Sri Lanka Full Circle On Beaten Path-4 Days Tour

Early in the morning, meet & greet your guide and proceed to the hotel in Kandy. En route, visit Dambulla Golden Temple and Sigiriya Rock Fortress. SIGIRIYA ROCK Morning: Climb the renowned Sigiriya rock fortress and explore the water gardens and granite abode (one of the Seven Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage site). Sigiriya is situated in the central Matale District of Sri Lanka's Central Province, in close proximity to the municipality of Dambulla. The name denotes a historical and archaeological location dominated by a colossal granite column measuring approximately 200 meters (660 feet) in height. The ancient Sri Lankan chronicle Culavamsa records that King Kasyapa (477–495 CE) chose the location for his new capital. He constructed his palace atop this rocky outcrop and embellished its peripheries with vivid frescos. Approximately halfway up the face of this mountain, on a small plateau, he constructed a gateway in the shape of a monstrous lion. The nomenclature of this location is derived from the Lion Rock, or Shīhāgiri. The monarch's death left both the royal palace and the capital deserted. Until the fourteenth century, Buddha's monastery occupied the building. DAMBULLA GOLDEN TEMPLE This cave temple, which dates back to the first century BC, is the most impressive in all of Sri Lanka. Five caverns make up this temple, each with a drip line beneath an overhanging rock to keep the interiors dry. Religious motifs and depictions of numerous deities adorn the cavern ceilings. Images of the Buddha and the bodhisattvas are present. The temple has converted numerous caverns into shrine chambers. The Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa dynasties constructed the caves beneath a 150-meter-tall rock. UNESCO classified the renowned Dambulla Cave Temple as a World Heritage Site. The Dambulla cave monastery continues to be Sri Lanka's most well-preserved ancient structure. Overnight stay at Hotel in Kandy

First visit the temple of the tooth relic; later drive to Ella. In the afternoon, a hill country blue train journey. En route, visit a tea plantation, a tea factory, waterfalls, and the Nuwara Eliya old city area. KANDY The last kingdom of Sri Lanka was up until 1815. Today, Kandy is one of the most important cities owing to the presence of the Temple of the Sacred Teeth of the Buddha. TEMPLE OF THE TOOTH The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, also known as Sri Dalada Maligawa, is a Buddhist temple located in Kandy, Sri Lanka. The former Kingdom of Kandy housed the imperial palace complex. The relic has heavily influenced local politics since antiquity, based on the belief that whoever possesses it maintains control of the nation. Kandy, the Sri Lankan monarch's final capital, is a UNESCO world heritage site because of the temple. NUWARA ELIYA Your guide will lead you on a strolling tour of Nuwara Eliya. Gregory Lake, downtown Nuwara Eliya, the Nuwara Eliya market, Gregory Lake, and Victoria Park are among the points of interest. HILL COUNTRY BLUE TRAIN RIDE The Ella to Nuwwara Eliya train ride is the most beautiful train ride in Sri Lanka, if not in the world! Overnight stay at Hotel in Ella

Leave for Yala national park and do the afternoon safari at 2 p.m. YALA SAFARI Yala National Park is the island's most popular national park and is widely recognized as one of Sri Lanka's best safari locations. A full-day safari in Yala commences in the wee hours of the morning and concludes late at night, providing ample time to observe leopards, elephants, bears, crocodiles, and numerous other animal and avian species. Yala is one of the world's best places to observe leopards. Yala National Park had 17.5 half-leopards per 100 square kilometers of land area. Block 1 of Yala National Park may contain the densest leopard population in the world, as leopard densities have remained at approximately one per two square kilometers in this minuscule area. In contrast to the majority of other national parks where leopards are predominantly observed at night, leopards in Sri Lanka exhibit diurnal activity. Overnight stay at Hotel in Mirissa

After a leisurely breakfast, leave for Colombo, en route to a river safari in Bentota. On the afternoon Colombo sightseeing tour,. GALLE With a multiethnic and multireligious populace, the fort boasts a rich historical background. There is considerable interest from the Sri Lankan government and several Dutch individuals who retain ownership of properties within the fort in transforming it into one of the world's modern marvels. Under criteria iv, UNESCO acknowledged the cultural significance of the fort and designated the location a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This designation is in recognition of the site's exceptional display of "an urban ensemble that exemplifies the interaction between European architecture and South Asian traditions during the 16th to the 19th centuries." Galle Fort, alternatively referred to as the Dutch Fort or the "Ramparts of Galle," withstood the destructive Boxing Day tsunami that struck a portion of the town's coastline. Since then, it has been restored. The Galle Fort accommodates the prestigious Amangalla resort hotel, which is in close proximity to the Dutch Reformed Church. Built in 1684, its original purpose was to accommodate the Dutch Governor and his staff. In 1865, following its transformation into a hotel under the name New Oriental Hotel, it served nineteenth-century European passengers traveling between Europe and Galle Port. RIVER SAFARI Because of its international ecological significance, this location was designated "Ramsar Wetland" in 2003. It is the second largest wetland in Sri Lanka, spanning 915 hectares and home to nearly 300 families across 23 islands. The Coast Conservation Department has designated the River Sanctuary as a Special Area Managed (SAM) and Tourist Development Area. Balapitiya is the place of residence for the 'Madu Ganga'.A cruise on a modern motor boat is the best way to explore the natural wealth of Madu Ganga. COLOMBO Colombo had been a well-known city in the region among the Arabian, Chinese, Indian, Persian, and Roman traders as early as the pre-Christian era. Colombo was the capital of the island from 1815 to 1978, when the administrative capital was moved to Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte. GALLE FACE This had been a well-known race course during the British colonial period in the country. BUDDHIST TEMPLE GANGARAMA It is considered to be one of the most sacred places in the country. VIHARAMAHADEVI PARK Viharamahadevi is located in Colombo 7 or Cinnamon gardens. It is the largest and most popular park in the city. WOLFENDAAL CHURCH The Wolvendaal church is located In Fort, walking distance from the center of the city. It has a large collection of tombstones of important Dutch personalities. AUKANA BUDDHA STATUE / INDEPENDENCE HALL / PETTAH AND BMICH The statue is 36 feet tall and is the largest Buddha statue in the city of Colombo.