On The Trail Of The Buddha 13Nts |
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Prices from £ 1135 per person
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Discuss this tour with a Sri Lanka Expert on
0800 036 7027 |
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| » Tour Overview » Tour Highlights » Detailed Itinerary » Accommodations » Price » Inclusions & Exclusions |
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| Locations Covered: |
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Negombo – Anuradhapura – Dambulla – Kandy – Nuwara Eliya – Yala – Colombo – Negombo |
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| Overview: |
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Buddhism and Sri Lanka are inseparably intertwined as is evident from the many monuments, festivals and Buddhist monks who form the very fabric of the country. Lord Buddha is believed to have visited the country three times. Discover the trail of the Buddha with this tour which includes the many places he visited and the many Buddhist monasteries and Stupas across the island. |
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| Highlights: |
- Statues of Polonnaruwa
- Dambulla Cave Temple
- Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
- Meditational Centre
- Sri Pada Peak
- Kataragama Devalaya
- Kelaniya Temple
- Gangarama Temple
- Colombo City
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| Detailed Itinerary : |
Day 01: Arrival Colombo and Travel to Anuradhapura. (180 km / 4hr)
Greeted by Sri Lanka Travel Centre representative at the Bandaranaike International Airport and transferred to the famed ancient capital of Anuradhapura. Check into your hotel, relax and unwind. Overnight at the hotel. (Vehicle for transfer)
Day 02: Anuradhapura
Take a tour of the sacred city of Anuradhapura. The history of Buddhism in Sri Lanka up to the 13th century is, to a very large extent, the history of Anuradhapura’s three great monasteries – the Mahavihara, the Abhayagiri and the Jetavana. One of the key features of Anuradhapura is the Sri Maha Bodhi Tree under which Buddha achieved enlightenment. Other highlights include the ruins of the Mahavihara, the Brazen Palace, Thuparama, the Twin Ponds, Samadhi Buddha and the Jetavana Stupa. Continue onwards to the sacred mountain of Mihinthale which is considered to be the location where Buddhism was first introduced to the island of Sri Lanka by Mahindra Thero , the son of the Indian emperor Ashoka. Today the peak of Mihinthale, approached by a giant stairway of 1840 granite steps, has many temples, lodgings for monks and several splendid statues of the Buddha. (Vehicle at disposal)
Day 03: Anuradhapura – Dambulla (85 km / 2.5 hr)
Travel to Dambulla. Enroute you can visit the magnificent 38 ft tall Avukana Statue of Lord Buddha which has been carved out of a cliff. Arrive in Dambulla in the afternoon. Spend the rest of the day at leisure and enjoy a relaxing massage. Overnight at the hotel. (Vehicle for the transfer.)
Day 04: Dambulla
Today you will travel to Sigiriya to visit the spectacular Sigiriya rock fortress, an awe inspiring palace- cum- fortress sitting atop a 200 m rock outcrop. Built in the 5th century by a tyrant king fleeing exile, the fortress, now rated as the eighth wonder of the world, is a jaw-dropping architectural marvel.Proceed to Polonnaruwa and visit the remains of the medieval capital located by the side of the magnanimous man-made “Parakrama Samudraya”. Also visit the Gal Vihara. Return to the hotel in the evening for overnight stay. (Vehicle at disposal)
Day 05: Dambulla – Kandy (75 km / 2.5 hr)
Visit the cave temple complex in Dambulla this morning. Just a few kilometres south of the market town of Dambulla is a huge hummock 500 feet high and 1000 feet long rising above the country side which is believed to have been inhabited by monks for at least 2000 years. Dambulla is now renowned for its Cave Temples, which were built by King Valagam Bahu in the 1st century BC. Situated on a gigantic granite outcrop towering more than 160 m above the surrounding landscape, the caves are completely covered by ancient frescoes depicting religious and secular scenes. Protected within the caves are hundreds of statues of Buddha, many carved out of the rock itself, of which the largest is the 15m long Dying Buddha. Travel onwards to Kandy where you can visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth relic of Lord Buddha. This majestic temple complex houses in a golden casket, the left upper canine tooth of Lord Buddha. Check in to the hotel for overnight stay. (Vehicle for transfer)
Day 06: Kandy
After breakfast, proceed to the Nillambe Meditation Centre. The centre offers meditation and the opportunity for discussions on Buddhist philosophy with the teachers, monks and resident guests. Evening at leisure at the hotel.
