Taste of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka
Highlights
- Negombo – Fish Market
- Kandy – Sinhalese family lunch
- Nuwara Eliya – Tea factory visit
- Galle – Dutch Fort
- Galle – Walking tour
- Colombo – Dinner at Ministry of Crab
- Sri Lanka
Experience Overview
Srilanka known as the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’, the island offers travellers palm-studded beaches, rolling plantations, and sacred sites steeped in spirituality. With charming people, mysterious ruins and some of the best cuisine in the world, Sri Lanka’s hypnotic essence will remain with you long after you come home.
Sample Itinerary
DAY 1
Arrival Colombo / Negombo
On arrival the client will be met by the representatives and will be decorated with garlands of “Temple tree flowers”. Afterwards transfer to Negombo for leisure.
Approx. 20 minute drive to Negombo
A small Dutch Fort dated 1678 with a beautiful Dutch Church of the same date and the beautiful Angunukaramulla Buddhist Temple, close by are some other attractions. Seafood is particularly fine here – the superb lobster mayonnaise, the curried prawns are possibly the best in the World. Catamaran trips in the sea and boat trips in the lagoon are organized by hoteliers. Diving facilities are also available
Overnight at the hotel
DAY 2
Negomboa / Dambulla
In the morning, wake early and catch the action at the Negombo fish market. The market is situated at the northern end of a lagoon renowned for lobsters, crabs and prawns. Weave through stalls piled with shark, squid, barracuda and unheard of sea creatures as the sellers call out their wares, and get a great insight into local commerce.
Head inland to Dambulla (approximately 2 hours), home to vibrantly decorated cave temples and a great base to explore the wide array of natural wonders and historic sites in this fascinating area. Your evening is free to explore.
Overnight at the hotel
DAY 3
Dambulla
After breakfast, drive to Sigiriya (approximately 30 minutes).
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 defence 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 colour (Approx. 02 ¾ – 03 hours’ to visit)
Then feast on tropical vegetables, curry made with tapioca and fried fish caught in the nearby lake for lunch. In the late afternoon, return to Dambulla to explore the Wholesale Market and dodge the trucks and people piled high with every type of produce imaginable. Boasting an incredible array of fresh food, much of which is subsequently transported to Colombo for sale, this is the perfect place to get a sense of Sri Lanka’s agricultural diversity. The rest of the evening is free for your own adventures.
Overnight at the hotel
DAY 4
Dambulla / Kandy
Dambulla Cave Temples – is a vast isolated rock mass 500 feet high and a mile around the base. Here is found the famous Rock Temple dating to the First Century B.C. The caves of Dambulla sheltered 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 in the Island.
(Approx. 01 – 1 ½ hrs.. to climb up and return
Continue on to Kandy and arrive by late afternoon (approximately 2 hours). Kandy is a pleasant city surrounded by lush green countryside, and it’s home to a picturesque lake, old shops, a bustling market and some great restaurants. This evening observe locals worshipping in Kandy’s Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth), one of Sri Lanka’s most sacred shrines that houses a tooth relic of the Lord Buddha.
Evening is free
Overnight at the hotel
DAY 5
Kandy
This morning you’ll enjoy a guided walk around Kandy’s busy city centre, including a tour of the Central Market and samples of local fresh fruits and also visit Botanical gardens.
transfer to the gem shops and wood carving shops & witness a cultural show featuring various dance types of Sri Lanka
Later evening, join a Sinhalese family to spoil your sweet tooth with a Kandyan sweet-filled Sri Lankan dinner and cooking class. Try your hand at crafting string hoppers, pressing a smooth rice dough into noodle-thin strands to form perfect discs (this is an art that takes some practice to master!), try a chicken curry made with spice-infused coconut milk, closer to a Thai curry than a classic North Indian one. Then fill up on specialty sweets inspired by Dutch and Portuguese dessert traditions.
Overnight at the hotel
DAY 6
Kandy – Nuwara Eliya – Beruwela
Early morning transfer to Numara Eliya visiting a tea estate & factory en route.
Approx. 2 ½ hrs drive Reach for Nuwara Eliya
*Numara Eliya – The ‘Little England’ of Sri Lanka, is set against beautiful backdrops of Mountains, Valleys, Waterfalls and Tea Plantations. It is supposed to be one of the coldest places on the island, but is really just like an England spring day although the temperature does drop at night.
All around Numara Elisa you will see evidence of the British influence. Houses are like country cottages or Queen Ann style mansions.
Tea Plantation – Tea was first planted in Sri Lanka in 1824 at the Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya, when a few plants were brought from China. More were introduced from Assam in 1839. In 1867 a Scottish Planter named James Taylor planted tea seedlings on an 8 hectares of forest land, in the Loolcondura Estate. In 1873, the tea export industry of Sri Lanka began with a modest 23lbs being shipped to London. Tea will grow well only on rolling terrain and is classified be elevation into low grown, medium grown, high grown, into 3 main groups. In 1996 Sri Lanka has produced 258 million kgs. Of tea and has earned Rs. 34,068 million by exporting 244 million kgs. of tea.
Afternoon commence city tour in Numara Eliya.
Thereafter transfer to Beruwela for overnight stay
Overnight at the hotel
DAY 7
Beruwela – Galle - Beruwela
After breakfast transfer to Galle and commence city tour in Galle
Approx. 1 hrs drive to Galle
This is the most ancient and important harbour of the country, until the Colombo Harbour was established. Galle is identified as the ‘Tarshis’ of the Bible. This was captured by the Portuguese in 1587 A.D, Dutch in 1640 A.D, and British in 1796 A.D.
Most of the existing buildings dates to Dutch Period. The Bastians are still using Dutch names such as Zwart, Akesloot, Aeloes etc. Famous for lace making, Ebony carving, Gem cutting & polishing, out on shooting chanced on Numara Elisa plains, and Sir Edward Barnes investigated on it
Later return back to the hotel. Afternoon at leisure
Overnight at the hotel
DAY 8
Colombo
Morning drive to Colombo
Head north for the final stop on this gastronomic adventure and Sri Lanka’s commercial heart, Colombo (approximately 2.5 hours). The city is a cosmopolitan mix of vibrant street markets, colonial buildings, interesting museums, fine restaurants and great shopping opportunities
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