Colombo / Bentota / Colombo

Meet & greet by “Serendipity Tours” representatives and proceed to Bentota.

 

BENTOTA

Bentota Beach is the most popular beach holiday destination on the island. The unique location of Bentota Beach Resort is one important reason for its popularity as a beach holiday destination. Bentota holiday resort is located on a peninsula, and it is connected with the mainland at its southern border. 

 

Bentota is mainly comprised of the narrow strip of land that spreads along the north-south axis. Unlike most other islands, Bentota is surrounded by both the sea and a river. One side of the island is the Bentota River, while the western side of Bentota is flanked by the Indian Ocean. Large numbers of hotels are built in this narrow strip of land, enabling the travelers to have a peaceful atmosphere during the holiday.

 

SEA TURTLE CONSERVATION PROJECT

Projects have been launched to conserve the population of turtles that are reaching extinction, and such projects are found along the southern coast of Sri Lanka, where turtles come ashore to lay their eggs. The turtle digs a hole on the beach, lays her eggs and covers it with sand where it is supposed to incubate by the heat of the sun. What often happens is that the eggs are dug out by fishermen and sold to people who consume them.

 

But now the eggs are bought up by the conservation projects and are hatched the natural way in enclosed areas where the birds don’t have a chance of picking them up, and the babies are let into the sea after two days at night, which offers them a better chance of survival.

 

SPICE GARDEN

Visit a spice garden at Matale where spices and herbs used for Sri Lankan cuisine and medication are grown. Spices of Sri Lanka attracted the early seafaring merchants who made the long voyages to purchase this precious merchandise.

 

GANGATILAKA TEMPLE KALUTARA

Kalutara is historically important due to the fact that it was one of the 32 places indicated by Arahant Mahinda Thera to the king Devananpiya Tissa in the 2nd century B.C. as a place where one of the thirty-two saplings of the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi tree in Anuradhapura is planted, to which the King extended his patronage. It is recorded in the Sinhala Maha Bodhi Wansa that until such time when the Maritime Provinces were subjugated by the Portuguese in 1505 A.D., the historic Kalutara Bodhi exited intact.

 

In the 16th century, this sacred site was turned into a Portuguese fort. Though no harm is supposed to have been done to the Bodhi, it was not venerated by the people during that period. It was after the planting of a Bodhi in the lower terrace of Pahala Maluwa by an Indian Prince from the Pandya country named Wickrama Pandya in 1042 A.D. that the public began to venerate and consider the site as a sacred place. This prince from India became viceroy in the Kalutara area.

 

After the Portuguese, the Dutch made use of the present upper terrace or the Uda Maluwa area as a camp, followed by the British as well, subsequently.

 

During the British period, since the latter half of the 19th century, it was used as an office premise with the residence of the government agent.

 

MADU GANGA BOAT RIDE

A cruise on a modern motor boat is the best way to explore the natural wealth of Madu Ganga; the islands in the wetland are largely inaccessible by road. The inhabitants are also using the boats, and more often paddle boats, as the means of transport. Seerendipity tours offer particularly appealing boat trips around Madu Ganga.

 

This Ramsar Wetland is one of the most visited natural attractions of Sri Lanka’s west coast, with riverscapes to quiet, thick-grown islands and mangrove forests with sites of immense natural interest. There are plenty of opportunities to spot fascinating wildlife based on the aquatic environment throughout the tour.

 

MASK MUSEUM

 
Mask Museum of Ambalangoda is the only museum dedicated to mask industry in Sri Lanka. The museum showcases hundreds of ancient masks that had been used in the rituals and folklore. Most masks that are being displayed are rare specimens of exquisite artworks of ancient artisans. Don't forget to visit the mask factory, where a large number of people are preparing masks to explore.

MOONSTONE MINES

 

Visiting a moonstone mine is an extremely rare opportunity because you do not find any moonstone mines anywhere else in the world. Moonstones are confined to a small area near the west coast beaches. These semiprecious stones are very popular among people due to their unique color. Compared to precious stones such as sapphire and ruby, the prices of moonstones are very affordable.

Later, proceed to the hotel; the return journey takes around 1 hour.

Return transfer to Colombo