COLOMBO / ANURADHAPURA / SIGIRIYA

Proceed to Sigiriya in a private vehicle from Colombo. Along the way, you will see a number of temples and historic sites in Anuradhapura. The 280 kilometers should take about five hours. Visit the Buddha statues in Mihintale, Aukana, later on.

Tour of Anuradhapura Citya

A visit to Anuradhapura's temples, museums, dagobas, forts, stupas, and numerous other historic sites is highly recommended (UNESCO world heritage site). Following lunch, you'll begin your 3- to 4-hour hop-on, hop-off Anuradhapura city tour.

Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura's history dates back to the eighth century BC, according to recent excavations. or 2800 B.P. Legends, however, extend the timeline beyond 3000-5000 years. Sri Lanka was home to four tribes at the time (Ramayana being one of them). The kingdom began in 380 B.C. and lasted for 1,500 years. Numerous of Sri Lanka's oldest and most impressive monuments are located in this city. a well-liked pilgrimage site for Sinhalese Buddhists due to the abundance of historic Buddhist structures.

King Pandukabhaya established Anuradhapura as the royal capital in 380 BC. Up to the year 1000 AD, it served as both the royal capital and the home of 119 successive Singhalese monarchs. After that, the capital was transferred to Polonnaruwa. You will witness remnants of palaces, temples, monasteries, ceremonial baths, and the temple of the sacred Bo tree, in addition to some of the most well-known and tallest dagobas in all of Sri Lanka. This tree was raised from a sampling of the same tree that the Buddha attained enlightenment under over 2500 years ago. All of these locations are included in our hop-on, hop-off Anuradhapura City Tour.

• Ruwanwelisaya: King Dutugamunu built one of the biggest "stupas" ever completed.

• Thuparamaya: Possibly the oldest observable dagoba in the world, it is the oldest in Sri Lanka.

• Lovamahapaya: This building is significant since it formerly had bronze tiles covering its roof.

• Abhayagiri: This is one of Anuradhapura's largest viharas. The monastery housed five thousand monks.

• Jethavanaramaya: a revered World Heritage monument that at one point housed almost 3,000 monks. It resembles Abhayagiri quite a bit as well.

• Mirisavetiya: Following his victory over King Elara, King Dutugamunu constructed this stupa.

• Lankaramaya: One of the city's eight holiest sites, it was constructed during the reign of King Valagamba of the Anuradhapura Kingdom.

The Buddha Statue from Aukana

One of the outstanding specimens of a standing Buddha statue from ancient Sri Lanka is thought to be the Avukana statue. The Avukana statue is a standing Buddha statue located in north-central Sri Lanka, not far from Kekirawa. Standing over 46 feet (14 meters) tall, the monument was sculpted in the fifth century out of a massive granite rock face. It shows a version of the Abhaya mudra, with the intricately carved, closely worn garment. It was built during the reign of Dhatusena and might have resulted from a master-student competition. One of the outstanding examples of a standing statue constructed in Sri Lanka is the Avukana statue. It is presently a well-liked travel destination.

The Ancient Temple of Mihintale

A high peak close to Anuradhapura is called Mihintale. Dating back to the second century BC, it is among the world's oldest places of worship. King Devanampiyatissa was the one who built it. The temple is currently a place of pilgrimage, home to numerous significant religious monuments as well as abandoned buildings, including an Ayurvedic hospital.

According to Heinz E. Müller-Dietz (Historia Hospitalism 1975), the hospital in Mihintale may be the oldest in the entire globe.

Activities scheduled for today

The ancient city, museum, Aukana Buddha statue, Jetawanarama, Sri Mahabodhi, Ruwanweli stupa, Kuttam Pokuna, and Mihintale are all located in Anuradhapura.

A Place to Stay
Spend the night in Sigiriya.

SIGIRIYA / KANDY

After breakfast, head to the Kandy Hotel. While travelling,

Arrive at Dambulla Cave Temple. Spend two hours at the UNESCO-designated Dambulla Cave Temple, a batik workshop, and a spice garden showcasing the finest spices in Sri Lanka.

Golden Cave Temple: Two Hours of Wonder
Originally built in the first century BC, this is Sri Lanka's most magnificent cave temple. Beneath an overhanging rock, it features five caverns that are carved with a drip line to keep the interiors dry. The ceilings of the caverns are painted with numerous gods and goddesses and religious imagery. The Buddha and other Buddhas are depicted. Numerous caves at the temple have been transformed into shrine rooms. The Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa kingdoms created the caverns at the foot of a 150-meter-tall cliff.
One of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites is the well-known Dambulla Cave Temple. The oldest structure in Sri Lanka that has been kept the finest is the cave monastery at Dambulla.

