where you can admire the geological masterpiece of ancient urban planning with ponds and terraces in the elaborate symmetrical design.
Day 3: Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya
Take a tour around Polonnaruwa
Located about 200 kilometers from Colombo in North Central Province of Sri Lanka, Polonnaruwa was once a well-planned royal ancient city and thriving religious center of the eponymous kingdom some 800 years ago. The heyday of the medieval city can still be found in its archaeological park with hundreds of ancient treasures – palaces, pavilions, temples, stupas, ponds and irrigation lakes – that make it named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Among many temples and religious buildings, be sure you pay a visit to the massive Royal Palace, the Sacred Quadrangle with the Vatadage (the circular chamber of the relics), the Shiva Devale temples, the impressive Gal Vihara with four beautiful Buddha statues, and the vast irrigation lake called “Parakrama Samudraya” or the sea of Parakrama, built to collect rain water. The park itself is a delight to explore and a day tour around Polonnaruwa ancient city is certainly a highlight for those keen on uncovering the colorful tapestry of history and culture of Sri Lanka.
Day 4: Sigiriya, Hiriwadunna, Sigiriya
Experience interesting activities in Hiriwadunna Village
A visit to Hiriwadunna – a tiny rural village of roughly 2,500 people located close to the town of Habarana – is no doubt an exciting experience that gives you a chance to witness the typical Sri Lankan village life. Start with a small trek through the scrub jungle and community, you will see the locals go about their daily tasks of fishing or farming. Unlike the fast pace of the city, everything is laid-back and peaceful in the sounds of birds and sights of butterflies. As you walk our way through dense forest shrubs to the lake, hop into a catamaran and sail through the waters covered with green lily pads, you’ll catch views of the surrounding forest, marshland and vegetable plots of local farmers. Another highlight is a ride on a bullock cart alongside paddy fields and rural vegetable plantations to a traditional village house, where you will see the hosts prepare an authentic lunch using traditional Sri Lankan methods of cooking. This adventure will be an unforgettable experience for visitors during the time spent in Sri Lanka.
Day 6: Kandy
Take a visit to the most religiously significant place for Buddhists – Sri Dalada Maligawa
Sri Dalada Maligawa or the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is the highest venerated Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka which houses the relic of the tooth of the Buddha and makes the sacred city of Kandy a World Heritage Site. Located within the royal palace complex, the temple was initially built by King Vimaladharmasuriya I to deposit the tooth relic, then the building is gone before erected by Vira Narendra Sinha as the present-day temple. The beautifully magnificent octagonal Paththirippuwa were added in Sri Vikrama Rajasinha’s time which is now the temple’s library. Every day there are worships in the inner chamber conducted by monks of the two chapters of Malwatte and Asgiriya, at dawn, at noon and in the evenings. Typically, on Wednesday, visitors can experience a symbolic bathing of the sacred relic in holy water and fragrant flowers called Nanumura Mangallaya. Steeped in cultural heritage and history, Sri Dalada Maligawa is an inspiring place you should not miss in Sri Lanka.
Walk around the Royal Botanic Gardens of Peradeniya
About 5.5 km to the west of Kandy City in the Central Province of Sri Lanka lies Peradeniya Botanic Gardens, stunning gardens noted for its rich and varied collections of tropical woody plants. They were once reserved gardens for Kandyan royalty, then in 1821 became botanical gardens by Alexandar Moon to introduce coffee trees and cinnamon plants to the region. In the late 1870s, the botanist George H.K. Thwaites brought in and cultivated the tea and Brazilian rubber tree, making it a centre for horticultural activities. Today, occupying 147 acres, the gardens include more than 4000 species of plants, including orchids, royal palms, spices, and medicinal plants. Another highlight is the giant Javan fig tree with its colossal umbrella-like canopy of branches, and a few historically prominent trees.
