Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour – Sri Lanka
6 Nights / 7 Days
Day 1 Airport – Sigiriya
Meeting and Greeting at the Airport. Transfer from airport to hotel in Sigiriya. En-Route Visit Cave Temple
Cave temple
The area is thought to be inhabited from as early as the 7th to 3rd century BC. Statues and paintings in these caves date back to the 1st century BC. But the paintings and statues were repaired and repainted in 11th, 12th, and 18th century AD. The caves in the city provided refuge to King Valagamba (also called Vattagamini Abhaya) in his 14 yearlong exile from the Anuradhapura kingdom. Buddhist Monk meditating in the caves of Dambulla at that time provided the exiled king protection from his enemies. When King Valagamba returned to the throne at Anuradhapura kingdom in the 1st century BC, he had a magnificent rock temple built at Dambulla as a gratitude to the monks in Dambulla. Dinner and Overnight stay at Hotel in Sigiriya
Day 2 Sigiriya – Polonnaruwa - Sigiriya
Breakfast from Hotel. Visit Sigiriya
Sigiriya
Sigiriya is an amazing geological formation in Sri Lanka that encompasses an important archaeological site. Sigiriya lies 22 km north-east of Dambulla in the North central province of Sri Lanka. The tourist site of Sigiriya has been declared as a UNESCO world heritage site since 1982 and is part of the seven world heritage sites of Sri Lanka. Sigiriya is located in the middle of the tourism cultural triangle formed by connecting the world heritage sites of Anuradhapura, Kandy and Polonnaruwa in Sri Lanka. Day Excursion to Polonnaruwa
Polonnaruwa
Polonnaruwa is the second largest city in North Central Province, but it is known as one of the cleanest and more beautiful cities in the country. The green environment, amazing ancient constructions, Parakrama Samudra (a huge lake built in 1200), and attractive tourist hotels and hospitable people, attract tourists.
Place to visit at Polonnaruwa
The Royal Palace
The Shiva Devale No. 2
The Audience Hall
The Sacred Quadrangle
The Swimming Pool
The Dagaba Kiri Vihara
The Pabalu Vehera
The Buddha statue at Lankatilaka
Lord Buddha figures at Gal Vihara
The Rankot Vihara
Polonnaruwa Tank
Return to Sigiriya. Dinner and Overnight stay at Hotel in Sigiriya
Day 3 Sigiriya – Anuradhapura – Mihinthale - Sigiriya
Breakfast at the Hotel. Day Excursion to Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, famous for its well-preserved ruins of ancient Sri Lankan civilization. It was 3rd capital of the Kingdom of Rajarata after Tambapanni and Upatissa Nuwara.
The city, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies 205 km north of the current capital Colombo in Sri Lanka's North Central Province, on the banks of the historic Malvathu Oya. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and one of the eight World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka.
From the 4th century BC, it was the capital of Sri Lanka until the beginning of the 11th century AD. During this period, it remained one of the most stable and durable centers of political power and urban life in South Asia. The ancient city, considered sacred to the Buddhist world, is today surrounded by monasteries covering an area of over sixteen square miles (40 km²).
Although according to historical records the city was founded in the 5th century BC, the archaeological data put the date as far back as the 10th century BC. Very little evidence was available about the period before the 5th century BC (i.e. the protohistoric period), though excavations have revealed information about the earlier inhabitants of the city.
Place to visit at Anuradhapura
The Sri Mahabodhi Tree,
Loha Prasada - The Brazen Palace
The Mahathupa - Ruwanweli Dagaba
The Thuparama Dagaba
The Jetavana Dagaba
The Abhayagiri Monastery & Dagaba
The Samadhi Buddha
The Kuttam Pokuna - The Twin Ponds
Mihinthale Viharaya
Visit Mihinthale
Mihinthale
Mihinthale is a mountain peak near Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka. It is believed by Sri Lankans to be the site of a meeting between the Buddhist monk Mahinda and King Devanampiyatissa which inaugurated the presence of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. It is now a pilgrimage site, and the site of several religious monuments and abandoned structures.
According to Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa, Thera Mahinda came to Sri Lanka from India on the full moon day of the month of Poson (June) and met King Devanampiyatissa and the people, and preached the doctrine. The traditional spot where this meeting took place is revered by the Buddhists of Sri Lanka. Therefore, in the month of Poson, Buddhists make their pilgrimage to Anuradhapura and Mihinthale. Return to Sigiriya. Dinner and Overnight stay at Hotel in Sigiriya
Day 4 Sigiriya - Kandy
Breakfast at the Hotel. Transfer form Sigiriya to Kandy. Visit Matale Aluviharaya
Aluvihara
Aluvihara; Luminous Cave Temple is synonymous with the teaching of the Buddha. Aluvihara rightly assumes its significance in the annals of the history of world Buddhism. It is in this very location that the Tipiţaka was documented on palm-leaves. “Assembled the priests, who here compared their texts, which were then, or soon afterwards, committed to writing, and form the Banapota or Buddhist Bible. This took place about ninety-two years B.C.” “Therefore, to the enlightened Buddhist” says Major Forbes in his work Eleven years in Ceylon written in 1840 “This secluded and comparatively unpretending cavern must be of infinitely greater interest than the Temple of the Tooth or Thupārāma itself.” Aluvihāra also preserved with it a host of rich literature that had woven around the Tipiţaka including commentarie
Temple of Tooth Relic
Located in Kandy, long a centre of the Buddhist faith, the stunning 17th-century Temple of the Tooth (Sri Dalada Maligawa) is believed to house the left upper canine tooth of the Lord Buddha himself. This precious relic attracts white-clad pilgrims, bearing lotus blossoms and frangipani, every day.