The Kandyan
UNESCO has designated Kandy City as a Living World Heritage Site. Kandy, which served as the final capital of the Sinhala kings, is renowned for its serene natural surroundings and man-made lake. According to a British governor, Kandy is the most beautiful city in the world's most beautiful country. The religious significance of the Tooth Relic and the yearly Dalada Perehere procession add vitality and distinct cultural significance to the old hill capital, while the palace's shrines and British-era architecture give it a distinct personality.

Tooth Relic Temple (1 hour)
In Kandy, Sri Lanka, there is a Buddhist shrine called Sri Dalada Maligawa (Sinhala), or the shrine of the Sacred Tooth Relic. It is situated within the complex of royal palaces that also holds the tooth Buddha relic. Because it is thought that whoever owns the relic controls national governance, the relic has been significant to local politics since ancient times. Due in part to the temple, Kandy, the final capital of the Sinhalese kings, is now recognized as a World Heritage Site.

An hour-long cultural presentation from Kandy
The Exhibition of Cultural Dancing. Dance and drama are such an integral part of Sri Lankan culture that a celebration would not be complete without them. Sri Lanka, a country with many ethnic groups, is proud of its rich history in dance and theater. The two major ethnic groups have two amazing dance and drama traditions in common, which contribute to Sri Lanka's increased notoriety in this area.

Shopping and CITY (optional)
Tourist attractions including Kandy Lake, a historical church, a Buddhist Hindu temple, and a batik industry will all be included on the city tour. Purchasing at Barefoot, Hemachandra Jewlery, Silk Garden, and so forth

Activities
The activities include visiting the Golden Temple in Dambulla, the Muttumari Amman Temple in Matale, a spice and herb garden in Matale, a Kandyan cultural display, a Kandy city tour, and the Temple of the Tooth Relic. 
Accommodation
A hotel located in Kandy

KANDY / COLOMBO

Proceed to Colombo after enjoying a leisurely breakfast at your Kandy hotel. You might elect to take a Colombo city tour en route.

Colombo
As far back as pre-Christian times, Colombo was a well-known city among traders from Arabia, China, India, Persia, and Rome. Traders travel to Sri Lanka, which is situated along the East-West Sea route, to exchange goods with the local traders. Anuradhapura had served as the nation's capital city, despite the fact that 2,000 years ago, the ancient traders were well-known for their commerce with Colombo. At the mouth of the Kelani River in the city of Colombo, there existed an Arabian hamlet. From the port of Columbo, Arab traders were exporting commodities. With the assistance of Arabs, the monarch of Kotte traded goods including diamonds, ivory, cinnamon, and elephants. As the capital of Ceylon, Colombo gained prominence at the start of the British colonial era. From 1815 to 1978, Colombo served as the island's capital; after that, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte was designated as the new administrative center.

Galle face
When the nation was under British colonial rule, this racecourse was well-known. Due to sea crabs creating holes in the track, this racecourse that borders the Indian Ocean had to be abandoned later. Later on, it was transformed into a promenade for city people and given the name Galle to face Green. Galle Face Green is home to an open theater these days, as well as large green areas for sports, strolling, and picnics.

Maha Ganagarama Temple
It is regarded as one of the nation's holiest locations. The well-known Kelaniya dagoba is situated inside the temple's boundaries. The temple is one of the three locations that the Buddha visited in the sixth century B.C. The Kalyani River, which runs alongside the temple, enhances its picturesque attractiveness. This temple is well-known for its lovely wall, which is regarded as the greatest painting from the Modern Era.

The park is called Viharamahadevi
Viharamahadevi can be found in Cinnamon Gardens in Colombo 7. It is the city's biggest and most well-liked park. There once was a twenty-square-kilometer cinnamon plantation in the region. The majority of the affluent people's palaces are still visible in the region, and Colombo 7 is the city's most gorgeous area.

The Wolvendaal church
The Wolvendaal Church is situated in Fort, just a short stroll from the city's heart. It features a sizable assortment of grave markers belonging to notable Dutch figures. Built in 1813, the fort is located on the city's highest point. The church was constructed in the era's doric style. shaped like a Greek cross, with walls five feet thick and overhanging gables. Brick barrel arches and a central dome serve as the roofs of the transepts.

Independence Hall/Aukana Buddha/BMICH
Standing in front of the Bandaranayke Memorial International Conference Hall is a masterfully crafted statue of the Buddha. The largest Buddha statue in the city of Colombo, at 36 feet tall. It is a duplicate of the Kalawewa Anuradhapura Statue located on the banks of the Avukana River.

A Place to Stay
There are no accommodations scheduled for today.

Activities
A tour of the city of Columbo

The heritage tour comes to an end.