1st Day
Arrive in Sri Lanka. You will be met by a representative of Welcome Holiday Travels and transferred to Kandy.
City tour of Kandy.
Kandy
The hill capital is another “World Heritage Site”. It was the last stronghold of the Sinhalese Kings during the Portuguese, Dutch and British rule and finally ceded to the British in 1815 after an agreement.To the Buddhists of Sri Lanka and the World, Kandy is one of the most sacred sites as it is the home of the “Dalada Maligawa” - Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha.
Close by are the remains of the Royal Palace (“MahaWasala”), “PalleWasala”- where the Queens stayed-now used for the National Museum, “MedaWasala” where other close relatives lived, Audience Hall, NathaDevala and Vishnu Devala are situated close by. The Bathing Pavilion (“Ulpenge”) is by the Lake and in the Center of the lake is the Island called “Kirisamudraya” (Milk White Ocean) used by the kings as the summerhouse.
Today it is the center of Buddhism, Arts, Crafts, Dancing, Music and Culture.
Visitors can see these Dance & Music at the daily Cultural Performances held at several places in the city.
Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
Ever since 4th Century A.D, when the Buddha’s Tooth was brought to Sri Lanka hidden from sacrilegious hands in an Orissan princess’ hair, the Relic has grown in repute and holiness in Sri Lanka and throughout the Buddhist world. It is considered Sri Lanka’s most prized possession.
Visitors can see these Dance & Music at the daily Cultural Performances held at several places in the city.
Overnight stay at Kandy
02nd Day
After breakfast proceed to Sigiriya & Climb Sigiriya Rock.
Sigiriya is home to the 5th Century “Fortress in the Sky” which is perhaps the most fantastic single wonder of the Island. It is also known as Lion Rock because of the huge lion that used to stand at the entrance to the fortress. Within its triple-moated defense the huge rock rises almost to a sheer height of 500ft. On its summit are the foundations of what was once a great and sumptuous palace and gardens complete with swimming pool. On one of the stairways the only known ancient work of Sinhala secular painting survived in the form of Frescoes of life sized damsels in all the freshness and delicacy of their original color.
Sigiriya was never conquered by any of the invading forces that had such an effect on the Island of Sri Lanka. It was however ceded to the British during the colonial rule without force.
Afternoon Proceed to Dambulla.
Dambulla
Is a vast isolated rock mass 500ft high and a mile around the base. Here is found the famous RockTemple dating to the First Century BC. The caves of Dambulla sheltered the 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 on 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 ceiling date back to the 15th - 18th Centuries.
In the SecondCave, the finest and the largest of all, there are 150 life-size statues of Gods from the Buddhist religion along with numerous images of the Buddha himself. The ceiling is also covered with frescoes which depict great events in the life of the Buddha and landmarks in the history of the Sinhala people,
Overnight stay at Dambulla
03rd Day
After breakfast proceed to Bandaranayaka International Airport.
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