Sri Lankan Adventure

Upon arrival at Bandaranayake Airport in Katunayake, Colombo, you will be welcomed by your guide and decorated with garlands of local flowers. From the airport we will take the participants of the expedition to Colombo, the largest city in Ceylon and the commercial capital of the island. During a panoramic tour of Colombo, we will see, among others, the monument and Independence Square located in an exclusive district called “Cinnamon Gardens”, colonial arcades where there are now restaurants and shops, two monumental congress centers presented by the Chinese people (BMICH and Lotus Center), the city hall building resembling the Capitolio in Havana, but on a smaller scale, the colorful Pettah bazaar, the strange Gangaramaya temple on Lake Bera, the Slave Island, Galle Face Green, the very center of the city with the World Trade Center and Bank of Ceylon towers, colonial buildings, a commercial port , a lighthouse, Hindu temples and Christian churches as well as mosques.

On the way to the Elephant Orphanage in Pinnawala we will see lowland tea, rubber, coconut, rice and pineapple plantations. In the vicinity of Nittambuwa you can stop at one of the stalls offering the tastiest fruits on the island in season. The first attraction of the program will be a visit to Pinnawala, the world-famous elephant orphanage, where currently over 90 charges are being raised. Some of them have reached the mature age of 50 for an elephant. Elephants cannot be released into the nature reserves on the island, because at best they would starve to death and at worst they could spread fear among the local residents, because elephants accustomed to the presence of humans will always cling to them. During a visit to Pinnawala you can watch elephants being fed milk, and you can (optionally) take advantage of feeding an adult elephant fruit. This is an opportunity to take interesting photos, because pieces of fruit are put directly into the giant mammal’s mouth, gently placing them on its pink tongue. The mammal is clearly delighted with this system of obtaining food, because in natural conditions it has to travel many kilometers every day in search of pastures, because one individual can eat about 200 kg of green mass, fruits, trees, vegetables every day and it is engaged in eating for 80% of its life. During the visit, we will also see the elephants go to a watering place, the nearby Ma oya stream. There, the elephants take their daily bath, and the young ones also have fun while bathing, entering into endless and funny quarrels and trumpet fights, as well as wrestling. The center also has a free range for elephants, where the only border between man and the giants are stone boulders. In total, there are about 90 individuals of Elephas maximus maximus of different ages and sexes on the premises of the center. The center plays an important role in research on these largest land mammals on Earth, in particular it contributes to reproduction, which later results in an increase in the number of individuals living in Sri Lanka. It is the largest center of this type on Earth. It is worth taking a closer look and assessing the daily rigor and actions of the staff for yourself rather than relying on the often contradictory opinions of Internet users.

Dambulla – Rangiri Golden Temple. (UNESCO)

That afternoon we will visit the Rangiri Temple in Dambulla. There are two parts – the modern one, built at the end of the 20th century with a gigantic statue of Buddha in the Darmachakra mudra and installations representing Buddha’s disciples, an artificial rock, a Buddhist museum and other shrines. The monk managing this strange product of Buddhist architectural thought also runs a radio station, a newspaper publishing house, a television station, a foundation and a Buddhist university. However, the modern part of Dambulla is not our goal. We will go to a small hill, where in caves divided into five caves there is a Buddhist temple founded by King Vlagambahu in the 1st century BC. There are 150 Buddha statues and a dozen or so other statues of Sri Lankan kings and magnates from different eras as well as statues of Hindu gods and numerous statues of bodhisattvas.

After breakfast, we will go to Sigiriya, a monolith over 200 meters high, where King Kassiapa built a bay in the 5th century AD. The height to be overcome is approximately 200 vertical meters, mainly along stairs and paths. The rock has been inhabited for thousands of years, but the most visible result of human activity are the ruins of the city from the 5th century AD, along with a preserved and still well-functioning hydraulic system, including spa and massage salons, swimming pools, fountains, artificial streams, cascade gardens and ponds. From the top of the mountain there is a view of the nearby jungle, rice fields, fountain gardens and swimming pools that we passed earlier, and you can see a giant statue of Buddha in mudra – come to me, don’t be afraid. On the way, we pass caves with the remains of frescoes from the reign of King Kassiapa. The lion platzama, which was once defended by the open mouth of the colossal lion built there (now only its paws and claws remain), opens the entrance to the very top. The ascent and descent will take approximately 2.5-3 hours, but people who are afraid of heights may have problems reaching the very top.

