Two Day Excursions

Description

• DAY 1

  Meeting at the airport (or hotel) with a guide early in the morning (04:40-05:00).
  Transfer to Sigiriya (road about 4 hours).
  Climbing Sigiriya rock (2 hours).
  After lunch visit to the national Minneriya park.
  Check-in at the hotel.
  Rest and overnight.

  Places to visit: The
  majestic Mount Sigiriya is one of the main attractions of Ceylon. The ruins of the capital, built by King Kassapa (Kassapa) – the eighth wonder of the world, a rock in the sky (‘Lion Rock’), having a height of about 370 meters and towering over the jungle from all sides. In the 5th century, King Kassapa, fearing his brother’s persecution, chose Mount Sigiriya to build an inaccessible fortress. The Lion Rock got its name due to the fact that the stone staircase leading to the top was designed in the form of a huge seated lion, between whose paws this staircase began. Only fragments of this colossal stone statue have survived today, but even they perfectly convey the grandeur of the ancient structure. Entrance fees: 30$It occupies an area of 9000 hectares. The park consists of mixed evergreen forest and shrubland and is home to such Sri Lankan inhabitants as deer, leopards and elephants. The park contains reservoirs of international importance. The national park has about 160 bird species, 9 amphibian species, 25 fish and reptile species, and over 78 butterfly species. Bamboo grows here, which is rare in other parks and you can often see wild elephants, deer and even leopards. It is home to a wide variety of reptiles – frogs and lizards, among which there are rare species. Sri Lanka has always been home to over 400 bird species and has been considered a paradise for bird watchers. In Minneriya Park, among the dense crowns of tropical trees, you can see an unusually large variety of birds.
  Entrance fees: 25$

  Overnight at the hotel in Sigiriya

  DAY 2

  Breakfast. At 07:30 Departure from the hotel.
  Transfer to Kandy, on the way we visit spice gardens (optional).
  Visit to the Royal Botanical Gardens.
  After lunch, a sightseeing tour of Kandy (30 min),
  Visiting the Temple of the Tooth Relic.
  Transfer to the airport or beach hotel..

  Visited places:Kandy is the cultural capital of the island. The last capital of the Sinhalese kings, which survived during the colonization of the island by the Portuguese and Dutch, and only in 1815 lost its status after being captured by the British. Modern Kandy is a leading shopping center, widely known for handicraft production. Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic – Since the 4th century BC, when the oldest Buddhist relic – the tooth of the Buddha – was secretly transported to Sri Lanka in the hair of Princess Orissan, the temple has been a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists from all over the world. Every year before the full moon of August, the shrine is put on public display. This event is associated with one of the most spectacular festival processions in Ceylon – Esala Perahera, with the participation of dancers, musicians, acrobats, fire-eaters and hundreds of elephants, in bright blankets with bells. The city carefully preserves in its appearance the entire history of the country. Be sure to enjoy a walking tour of Kandy. Mounted police in the form of a colonial past, a lake teeming with fish, flower decorations and mango trees hung with fruits will not leave you indifferent.

  It is one of the most beautiful tropical gardens in the world. The history of the garden begins in 1371, when members of the royal family decided to move the courtyard to Peradeniya. Kings walked with pleasure in the gardens located here. Subsequently (1747-1780) the garden was named Royal. Amazing plants, both endemic and brought from all over the world, collected in one place, funny monkeys and chipmunks, flying fox colonies, orchids, palm trees, ferns, a suspension bridge, clean air – your walk through the Royal Botanic Gardens will be a pleasant two-hour break in a series of transfers and excursions to historical sights. 
  Duration: from 1.5 hours
  Entrance tickets: $10

  Built in the 17th century, the Temple of the Tooth Relic is located in the city of Kandy, which for a long time was rightfully the center of Sri Lankan (and not only!) Buddhism. It is believed that the upper left fang of the Buddha is located there. This precious relic attracts white-robed pilgrims bearing lotus and jasmine flowers every day. Temple buildings do not look magnificent or ornate. White with red roofs, they cluster around Kandy Lake. In stark contrast to the simple exterior is the interior of the temple, richly decorated with carvings and inlays of wood, ivory, and lacquer. There is a special atmosphere of calm and tranquility in the Temple.

  End of the tour