Day 7: Kandy, Pinnawala, Kandy
Get close to the elephants at Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
Halfway between the commercial capital Colombo and the laidback UNESCO-protected town Kandy lies Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, established in 1975 by the Sri Lanka Wildlife Department. The 25 acre coconut plantation adjacent to the Maha Oya River, just as the name suggests, is an orphanage, nursery and captive breeding ground for wild Asian elephants, situated northwest of Kegalle town, in Sabaragamuwa Province of Sri Lanka. It was originally founded to care and protect the many orphaned and injured wild elephants wandering in the forests of Sri Lanka. The main attraction for visitors to the park is clearly to observe the care and daily routine of the elephants, such as bottle feeding of elephant calves, feeding other elephants in their stalls, and bathing in the Ma Oya River.
Day 9: Nuwara Eliya, Bandarawela
Walk through Horton Plains National Park
Part of the World Heritage Site named The Central Highlands of Sri Lanka, along with the nearby Peak Wilderness Protected Area and the Knuckles Conservation Forest, Horton Plains National Park is undoubtedly a must for nature lovers and hiking adventure seekers. The region forms an undulating plateau over 2,100 meters above sea level, covered with Montane evergreen forests, wild grasslands, rocky outcrops, vast hills, and misty lakes, much of which remains grossly underexplored. A walk through the lush jungle of Horton Plains affords a great chance of exploring the abundant flora and fauna. Expect to see various tropical plants and a variety of wildlife such as monkeys, deer, elk and all kinds of birds. The natural trails of the park leads to a sudden end on the southern edge at World’s End Lookout, a stunning escarpment that falls sheer 900 meters. From here, visitors can take in the incredibly panoramic views over the green valley, and the early morning visit is recommended for clear views before the clouds roll in.
Day 10: Bandarawela, Udawalawa
Admire one of the widest falls in Sri Lanka – Rawana Falls
Nestled in the misty mountains of tropical Sri Lanka, Rawana or Ravana Falls is a popular sightseeing attraction of Ella city, which is currently known as one of the widest waterfalls in the country. The waterfall cascades down a height of 82 feet from an oval-shaped concave rock outcrop, shaping an areca flower with withering petals during the wet season while the flow of water reduces dramatically in the dry season. Located inside the Ravana Ella Wildlife Sanctuary, this waterfall has been named after the legendary king Ravana in the famous Indian epic, the Ramayana. Legend has it that Ravana captured princess Sita and kept her in the caves behind this waterfall, which is now the Ravana Ella Cave. This cave is at the base of a cliff near the falls and becomes a historic site after excavations have revealed evidence of human habitation dating back to over 25,000 years ago.
Explore Udawalawe National Park
Located 165 kilometres from Colombo in south-central sector of Sri Lanka, Udawalawe National Park is one of the world’s best places to see wild Asian Elephants throughout the year, with a herd of about 250 making the park their permanent home. This dry zone was declared as a 30,821-hectare national park in 1972, with the objective of providing a sanctuary for wild animals around the Udawalawe Reservoir, as well as to protect the catchment of the reservoir. As plains of thorny-shrub jungle and grasslands dominate the topography, though there are some mountain ranges in the north and central of the park, game spotting is much easier than other parks. Visitors can often see adult and baby elephants roaming the park in large herds, bathing and playing in the water in all their playfulness. Also, expect to encounter sambar deer, wild buffalo, mongooses, jackals, spotted deer, and wild boar. Besides, Udawalawe is also a good birdwatching site with 210 species at last count, which afford excellent opportunities for photography.
Day 14: Mirissa, Galle, Colombo
Visit the famous Galle Dutch Fort
The Galle Fort, also known as the Dutch Fort or the Ramparts of Galle, is a beautiful Portuguese fortress in the Bay of Galle on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka. It was first built in 1588 by the Portuguese, then extensively reconstructed by the Dutch during the 17th century. After several hundreds of years, the fort still maintains a polished appearance that makes it named a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its fusion of European architecture and South Asian traditions. Being a charming old trafing port, this historic town is a delight to wander around, with rambling lanes of imposing Dutch-colonial buildings, grand mansions, ancient mosques, and quirky boutiques. Some of the important heritage landmarks and unmissable sights in the fort are the Dutch Reformed Church dating back to 1755, the Meera Mosque built in 1904, the Old Dutch Hospital, the All Saints Anglican Church built in 1871, the National Maritime Museum, and the 1939 Galle Lighthouse.
