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Isle of Serendib Sri Lanka - 11 Days Tour By: CHARIKA TRAVELS Tel: (03) 8804 1488, Email: [email protected] Web: www.charikatravels.com All Trading subject to Terms & Conditions of Celink Australia Pty Ltd trading as Charika Travels. (E&OE) Celink Australia Pty Ltd t/a CHARIKA TRAVELS P a g e | 1 INTRODUCTION Sri Lanka is truly the wonder of Asia and the ‘Pearl of Indian Ocean’. This tropical island paradise is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the world. For centuries, travellers around the world enticed by its breath-taking beauty, pristine beaches, unique wildlife, history and heritage. Holiday in this ‘isle of paradise’ is not just a tour package, but an exciting, unforgettable & amazing adventure of a lifetime Our 11 days tour is specially designed for you to provide a long- remembered experience in this small wonder. This tour will take you to seductive pristine beaches, heritage archaeological sites & ancient kingdoms which display the grandeur of thousands of years old history & culture, lush green mountains shrouded by mist and covered by tea plantations –produce world’s best Ceylon Tea, rivers & streams, silver lined waterfalls, wild-live parks reigned by majestic elephants of Sri Lanka & abundance of wild-life, unique eco-systems, inspiring and vibrant culture and unique traditional villages of Sri Lanka. You will experience the world-renowned Sri Lankan hospitality, welcome of charming friendly people and spicy Sri Lankan cuisines which enticed international travellers for many centuries. The beauty of Sri Lanka is grossly intensified by the hospitality of its inhabitants. For centuries, this island nation was the ‘apple of their eye’ among early travellers. These friendly & welcoming qualities of Sri Lankans, positioned Sri Lanka at the centre-point on the worlds tourist map. This tour of a lifetime will provide you with unforgettable memories and unique experience which you will only get in this ‘isle of paradise’ All Trading subject to Terms & Conditions of Celink Australia Pty Ltd trading as Charika Travels. (E&OE) P a g e | 2 TOUR HIGHLIGHTS Tour Duration: 10 Nights / 11 Days Overnight Destinations: Negombo (1 Night), Anuradhapura (1 Night), Habarana (2 Nights), Kandy (1 Night), Nuwara Eliya (1 Night), Southern Beach Retreat (3 nights), Colombo – the Commercial Capital (1 Night). Main Tour Attractions & Activities: Anuradhapura Ancient City tour, Sigiriya Lion Rock Climb, Minneriya National Park Wildlife Safari, Polonnaruwa Ancient City tour, Dambulla Cave Temple, Kandy City tour, Kandy Temple of the Tooth, Tea Factory & Plantation visit, Nuwara Eliya City tour, Nuwara Eliya to Ella Train Journey, Tropical Beach retreat at Southern Coast, Galle Fort visit, Colombo City tour This Program covers Six (06) UNESCO World Heritage Sites Accommodation: Room Sharing in 3 Star Type Hotels Meal Plan: Bed & Breakfast Transport: All Hotel Transfers and Airport transfers are in Private A/C Vehicle driven by an English-Speaking Chauffeur Guide All Trading subject to Terms & Conditions of Celink Australia Pty Ltd trading as Charika Travels. (E&OE) P a g e | 3 NEGOMBO Day 1 Hotel Suggested: Camelot Beach Hotel Breakfast Arrival to Colombo international Airport (Evening arrival) Upon your arrival to Colombo, the Chauffer-guide will meet & greet you at the Airport & transfer you to a hotel in Negombo for an overnight stay. You will relax and revive after a long flight. All Trading subject to Terms & Conditions of Celink Australia Pty Ltd trading as Charika Travels. (E&OE) P a g e | 4 ANURADHAPURA Day 2 Hotel Suggested: Rajarata Hotel Breakfast After Breakfast, you will be heading to Anuradhapura. Upon hotel check in relax for a while, you are ready to embark on another exciting adventure to witness 2000 years old history of Sri Lanka – tour to the Anuradhapura Ancient City Anuradhapura Ancient City is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the ol dest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Anuradhpuraya was considered as the capital of Sri Lanka from 04th Century BC to the beginning of 11th Century AD. The city’s greatest treasures include: • Sri Maha Bodhiya: The original Southern branch (right wing branch) of historical Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi (sacred fig/peepal tree) at Bodhgaya under which Lord Buddha attained Enlightenment. Brought by Ven. Arihat Sangamitta therani (the daughter of the Emperor Aoska of India) in the year 288 BC (3rd Century BC) and planted in Anuradhapura holy city. Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura is considered and venerated as one of the most precious and sacred relics, by Buddhists all over the world and is the oldest living human-planted tree in the world. • Ruwanwalisaya: is also known as the Maha Stupa (or the Great Stupa) is the most prominent Buddhist Stupas in Sri Lanka. Built by King Dutugemunu in 140 BC to enshrines a large portion of Buddha’s Relics. Ruwanwelisaya stupa is considered as one of the world's tallest monuments, standing at around 103 m (338 ft) and with a circumference of 290 m (951 ft). All Trading subject to Terms & Conditions of Celink Australia Pty Ltd trading as Charika Travels. (E&OE) P a g e | 5 •Tuparamaya: Considered as the first Buddhist Stupa in Sri Lanka, built by King Devanmpiya-Tissa (247-207 BC), in 3rd Century BC in which enshrines the sacred Right Collar Bone of Lord Buddha. The Stupa was built in the shape of a bell and the compound was paved with granite. • Jethawanaramaya: Built in Anuradhapura by King Mahasena (273–301). With a high of 122 metres (400 ft) with a base-area of 233,000 m2 (2,508,000 sq ft). This is an ancient engineering marvel and approximately 93.3 million bricks were used in the construction. It is believed to be the world's tallest stupa and perhaps one of the tallest structures in the Ancient world. Associated monasteries and structures within the compound said to be housed approximately 10,000 Buddhist Monks. and This stupa represents a period of Buddhist History of Sri Lanka as it represent s the tension between two Buddhist schools i.e. Theravad and Mahayana sects. • Abhyagiriya: Built in Anuradhapura by King Valagamba during the period of his second reign, from 89-77 BC. This was the stupa for a monastery complex for Mahayana and Theravada Buddhist schools. Abhyagiriya site was one of the most extensive Archaeological sites in the world with ruins of a complex of great monasteries considered as an international teaching institute for Buddhism by 1st Century AD, which attracted many international scholars from all over the world. Other significant sites and attracts in Anuradhpura includes Isurumuniya Vihara, the world famous ‘Samadhi Budhha Statue’, ‘Kuttam Pokuna’ or the twin ponds, ‘Mirisavatiya stupa’, Lankarama Viharaya etc. Note: Above attractions involve walking and climbing of steps to reach upper levels/heights. All Trading subject to Terms & Conditions of Celink Australia Pty Ltd trading as Charika Travels. (E&OE) P a g e | 6 SIGIRIYA / Day 3 & 4 HABARANA Hotel Suggested: Fresco Water Villa Breakfast After breakfast, you will leave for Habarana for 2 nights stay. Habarana is a famous destination in Anuradhapura district for tourists. It is a focal point for many internationally renowned tourist attractions. We use Habarana as an ‘overnight-stay destination’ to cover Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa and Minneriya National Park Safari. Upon reaching Habarana, you will go to see another ancient sacred city – Polonnaruwa, and embark on a breath-taking adventure of a lifetime – a wildlife safari at Minneriya or Kaudulla National Park All Trading subject to Terms & Conditions of Celink Australia Pty Ltd trading as Charika Travels. (E&OE) P a g e | 7 Minneriya National Park One of the main Safari parks situated in North Central Province, close to Sigiriya/Habarana. The National Park surrounds the Minneriya Reservoir/tank, which was built by King Mahasen in 3 rd Century AD. Minneriya National Park which was designated as a National Park in 1997 after it had been declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1938. Large number of Elephants migrate to the Minneriya reservoir during the dry season. They Migrate from surrounding National Parks and forests, for food, water. This ‘Elephant Gathering’ is a world-renowned spectacle. Many tourists attract to Minneriya to go on a well-remembered thrilling Private Jeep Safaris and to witness the great Sri Lankan ‘Elephant Gathering’ during the dry season. Note: This attraction involves open Safari Jeep ride in rough Jungle Terrain with bumpy roads. Ancient City of Polonnaruwa The second most ancient city of Sri Lanka, Polonnaruwa was first declared as the capitol by King Vijayabahu I, in 1070. Polonnaruwa’s Goldern age was dawned during the period of King Parakramabahu I (1153–1186. During this period Polonnaruwa was flourishing to become a trade and agricultural hub. King Parakramabahu build a sophisticated irrigation system based on Parakrama Samudra (Sea of Parakramabhahu) – a man-made gigantic reservoir. Today, Polonnaruwa Ancient City is a UNESCO world heritage site and a famous archaeological site visited by tourists around the world. Historical archaeological attractions in the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa include: Ruins of Royal Palaces, Watadage, Hatadage, Nissanka Latha Madapa, Rankoth Vehera, Lankatilaka Temple, Statues of Gal Vihara, Kiri Vihara, ‘The statue of Kind Parakramabahu’, and Shiva Devalaya. Note: This attraction involves walking and climbing of steps to reach upper levels/heights. All Trading subject to Terms & Conditions of Celink Australia Pty Ltd trading as Charika Travels. (E&OE) P a g e | 8 Next day (Day 4) After Breakfast, you will go to see one of the Wonders of the Ancient World, the ‘Sigiriya Lion Rock’ and witness the ancient engineering ingenuity. Sigiriya Lion Rock (Sigiriya Fortress) Sigiriya is a 5th Century man-made fortification situated on a majestic column of rock and known as the “Fortress in the Sky”.
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