In the afternoon we will go by ladder cart to a local village near Habarana / Sigiriya, where we will be able to see a bit of everyday life of the people in the province. We will see huts built of mud, cow dung and sticks, gardens and farmers’ yards, illegal Chena plantations built using the “burn and slash” method, pulpits from which farmers scare away wild animals, including elephants at night. We will see how Sri Lankans make roofs from palm leaves, clean rice from husks, try local infusions and flatbreads from the locals’ home cooking, we will go for a short catamaran cruise on a reservoir that feeds rice fields and other crops. The trip will end with a tuk tuk ride.

After breakfast, we will go to Polonnaruwa – the capital of Sri Lanka from the period between the 10th and 12th centuries AD. On the way, we will visit a sculpture workshop, where masters of the craft make wooden sculptures of local gods, Buddha statues, furniture and everyday objects. It is worth watching the work of the sculptors. Masks used in Sri Lanka in magical ceremonies, for treating diseases, repelling evil forces and in theatrical arts are also made here. The ruins of Polonnaruwa are a fascinating example of one of the most developed aquatic civilizations in the world. We will see the ruins of the seven-story palace of King Parakramabahu, the former office of the council of ministers, baths and royal pools, the temple of Shiva’s penis, the holy square with the temples of Tupa Rama, Hatadage, Atadage, Vatadage, Nissnkamala Mandapa, Gal Pota (stone book) and a temple of unknown origin believed to be as a gift from another nation. we will go to Gal Vihara, where there are Buddha statuettes carved in rock, considered to be the most beautiful on the island. Polonnaruwa is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

In the afternoon, a jeep safari through the national park. Minneria National Park was established in 1992. It is home to the world’s largest herds of Asian elephants, and was also named one of the most beautiful parks in the world by the American station CNN in 2014. A jeep tour through this park is a real pleasure and a great treat for those who like to photograph wildlife. Herds of elephants reach a number of up to 400. The park is an extremely rewarding object for photography, due to the fabulous colors of the flora and the majestic herds of wild elephants and water buffalo.

That day we set off for Kandy.

On the way, we will stop at Ayurvedic gardens to learn something about Ayurveda, a unique medical system still used today in India and Sri Lanka,

Ayurveda came to Sri Lanka from India and now has a wealth of science recorded in Ayurvedic scriptures. In parallel with the Ayurvedic medicine system, a trend of folk medicine was created in Sri Lanka. Both of them are intertwined in everyday practice, often solving problems that cannot be solved from the point of view of conventional medicine. A visit to Ayurvedic gardens will allow you to observe the multitude of flora available in Sri Lanka and the ways in which it is used for treatment. During a walk through the gardens, you will be able to see how pepper, coffee, cinnamon, cardamom, cocoa, turmeric, vanilla, nutmeg, etc. grow. You will be able to learn how individual plants affect our body and try a demonstration arm or leg massage using Siddartha oil.

On the way to Kandy, you can see various plantations of trees such as mahogany, teak, rosewood, ebony, etc.

In Matale, if possible, we will visit an extremely colorful temple created as a result of curing the smallpox epidemic in a former transit camp for plantation workers from India.

In Kandy, we will walk through the streets of Kandy on the way to the YMBA on Upper Lake Drive, where we will be able to watch an approximately hour-long folk dance show and a demonstration of fire walking, fire swallowing and fire smearing. 13 different dances from the regions of Sri Lanka will be presented, including peacock dance, rice cleaning, acrobatics, juggling, ritual dances, and Kandyan dance.

Sightseeing: Temple of the Buddha’s Tooth Relic.

A holy city for the Buddhist inhabitants of Sri Lanka where the Temple of the Buddha’s Tooth Relic is located. In Kandy we will visit the Temple of the Buddha’s Tooth – Sri Dalada Maligawa. The temple, built in the 16th century, is currently protected by a golden roof donated by the Japanese in the 1990s. Depending on the time, we will be able to participate in active offering rituals called “pudzia” or visit the facility in peace and see the mummified elephant Raja, which carried the Buddha’s Tooth during religious processions that take place to this day in Kandy, called Esala Perahera. During our visit to Kandy, we will also visit the temples of Hindu gods and goddesses located in the immediate vicinity of the Temple of the Buddha’s Tooth Relic.

