THE INDIC PEARL Sri Lanka 8 days Tour

We will welcome you at the airport and transfer you to the selected hotel. Overnight at hotel.

A half day ride will take us to the land of the Ancient capitals. The meeting with the heritage
will take us to Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa. The later was the dream of a megalomaniac king,
Prarakamabahu I, who built one of the biggest urban designs in 12th Century South Asia. It is
interesting to walk around the vast amount of ruins, and observe the way architecture interacts
with nature. Overnight at hotel.

We will devote the day to visit the first Sinhalese capital, Anuradhapura. The ruins of this city
were covered by the jungle, what allowed us to see the unveiled remains of a mixture of
Buddhist and Brahmanic civilization. The stupas of Anuradhapura and the remains of the city
explain the history of links between India and Sri Lanka in the past centuries. Get overwhelmed
by the unique sceneries of this historical site. Overnight at hotel.

From the ancient capitals to the sacred city. Kandy is the actual second biggest city in Sri
Lanka, and was the last seat of the Sinhala kingdom. Reaching the mountain ranges of Kandy
brings new culture and landscapes to the travelers eyes. It hosts the holiest temple for the
Theravada Buddhists, Sri Dalada Maligawa, what makes thousands of pilgrims a year to visit the
Buddha’s tooth relic. Overnight at hotel.

We will continue to the city of Nuwara Eliya, a British foundation in the middle ranges of central
Sri Lanka. It used to be a retirement place for British civil servants that became the best soil for
the growing of tea. Nowadays, the landscapes around Nuwara Eliya, like soft waves, are
covered by the tea bush. It looks especially beautiful during the recollection, when thousands of
women pluck the tender leaves that will make the best infusions. Overnight at hotel.

Today, we will descend to the city of Tissamaharama on the shore of the Tissa Wewa Lake. It is
the perfect base camp to enjoy the Yala Natural Park, where elephants and leopards can be
easily spotted. From Tissamaharama also you can visit the syncretic temple of Kataragama,
where all the communities in the island address their prayers, Muslims included. Overnight at
hotel.

We will drive through the southern coast from Hambantota up to Galle, an exquisite colonial
town over the Indic Ocean. The city was founded
by Portuguese sailors in the 16th Century. The
actual fortified city is UNESCO World Heritage,
and shows how the European tradition melted
with South Asian cultures. The beautiful beaches
that surrounded this enclave also are worthy to
visit. Overnight at hotel.

Colombo is a mixture of modern life, colonial buildings and laidback beach side town. Enjoy the
culture of this capital built by the visits of traders and invaders. The National Museum will give
you a chance to be in touch with history, but the real interest is in the streets, the markets, the
local food. And, why not, a last chance to get some souvenirs or local handicrafts. Departure to
your country.