Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour – Sri Lanka

Breakfast from Hotel

Visit Sigiriya

Sigiriya is an amazing geological formation in Sri Lanka that encompasses an important archaeological site. Sigiriya lies 22 km north-east of Dambulla in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka. The tourist site of Sigiriya has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982 and is part of the seven World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka. Sigiriya is located in the middle of the tourism cultural triangle formed by connecting the World Heritage Sites of Anuradhapura, Kandy, and Polonnaruwa.

Day Excursion to Polonnaruwa

Polonnaruwa is the second largest city in the North Central Province, but it is known as one of the cleanest and most beautiful cities in the country. The green environment, amazing ancient constructions, Parakrama Samudra (a huge lake built in 1200), attractive tourist hotels, and hospitable people attract tourists.

Places to visit in Polonnaruwa:

1. The Royal Palace
2. The Shiva Devale No. 2
3. The Audience Hall
4. The Sacred Quadrangle
5. The Swimming Pool
6. The Dagaba Kiri Vihara
7. The Pabalu Vehera
8. The Buddha statue at Lankatilaka
9. Lord Buddha figures at Gal Vihara
10. The Rankot Vihara
11. Polonnaruwa Tank

Return to Sigiriya

Dinner and Overnight stay at Hotel in Sigiriya

Breakfast at the Hotel

Day Excursion to Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, famous for its well-preserved ruins of ancient Sri Lankan civilization. It was the 3rd capital of the Kingdom of Rajarata after Tambapanni and Upatissa Nuwara.

The city, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies 205 km north of the current capital Colombo in Sri Lanka's North Central Province, on the banks of the historic Malvathu Oya. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and one of the eight World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka.

From the 4th century BC, it was the capital of Sri Lanka until the beginning of the 11th century AD. During this period, it remained one of the most stable and durable centers of political power and urban life in South Asia. The ancient city, considered sacred to the Buddhist world, is today surrounded by monasteries covering an area of over sixteen square miles (40 km²).

Although according to historical records the city was founded in the 5th century BC, the archaeological data put the date as far back as the 10th century BC. Very little evidence was available about the period before the 5th century BC (i.e., the protohistoric period), though excavations have revealed information about the earlier inhabitants of the city.

Places to visit in Anuradhapura:

1. The Sri Mahabodhi Tree
2. Loha Prasada - The Brazen Palace
3. The Mahathupa - Ruwanweli Dagaba
4. The Thuparama Dagaba
5. The Jetavana Dagaba
6. The Abhayagiri Monastery & Dagaba
7. The Samadhi Buddha
8. The Kuttam Pokuna - The Twin Ponds
9. Mihinthale Viharaya

Visit Mihinthale

Mihinthale

Mihinthale is a mountain peak near Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka. It is believed by Sri Lankans to be the site of a meeting between the Buddhist monk Mahinda and King Devanampiyatissa, which inaugurated the presence of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. It is now a pilgrimage site and the site of several religious monuments and abandoned structures.

According to Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa, Thera Mahinda came to Sri Lanka from India on the full moon day of the month of Poson (June) and met King Devanampiyatissa and the people, and preached the doctrine. The traditional spot where this meeting took place is revered by the Buddhists of Sri Lanka. Therefore, in the month of Poson, Buddhists make their pilgrimage to Anuradhapura and Mihinthale.

Return to Sigiriya

Dinner and Overnight stay at Hotel in Sigiriya

Breakfast at the Hotel

Transfer from Sigiriya to Kandy

Visit Matale Aluviharaya

Aluvihara
Aluvihara, the Luminous Cave Temple, is synonymous with the teachings of the Buddha. It is in this very location that the Tipiṭaka was documented on palm leaves. Priests assembled here to compare their texts, which were then committed to writing, forming the Banapota, or Buddhist Bible, around 92 years B.C. Major Forbes, in his work "Eleven Years in Ceylon" (1840), mentions that this secluded cavern is of infinitely greater significance to the enlightened Buddhist than even the Temple of the Tooth or Thupārāma itself. Aluvihāra also preserved rich literature, including commentaries related to the Tipiṭaka.

