Sri Lanka Relaxing Buddhist Pilgrims

On arrival in Sri Lanka you will be assisted by our airport representative and transfer to the hotel.

Late afternoon, drive through the commercial and city center known as the Fort, built by the Portuguese in the 16th century. Visit Pettah market and the National Museum.

Afterwards leave for Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara, a buddhist temple located 7 miles from Colombo. Buddhists believe the temple to have been hallowed during the third and final visit of the Buddha eight years after gaining enlightenment.

Offer flowers and water to Lord Buddha.

Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, leave for Gangarama temple. This Buddhist temple is situated not far from the placid waters of Beira Lake. Listen to a sermon by a Buddhist priest on Buddhism.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

Later on introduction to Meditation.

In the evening, leave for Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya ancient buddhist temple and offer flowers. Practice meditation close to the sacred Bo tree, one of the thirty-two saplings that sprang from the sacred Bo tree at Anuradhapura, planted in the 3rd century B.C.

Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast set off to Anuradhapura, and check in to your hotel on arrival.

After a short rest, visit the sacred ancient city of Anuradhapura (UNESCO World Heritage Site). It has the largest number of ancient monuments of the great Sinhala civilization.

You will visit the tallest stupas of Sri Lanka, the ruins of ancient royal palaces and the Sri Maha Bodhi, the sacred Bo tree which is over 2200 years old grown from a branch of the very tree under which The Buddha attained enlightenment – the oldest historically documented tree in the world.

Evening practice meditation under the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi Tree.

Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, leave for Mihintale. Visit the ancient remains of Mihintale, a sacred place which is regarded as the cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. A grand stairway of 1840 steps made of granite slabs leads to the summit with its splendid views of the surrounding countryside.

Afterwards leave to Aukana to see the statue of the Aukana Buddha. This is undoubtedly the most magnificent undamaged ancient image in the island.

After sightseeing leave for Habarana. Check in on arrival and spend the rest of the evening at leisure.

Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, begin the morning by climbing the 200 meters high rock fortress of Sigiriya (UNESCO World Heritage Site). See the famous frescoes of the Heavenly maidens of Sigiriya and the 10 foot high Mirror Wall.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

Late afternoon, leave for Jathika Namal Uyana is the largest Na-forest and pink quartz mountain in Asia. According to archeological researcher’s findings, the pink quartz in this historical place has a history of more than 550 millions of years.

Practice meditation session and return to the hotel.

Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, continue to Polonnaruwa (UNESCO World Heritage Site) which was the capital of Sri Lanka from the 11th to 13th century. A well planned medieval city defended by enclosing 5 km long walls, graced by palaces, shrines, monasteries, pavilions, parks, ponds and irrigation lakes.

The Gal Vihara which consists of statues of the recumbent, standing and seated Buddha have been cut from a single granite wall.

Visit Hiriwadunna, a small farming village where you will experience the simple lifestyle of Sri Lanka native culture. A bullock cart ride will take you through the village. Then stop for lunch and be treated to delicious local cuisine served on lotus leaves by a village family. Enjoy your local adventure with a catamaran ride on the lake.

Evening visit Pidurangala Rajamaha Vihara, a buddhist monastery from the King Kasyapa time (477 - 495 AC). Practice meditation session in a quite area in the temple premises. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, visit Dambulla and explore the famous Golden Rock cave temple (UNESCO World Heritage Site). A vast isolated rock mass with its five caverns is the largest best preserved cave-temple complex in Sri Lanka.

Continue on to Kandy (UNESCO World Heritage Site). En route, you will visit a spice garden in Matale. You will check in at your hotel on arrival and once you are rested, continue on to your tour of Kandy.

In the Evening, you will visit the sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic which houses the most sacred religious relic, the tooth of the Buddha. Enjoy the Kandyan Cultural show at the Kandyan Arts & Cultural Centre. Later visit the Asgiriya Temple.

Overnight at the hotel.

After an early breakfast, visit the sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic offer flower and witness Dalada Ceremony. Rituals are performed three times daily: at dawn, at noon and in the evenings. On Wednesdays there is a symbolic bathing of the Sacred Relic with an herbal preparation made from scented water and fragrant flowers, called Nanumura Mangallaya. This holy water is believed to contain healing powers and is distributed among those present.

Proceed to the alms giving hall to witness and partake in an arms giving ceremony. Offer gifts to the priests. Return to the hotel.

Afterwards meditation at Udawatte kele, German Buddhist Meditation Center of former German Bhikkhu Rev. Gnanaponika and the Buddhist Publication Society to get some books on Buddhism and Meditation.

Visit the Nilambe Meditation Center to get practical knowledge of methods of Meditation.

Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, visit Embekke Temple, Lankatilake Temple and Gadaladeniya Temple.

On completion leave for Nuwara Eliya, a beautiful town set in the heart of Tea country and situated 1890 meters above sea level.

En route visit to tea factory and tea plantation. Check in at the hotel on arrival. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast leave for Kataragama. En route, visit Rawana Waterfalls.

On arrival, check in at the hotel. Kataragama is a pilgrimage town sacred to Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and indigenous Vedda people of Sri Lanka. The town has the Ruhunu Maha Kataragama devalaya, a shrine dedicated to Skanda-Murukan also known as Kataragamadevio.

In the evening, offer fruits to Lord Kataragama.

Practice meditation in Kiriveheara Raja Maha Vehera, an ancient stupa built by King Mahasena in 3rd century BC.

Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, commence a jeep safari in the Yala National Park. It is renowned for its variety of wildlifes notably its many elephants and home to the spotted deer, sambar, wild buffalo, sloth bear, jackal, mongoose and crocodiles. The peacock is the most famous of the birds in this park. Yala has a high concentration of Leopards although seeing these nocturnal carnivores still requires some luck.

Afterwards leave for Beruwela, en route visit Matara. The Nilwala River flows by the Dutch fort to the sea here, Polhena beach is known for its reef and coral. Dondra Head is the southernmost point of the country with great elevation, rocky edges and beach for swimming.

Visit another major city Galle, situated on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka.

Afterwards depart for Beruwela, delightfully located along one of the finest beaches on the south west coast. Spend the afternoon at leisure watching the waves as they bounce off the sun-kissed sands.

Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, leisure at your own.

Late afternoon, visit a local village temple and listen to a Buddhist sermon and later on practice meditation in a quiet place near the boo tree.

Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, visit a nearby village temple, partake in an arms giving ceremony. After the ceremony, you have a local lunch in the temple premises.

Listen to sermon by a Buddhist monk and have a session of questions and answers. Later on practice meditation and return to the hotel.

Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, transfer to the Colombo international airport for your departure flight.