Day 07: Kandy
Today you will travel to Mahiyangana, to visit one of the three sites to have been graced by Buddha. Mahiyanganaya is situated on the banks of the Mahaweli River and the stupa here is supposed to have been the first one in the country. Return to the hotel to spend the evening at leisure. (Vehicle at disposal)
Day 08: Kandy – Nuwara Eliya (80 km / 2.5 hr)
Proceed to Nuwara Eliya. You can choose to travel by train through some very scenic routes in the hills Alternatively, you could opt to travel by car, visiting the Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya, the stunning Ramboda Falls and a tea plantation enroute. Check into your hotel on arrival. You could visit Adams Peak also known as Sri Pada where the Buddha is supposed to have left his foot print. Take an overnight trek to the top of the peak accompanied by guides.
Day 09 : Nuwara Eliya
Arrive at the top of the summit in the morning to witness a glorious sunrise. Return to the hotel to spend the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 10: Nuwara Eliya – Buduruwagala – Yala (180 km / 5 hr)
Travel south to Yala. Enroute you will get the opportunity to visit sites which have many statues and sculptures of Lord Buddha carved in the rock. After visiting the site, continue onwards to Yala and check in to your hotel on arrival for your overnight stay. (Vehicle for the transfer)
Day 11: Yala
Today you can visit the Kirivehera Temple which has a stupa said to contain the hair of Buddha when he renounced himself as a King to lead a life of a monk . Later visit the Sithulpavuva and Kataragama Devalaya where the Buddhist world’s most famous and influential monastic communities once flourished. Later in the afternoon visit the Kataragama Devalaya – the colourful, larger-than-life focal point of worship for all religions for various reasons. Evening at leisure at the hotel. (Vehicle at disposal)
Day 12: Yala – Colombo (300 km / 7 hr)
After breakfast, you will depart to Colombo along some very scenic routes. Stop at Ratnapura which is famous for its gems for lunch before proceeding to Colombo again. Check into your hotel on arrival and spend the rest of the day at leisure. (Vehicle for the transfer)
Day 13: Colombo
Today, you will visit the significant significant Buddhist locations in and around Colombo including Kelaniya which is said to have been visited by Lord Buddha twice. Visit the Kelaniya Stupa which is about 90 feet high and has a diameter of 98 feet at the base and is the most well known paddy heap shaped stupa in Sri Lanka. Spend the rest of the day exploring the city of Colombo and enjoying the many shopping and dining opportunities it provides. Overnight at the hotel. (Vehicle at disposal)
Day 14: Colombo – Departure (40 km / 1 hr)
Departure transfer to the airport for your return flight. (Vehicle for transfer)
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| Accommodation: |
| Place | Nts | Standard | Superior | Deluxe | | | Anuradhapura | 2 | Palm Garden Village | | | | Dambulla | 2 | Amaya Lake | | | | Kandy | 3 | Chaaya Citadel | | | | Nuwara Eliya | 2 | Grand Hotel | | | | Yala | 2 | Yala Village | | | | Colombo | 2 | Mount Lavinia Hotel | | |
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| Prices: |
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Prices from £ 1135 per person
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| Tour Inclusions & Exclusions: |
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Prices are per person based on 2 people occupying 1 double or twin room. Prices may vary based on local market fluctuations. For single supplements please contact Sri Lanka Travel Centre. Price Includes: B&B at all hotels, chauffeur guide driven AC car, all entrance fees, guide charges, assisted airport transfers, Ayurveda massage Price Excludes: International Flights - Please contact Sri Lanka Travel Centre for booking flights. |
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Discuss this tour with a Sri Lanka Expert on
0800 036 7027 |
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