Visit Temple of the Tooth Relic

The stunning 17th-century Temple of the Tooth (Sri Dalada Maligawa) in Kandy is believed to house the left upper canine tooth of Lord Buddha. This precious relic attracts white-clad pilgrims bearing lotus blossoms and frangipani every day.

According to legend, the tooth was taken from the Buddha as he lay on his funeral pyre. It was smuggled to Sri Lanka in 313 A.D., hidden in the hair of Princess Hemamali, who fled the Hindu armies besieging her father's kingdom in India. The tooth became an object of great reverence and was enshrined in nested jeweled reliquaries. It was brought out for special occasions and paraded on the backs of elephants, which are sacred to the Buddha, surviving numerous attempts to capture and destroy it. When the capital was moved to Kandy, the tooth was taken to the new city and placed in temples built to honor it. The temple was originally built under the Kandyan kings between 1687 and 1707.

City Tour at Kandy

Enjoy a scenic drive around Kandy Lake and visit places such as the Gem Museum, Silk shops, Batik stores, and more.

Transfer from Sigiriya to Kandy

Evening View of Cultural Show

Dinner and Overnight stay at Hotel in Kandy

Breakfast at the Hotel

Visit Ambuluwawa Temple

Ambuluwawa mountain peak has a height of 3567 feet above sea level. It is located over 1000 feet above Gampola Town. The tower is located on the summit of the mountain peak. Due to its unique location and the absence of other nearby mountains, the Ambuluwawa Tower offers undisturbed views from afar and vice versa.

Visit Bahirawa Kanda Temple

Royal Botanical Garden Peradeniya

Peradeniya is located about 5.5 km west of the city of Kandy in Sri Lanka's Central Province. The garden attracts 1.2 million visitors annually and is renowned for its collection of over 300 varieties of orchids, spices, medicinal plants, and palm trees. The National Herbarium is also attached to the garden. Spanning 147 acres at 460 meters above sea level, the garden receives 200 days of rainfall annually. Its origins date back to 1371 when King Wickramabahu III ascended the throne and established a court near the Mahaweli River. The British destroyed a temple built by King Wimala Dharma, and in 1821, Alexandar Moon began developing the garden. The Botanical Garden was formally established in 1843 with plants from Kew Garden, Slave Island in Colombo, and Kalutara Garden. It became more independent under George Gardner in 1844 and came under the Department of Agriculture in 1912.

Dinner and Overnight Stay at Hotel in Kandy

Breakfast at the Hotel

Transfer from Kandy to Colombo

En-Route Visit: Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is situated in Rabukkana, northwest of the town of Kegalla, halfway between Colombo and the ancient royal residence of Kandy in the hills of central Sri Lanka. It was established in 1975 by the Sri Lanka Wildlife Department. This 24-acre elephant orphanage also serves as a breeding center. The first elephant baby was born in 1984, and today it has the largest herd of captive elephants in the world. Between 1975 and 2012, 67 elephants were born here.

Visit Spice Garden at Mawanella

Sri Lanka is world-renowned for its valued spices and healing herbs. The lush spice and herbal gardens feature many important herbs such as sandalwood, margosa, cocoa, citronella, almond, jasmine, and coconut. Visitors can witness firsthand how cloves, pepper, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, and saffron are grown in their natural surroundings. At Regent Spice and Herbal Garden, you can learn about the medicinal properties of these herbs and how to use them in daily life. These healing powers have been respected since the times of the Pharaohs and Chinese Dynasties, and they are widely used in Ayurvedic medicine today.

Transfer to Colombo

Visit Kelaniya Temple

Colombo City Tour & Shopping

Visit Fort and Pettah areas and drive past the 100-year-old clock tower, the old parliament building, and several colonial-era buildings built by the British. Other highlights include a Hindu temple and a Buddhist temple, upscale residential areas with stately homes, the Colombo Museum, and the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH). You can also shop at the Ceramics Corporation showrooms, ODEL Unlimited Dress Boutique, and Majestic City Shopping Complex.

Late Evening – Walk at Galle Face Green

Dinner and Overnight Stay at Hotel in Colombo

Breakfast at the Hotel

Transfer from Colombo to Airport for Departure Flight

End of Tour ……………