We will see the temples of the goddess Pattini, the god Natta and Gamidar. You will be able to observe everyday religious activities in this temple complex, the most popular among Buddhist followers on the island. Dalada Maligawa is the most important Buddhist temple on the island, built at the end of the 17th century, and is a pilgrimage center for followers of Buddhism from Sri Lanka as well as from other countries where the Teravada Buddhist doctrine is known. The multitude of temples built around the one containing the Buddha’s Tooth relic is noteworthy, as there are several Christian churches and a mosque nearby.

In Kandy, it is worth looking around for sapphires, rubies and other gemstones. There are numerous polishing and jewelry factories processing stones purchased from the Rathnapura stone mines. In Kandy, you can also visit factories producing batiks – fabrics dyed using the waxing method. Sculpture workshops and outlets selling branded clothing from Sri Lankan sewing factories at great prices are also on the tour program.

From Kandy we will go to Nuwara Ellia, a mountainous region of the island, considered the most beautiful region of Sri Lanka. In Nuwara Ellia on tea plantations we will try to find Tamil women – tea fox pickers, a tea factory (visit and tasting of unblended BOP tea), waterfalls, Hindu temples, Victorian architecture, a visit to the town of Nuwara Elliya, the famous Baal Bazaar where you can buy branded sweatshirts, T-shirts, coats at surprisingly low prices, Grand Hotel, golf course, Hill Club, horse racing track, Gregory””s Lake. We will be at an altitude of approx. 1800 m above sea level. Sometimes it can be cold, you should take warmer clothes with you just in case. Dinner and overnight at a hotel in Nuwara Elliya.

That day after breakfast we will go to Kitulgala, the town where the movie “The Bridge on the River Kwai” was filmed.

Here we will have a short trek through the real Sri Lankan jungle, ending with a descent down a waterfall on ropes. After the descent through the waterfall, we will go to the base from where the pontoon trip on the river begins. During the trip, you can experience falls of the third and second degree. The pontoon trip lasts about 45 minutes, the descent down the waterfall wall and trekking takes about 3 hours in total.

We will go to Kitulgala and return to Nuwara Elliya along a wonderful picturesque route between tea fields and countless Tamil villages. Along the way there are beautiful St. Waterfalls. Clair and Devon, as well as an interesting tea castle built by one of the planters.

Early in the morning we will go to the Horton Plains National Park, where you will trek through this picturesque nature reserve on the UNESCO list. The approximately 9 km route consists of plain sections, where you follow a trail on the border of savannah and jungle. During the trip you can see two ends of the world – precipices over 300 and over 800 meters high and the wonderful Bakers Falls.

After trekking in the mountains, I will take the train to Ella. The route stretches through the most picturesque regions of Sri Lanka, passing through countless tunnels, valleys and mountains. During an approximately 2-hour train ride among tea plantations, we will see majestic waterfalls and railway bridges dating back to the times of the British in Ceylon.

Ella is a resort town where many of Sri Lanka’s hiking trails start. Optionally, you can go to Punchi Siri Pada – Little Adam’s Peak, from which there is a breathtaking view of the Ella Valley. You can also see the Ravana waterfall located on the other side of the Ella valley. After climbing and descending to Small Adam’s Peak, we will go to Ravana Falls, usually a very popular bathing spot for local and foreign tourists.

Optional: Evening visit to Kataragama, the most important place for Hindus on the island. There is a temple dedicated to the god Kataragama, where religious ceremonies take place in the evenings, including characteristic kolam dances. This place is extremely popular, as pilgrims from all over the island come there, as well as pilgrims of all religions: Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Christians.

Early in the morning we will go on a jeep safari in Yala National Park. This is the second largest national park in Sri Lanka, which is characterized by a great diversity of flora. Here we will find Asian elephants, old world monkeys, bears, axis deer, wild pigs, water buffalo, various species of birds, jackals, marsh and saltwater crocodiles, but above all the biggest attraction of the park are leopards.

After the safari we will go to the west coast. On the way, we will visit the 17th zat in Galle (UNESCO), where the life of local inhabitants continues to this day,

Finally, we will go to a turtle hatchery, where we will be able to see how local residents are trying to contribute to increasing the population of these marine reptiles, which are currently on the list of endangered species. In the aquariums there are small turtles to be released in the evening, in other pools there are older individuals of various species of sea turtles to be released when they reach an older age.

After visiting the turtle hatchery, we will go to the hotel and the beach.