7 Days Sri Lanka Heritage Trail

Trip Highlights:

• Negombo Fishing Town
• Polonnaruwa Royal Palace Ruins – World Heritage Site
• Dambulla Cave Temple
• Sigiriya Rock Fortress
• Minneriya National Park Safari
• Kandy Tooth Relic Temple and Cultural Triangle
• Matale Spice Garden
• Sri Lankan Fire Dancing
• Colombo City Tour
• Negombo Beach Relax

Arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport. A warm welcome by a Divine Representative and transfer to your hotel and check in. Enjoy your day at leisure in Negombo, a nice relaxed time with lovely food, relaxation, sea plus hot sun and or book a fishing tour on the traditional catamaran.

After breakfast make city tour of Negombo. Visit the remaining of the Dutch period, a Buddhist temple and a Catholic church. See a fishing village, the fish market, and the bazaar.

Leave for visit Polonnaruwa (a World Heritage Site), the second capital city of Sri Lanka built in the 11th and 12th centuries. Visit the ruins of the Royal Palace, Gal Viharaya where the splendid statues of the Buddha in ‘Upright’, ‘Sedentary’ and ‘Recumbent’ postures are carved out of rock, Audience Hall, Lotus Bath, statue of king Parakumbahu and Parakrama Samudraya – a lake built by King Parakumbahu.

There are also monuments of famous places of worship such as the Shiva Temple, Lankathilake, Watadage, Galpotha, Kiri Vehera and the remains of a former Temple of the Tooth Relic.

After breakfast proceed to climb the 5th century Sigiriya Rock Fortress which is a world heritage site, built by King Kashyapa (477-495 AD). It’s also known as the Lion Rock, because of the large sculpture of a Lion, at the entrance to the rock fortress. Afternoon make a jeep safari at Minneriya National Park to see the wildlife.

Breakfast at hotel. Visit Dambulla rock temple built by King Wlagambahu, in the 1st Century B.C. it is a world heritage site, and the most impressive of Sri Lanka’s cave temples. The complex of five cave caves with over 2000 sq. meters of painted walls and ceilings is the largest area of paintings found in the world. It contains 150 images of the Buddha of which the largest is the colossal figure of the Buddha carved out of rock and spanning 14 meters.

Leave for Kandy. En route at Matale visit a Hindu temple, a batik factory and a spice garden. See how the different spices grown and processed in Sri Lanka. Kandy was the last kingdom of Sri Lanka, and the hill capital. Kandy is also the venue for annual perehera, a pagent with over 150 elephants, dance troops, etc., parading the city.

Visit the temple of the tooth relic, lake, upper lake, Kandy Market area. In the evening witness a cultural dance show featuring traditional Sri Lankan dances including fire dancing.

This morning we head back to Colombo to explore the city’s bustling commercial centres and tree-lined residential streets. Check in hotel on arrival and have lunch.

After lunch, visit Cinnamon Gardens, the Fort (the former British administrative centre and military garrison), Sea Street (the Goldsmith’s quarters in the heart of Pettah), the Bazaar area complete with a Hindu Temple, and of course the Dutch Church of Wolfendhal dating back to 1749. Take a visit to Paradise Road for a final scavenge for souvenirs before heading to dinner.

After breakfast leave for Negombo. Relax by the beach & stay overnight at the hotel in Negombo.

After breakfast at the hotel. Transfer for onward flight.