According to legend, the tooth was taken from the Buddha as he lay on his funeral pyre. It was smuggled to Sri Lanka in 313 ADS, hidden in the hair of Princess Hemamali who fled the Hindu armies besieging her father's kingdom in India.
It immediately became an object of great reverence and was enshrined in a series of nested jeweled reliquaries. The tooth was brought out for special occasions and paraded on the backs of elephants, which are sacred to the Buddha. Where it survived numerous attempts to capture and destroy it.
When the capital was moved to Kandy, the tooth was taken to the new city and placed in temples built to honor it. The temple was originally built under Kandyan kings between 1687 and 1707
City Tour at Kandy (Lake drive, Gem Museum, Silk shop, Batik etc…..). Evening View Of cultural show. Dinner and Overnight stay at Hotel in Kandy
Day 5 Kandy
Breakfast at Hotel
Visit Ambuluwawa Temple
Ambuluwawa mountain peak has a height of 3567 feet above sea level. It is located over 1000 feet above from the Gampola Town. The tower is located on the summit of the mountain peak. Since there are no other mountains in the surrounding area and due to its unique location, Ambuluwawa Tower gets an undisturbed view from far away and vice versa
Bahirawa Kanda Temple
Royal Botanical Garden Peradeniya
Peradeniya is situated about 5.5 km to the west from the city of Kandy in the Central Province of Sri Lanka and attracts 1.2 million visitors annually; it is renowned for its collection of a variety of orchids.
It includes more than 300 varieties of orchids, spices, medicinal plants and palm trees. Attached to it is the National Herbarium. The total area of the botanical garden is 147 acres (0.59 km2), at 460 meters above sea level, and with a 200-day annual rainfall. It is managed by the Division of National Botanic Gardens of the Department of Agriculture. The origins of the Botanic Gardens date as far back as 1371 when King Wickramabahu III ascended the throne and kept court at Peradeniya near Mahaweli river. This was followed by King Kirti Sri and King Rajadhi Rajasinghe. A temple was built on this location by King Wimala Dharma, but it was destroyed by the British when they were given control over the Kingdom of Kandy. Thereafter, the groundwork for a botanical garden was formed by Alexandar Moon in 1821. The Botanical Garden at Peradeniya was formally established in 1843 with plants brought from Kew Garden, Slave Island, Colombo, and the Kalutara Garden in Kalutara.
The Royal Botanic Garden, Peradeniya was made more independent and expanded under George Gardner as superintendent in 1844.On his death in 1849 George Henry Kendrick Thwaites became superintendent. The Garden came under the administration of the Department of Agriculture when it was established in 1912. Dinner and Overnight stay at Hotel in Kandy
Day 6 Kandy- Colombo
Breakfast at the Hotel. Transfer from Kandy to Colombo. En- Route visit Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
Pinnawala orphanage is situated in Rabukkana, northwest of the town Kegalla, half ways between the present capital Colombo and the ancient royal residence Kandy in the hills of central Sri Lanka. It was established 1975 by the Sri Lanka Wildlife department. This 24-acre large elephant orphanage is an also breeding pace for elephants, the first elephant baby was born in 1984, and it has the greatest herd of elephants in captivity in the world. Between 1975 and 2012, 67 animals were born here.
Spice Garden at Mawanella
Sri Lanka is world renowned for its valued spices and healing herbs. Our lush spice and herbal gardens feature many important herbs such as Sandalwood, Margosa, Cocoa, Citronella, Almond, Jasmine and Coconut. When visiting us, make the most of the chance to experience first-hand how cloves, pepper, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and saffron are grown in their natural surroundings.
At Regent Spice and Herbal Garden, you can learn of their medicinal healing properties and how to use them in your day-to-day needs. Used worldwide in many medicines, the healing powers of spices have been respected from the time of the Pharaohs and Chinese Dynasties, while our herbs are used in Ayurvedic concoctions.
Transfer to Colombo
Visit Kelaniya Temple
Colombo city tour & Shopping
Colombo - visit fort and Pettah areas and drive past the 100-year-old clock tower, the old parliament and several British built, colonial buildings. Other places of interest are, a Hindu and a Buddhist temple, residential areas where you find the stately homes of the affluent, the Colombo Museum, the Bandaranaike memorial international conference hall (BMICH). visit the ceramics corporation showrooms, the ODEL unlimited dress boutique and the majestic city shopping complex. Overnight stay at your hotel in Colombo. Late Evening – Walk at Galle Face Green. Dinner and Overnight stay at Hotel in Colombo
Day 7 Colombo - Airport
Breakfast at the Hotel. Transfer from Colombo to airport for Departure Flight