Kandy + Ramboda Vice Versa Two Days Excursion

Early in the morning, before breakfast, our driver will pick you up from the hotel to go on an approximately 2-4 hour route to the interior (depending on the location of the hotel on the beach from which we will pick you up). You can take a nap in the comfortable van during this part of the tour..

Pinnawala

The first attraction of the program will be a visit to Pinnawala , an elephant orphanage, where about 90 elephants are currently being raised. Some of them have reached the mature age of 50. Elephants cannot be released into nature reserves on the island, because if they were tamed with humans, they would not be able to cope in the natural environment. During the visit to Pinnawala , we will see a special enclosure for elephants, where they are fed selected leaves of deciduous and palm trees, and we will be able to observe the social behavior of these, one of the largest mammals on Earth. After an elephant breakfast, the herd goes along the main street of Pinnawela to the Ma Oya stream for a refreshing bath. This is an opportunity to take interesting photos or shoot videos. In the stream, elephants not only bathe, but also young elephants have fun entering into endless and funny arguments and trunk fights, as well as wrestling.

Near the government orphanage there are commercial gardens offering the possibility of walking with an elephant, bathing and washing the elephant in a stream as well as feeding the elephants tropical fruits. Pieces of fruit are put directly into the mouth of the giant mammal, gently placing them on its pink tongue. The mammal is clearly delighted with this system of obtaining food, because in natural conditions it must travel many kilometers every day in search of pastures because one individual can eat up to 200 kg of green mass, fruits, trees, vegetables every day and it is engaged in eating for 80% of its life.

Route to Kandy

From Pinnawela we will take the picturesque A1 road leading among rice fields, stalls with tropical fruits, shops and local restaurants, as well as countless sellers of tambilla – royal coconuts containing a refreshing and healthy liquid that cools our body, to Ayurvedic gardens with herbs and spices.

Ayurvedic spice and herb gardens

These gardens are a place where you can see how the proverbial pepper and vanilla grow, and indulge in a several- minute massage performed by adepts of the art of Ayurvedic medicine . We will also be invited to the school of Ayurvedic medicine , where we will learn how natural herbal medicines have been produced in Sri Lanka for centuries and how they work on our body. Ayurveda.

Ayurveda

Ayurveda – traditional Indian medicine, implemented and practiced in Sri Lanka, a holistic science of medicine, practiced and used by Hindus for centuries, is now becoming globally recognized for its strength and effectiveness, focus on important elements of health, as well as important tips for consistent treatment of the functioning of our body. Ayurveda is more oriented towards dealing with lifestyle disorders, which in certain age groups in society are of great importance due to phenomena related to stress, improper diet, toxins contained in food products and other causes.

Kandy Sri Dalada Maligawe Temple of the Buddha’s Tooth Relic

From the Ayurvedic gardens we will go to Kandy, the former and last capital of Sri Lanka, called the Cultural Capital, where we will visit the Royal Botanical Gardens founded in the 14th century by Sri Lankan kings, as well as see the most important place of Buddhism in Sri Lanka – Sri Dalada Maligawe , a Buddhist temple where a relic in the form of the Buddha’s Tooth is protected. There is a temple complex in the area, the main attractions of which are the temples of local Sri Lankan gods, the future Buddha, and the patron goddess of Kandy, goddess Pattini.

Nearby there are dilapidated offices of legal advisors and notaries, which, combined with the lake in the city center, creates a colorful Asian maish-mash.

On this day you can go shopping and see folk dance shows from many regions of Ceylon, along with a walking show on hot coals (optional). Kandy is a city where trade flourishes. It is worth spending time in local stone grinding shops, craft workshops and workshops offering local handicrafts. At the same time, you can visit local restaurants and get to know typical Sri Lankan cuisine, as well as exchange a few words with the locals

After breakfast, we will set off to one of the most beautiful regions of Sri Lanka – mountainous Nuwara Ellia

Peradeniya

Optional: You can go to Peradenia , the Royal Botanical Gardens, for a stroll through the largest botanical garden in Sri Lanka , home to plume palms , magnolias, orchids and Indian willows, as well as candle and foxtail trees, mighty ficus and canon ball trees .

Much of the route runs through tea plantations. We will stop at several places considered particularly charming to capture the enchanting landscapes or try to cope with the harvest of tea leaves on the plantations.

Ceylon Tea – Plantations

Along the way, we will pass several small waterfalls to reach the majestic Ramboda Falls , which consists of many separate waterfalls, and during periods of heavy rainfall, the falling water takes on different colors. Those interested can swim in the fresh waters falling down countless cascades, where groups of locals enjoy the cool currents of mountain water, while others prepare a place for a picnic.

Ramboda Falls is the eleventh highest waterfall in Sri Lanka and measures 109 meters. The top of the waterfall is reached by a hiking trail made partly of concrete steps, as well as a gravel path through the jungle and leads through small rock tunnels occupied by gangs of macaques.

Near the top of the falls there is a viewing platform where you can feel the cool breeze created by the water column hitting the stones. Ramboda is also a good place for lunch at the foot of one of the waterfalls.

Once we have had our fill of waterfalls, we will go on a short journey to a nearby tea factory, where we will be able to taste different varieties of this second most popular drink in the world after water.

How is tea made?

In Sri Lanka, black and green tea are produced on a large scale, but for connoisseurs, tea producers have offered gold, white and silver. These are the growth cones of the tea tree, skillfully cut and dried to extract the most medicinal and healing properties of Camellia sinensis.

We will visit a working tea factory to see the complex and interesting production process and learn about the new challenges facing producers in a rapidly changing world.

At the end of the day we will head back to the beach hotel. Arrival is planned for the evening or late evening depending on the hotel location and road conditions.