04 NIGHTS & 05 DAYS SRILANKA DISCOVERY TOUR WITH

BUDDHIST TOUR IN

04 Nights & 05 Days Tour Highlights , Anuradhapura ancient ruins, Shri Maha Bodhi, Mihinthale, Dambulla cave Temple, Aluvihara temple, Kandy City & Kandy

DETAILED HOLIDAY ITINERARY

Date Destinations & Program Accommodation

Day 01 ARRIVAL –COLOMBO Hotel in Colombo Meet and greet by Travelwind Holidays representative at the airport and transfer to Colombo.

Check in at the hotel and relax.

If time permits, visit to Colombo City and commence a Tour of Colombo. In the evening visit to Isipathanaramaya Temple.

Isipathanaramaya Temple is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Located in Havelock Town it was built in 1916 by Duenuge Disan Pedris, a wealthy merchant, in memory of his only son.

Dinner & overnight stay at the hotel Day 02 COLOMBO-ANURADHAPURA Hotel in After breakfast travel to Anuradhapura. Anuradhapura

Lunch at local restaurant,

Afternoon commence a tour of Anuradhapura Ancient city. Anuradhapura - the capital of Sri Lanka from the 05th Century B.C. to the end of the 10th Century A.D. was the most celebrated of Sri Lanka’s ancient ruined cities. The city’s greatest treasures are its dagobas constructed of bricks and hemispherical in shape. The most notable of these dagobas are the Ruvanveliseya which dates back to the 2nd Century B.C. and is 300 feet in diameter, the Jetawanarama is 370 feet and the Thuparama Dagoba 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 historically authenticated tree in the world.

Visit Shri Maha Bodhi and Mihinthale. Mihintale – is 140 miles from Colombo, 8 miles from Anuradhapura. Mihintale is called the “Cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka”- it was here that the Buddhist doctrine was first preached in here by the monk ‘Mahinda’, son of Asoka, Emperor of India, to King Devanampiyatissa more than 2000 04 NIGHTS & 05 DAYS SRILANKA DISCOVERY TOUR WITH

years ago. Mihintale - ‘the hill of Mahinda’ is approached by a magnificent, wide, ancient stone stairway of 1,840 steps. This is the World’s first declared sanctuary from 247 B.C. and continues to be one up to this day. Some of the monuments found here are the oldest in the country and the large number of Brahmi inscriptions dates from the 3rd century B.C. Kantaka Cetiya, Ambastala Dagoba, Maha Thupa, At Vehera, Alms Hall, Girihandu Seya, Indikatu Seya, Old Hospital and Kaludiya Pokuna are some of the interesting sites at Mihintale. Then after check in the hotel. Dinner & overnight stay at the hotel Day 03 ANURADHAPURA - SIGIRIYA –KANDY After breakfast, proceed to Kandy route visit Dambulla Cave Temple and Aluwihara Temple Malate.

Dambulla - is a vast isolated rock mass 500 feet high and a mile around the base. Here is found the famous Rock Temple dating to the First Century B.C. The caves of Dambulla sheltered King Walagamba during his 14 years of exile from Anuradhapura. When he regained the throne he built the most magnificent of Rock Temples to be found in the Island. In the first Cave is a recumbent image of the Buddha 47ft long cut out of the Rock. There are images of deities associated with Buddhism all around. The frescoes on the walls and the ceiling are the oldest here but they are over painted in the Kandy period. In the Second Cave, the finest and the largest of all, there are 150 life-size statues of the Buddha in various postures with few statues of Gods and Kings. The ceiling is also covered with frescoes, which depict great events in the life of the Buddha and landmarks in the history of the Sinhalese people.

Lunch at Local restaurant

Drive to , En route visit to Spice Garden and experience the Sri Lankan herbals & Medicine. The Aluvihare Rock Temple (also called Matale Alu Viharaya) is a sacred Buddhist temple located in Aluvihare, of Sri Lanka. Surrounded by hills, the Aluvihara cave temple is situated 30 km north of Kandy on the Matale-Dambulla road. The history of Aluvihare Rock Temple is traced back to the 3rd Century B.C to the reign of King Devanampiyatissa. It is believed that the King built the dagoba, planted the Bo sapling and founded the temple after the introduction of Buddhism to the country during his reign. Aluvihare Rock Temple was the historic location where the Pāli Canon was first written down completely in text on ola (palm) leaves. Many monastery caves, some of which exhibit frescoes are situated near this temple.

Thereafter, continue to Kandy.

Check-in at hotel. Dinner and Overnight at the hotel. 04 NIGHTS & 05 DAYS SRILANKA DISCOVERY TOUR WITH

Day 04 KANDY After breakfast Drive to village Buddhist temple and Worship lord Buddha, participate the arms giving program at the temple.

After completion visit to temple of tooth relic. Kandy became a centre for both Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism, the religion's two major sects. The most important of its many Buddhist temples is the Temple of the Tooth, which enshrines a sacred relic of a tooth of the Buddha.

Visit Kandy City town and do some shopping with souvenirs and Gems.

Check in at the hotel and afternoon relax at the hotel.

Dinner and Overnight at the hotel Day 05 KANDY-DEPARTURE Breakfast at the hotel and depending on the departure flight transfer to airport for departure flight

04 NIGHTS & 05 DAYS SRILANKA DISCOVERY TOUR WITH

PRICE INCLUDES: ✓ 4nights’ Accommodation on half Board Basis ✓ Entrance fees:, Sigiriya, , Temple of Tooth Relic, Culture Show, and other temples ✓ Transportation in private air-conditioned Mini Coach ✓ Service of English Speaking national Chauffeur driver throughout the tour. ✓ Departure Transfer ✓ All Taxes ✓ Bottled water during the tour PRICE EXCLUDES: ✓ Visa for Sri Lanka, please visit www.eta.gov.lk for more details / submit your individual visa application. ✓ Lunch or any beverages ✓ Camera & Video permits at Cultural sights ✓ All expenses of personal nature ✓ Tips and Porterage.

IMPORTANT NOTES: • All drive times are approximate and are subject to change • All reservations subject to availability at time of booking • Current exchange rate : US$ = Rs.185.00 • Please note at present we have not booked any rooms and upon your confirmation we will check with the respective hotels.

IMPORTANT CONTACT DETAILS

+94 777 705828

CANCELLATION POLICY

✓ Cancellation within 28 days prior to arrival will be charged 25% of the room nights booked ✓ Cancellation within 21 days prior to arrival will be charged 50% of the room nights booked ✓ Cancellation within 14 days prior to arrival will be charged 100% of the room nights booked

PAYMENT POLICY All Payments must receive prior to the arrival to our Bank: - Direct Transfer - E-Cash - Western union Money Transfer - We accept VISA/Master Credit cards – Are subject to 3% banking charges Bank Details Account Name Travelwind Holidays (PVT) Ltd Account No 096010205094 Bank Name Hatton National Bank Branch Kotahena Branch, Colombo 13, Sri Lanka Bank Code 7083 Branch Code 096 Swift Code HBLILKLX