Sri Lanka with its nearly 3000 years of history holds some of world’s ancient cities including Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Digamadulla. Remnants of these once glorious cities, their palaces, temples, monasteries, hospitals and theaters intricately carved and modeled out of stone lay abandoned amidst the soaring mountains. Of all the ancient sites the most famed and most exquisite is the Kingdom of Anuradhapura. Sri Lanka’s third and the longest serving capital and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world is also one of the most sacred cities of World Buddhists. It was the capital of Sri Lanka from the Fourth Century BC up to the turn of the eleventh Century and was one of the most stable and durable centers of political power and urban life in South Asia. However the city itself is much older than the Kingdom of Anuradhapura and according to archeological evidence could have originated as far as tenth century BC. Anuradhapura was abandoned due to the due to repeated South Indian Invasions and was eventually forgotten with time until it was rediscovered in the early 19 th century. Polonnaruwa, the second most ancient kingdom of the country was first made the political center of the country in the ninth century BC. Irrigation systems that are far superior to those of the Anuradhapura Age were constructed in Polonnaruwa kingdom, and still provide irrigation water to the farmers in and around Polonnaruwa. Yet the kingdom’s glory was short-lived and a South Indian invasion pushed the political centre towards the centre of the country by the eleventh century. Today the ancient city of Polonnaruwa remains one of the best planned archaeological relic sites in the country, a testimony to the discipline and greatness of the Kingdom's first rulers. Digamadulla, the Eastern kingdom of Sri Lanka was the agricultural and spiritual capital of the country during the Anuradhapura kingdom. Ruled by a viceroy of the Anuradhapura king Digamadulla was a prosperous province with grand palace, monasteries and temples at every juncture. Having received lesser attention of archaeologists compared to Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa many a great creations of ancient Digamadulla had been lost to time, war and plunder while many more silently awaits in the midst of the forests covering the lands of Eastern Sri Lanka.
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Air Port pick up and stay in Negombo You will be welcomed & picked up by our chauffer guide from Colombo International airport & transfer to Negombo for your first night stay. Heritage Tours in Sri Lanka Negombo is also the administrative capital of the Negombo Division. Negombo is known for its huge and old fishing industry with busy fish markets and sandy beaches. The international airport of Sri Lanka is also situated in Negombo Metropolis. Heritage Tours in Sri Lanka * Overnight stay in Negombo
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The First Capital of Sri Lanka – Anuradhapura After breakfast at your hotel in Negombo, you will be transferred to Anuradhapura Ancient City. Anuradhapura is the birthplace of Sinhala civilization & one of the world’s largest archeological sites. It is considered as the greatest monastic city of the ancient world, & was founded in the 5th century BC. Do the ancient tour of Anuradhapura Ancient City * Overnight stay in Anuradhapura.
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Mihintale Rock & Polonnaruwa After Breakfast and leave for visit the Mihintale Rock temple. Mihintale 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. Then travel to Polonnaruwa and visit the Polonnaruwa Cultural site. Polonnaruwa was the capital of Sri Lanka from the 11th to the 13th century AD. This ancient city is today one of the most beautiful centers of this island’s cultural heritage. In its prime, the city, inside it’s 3½ miles strong encircling walls, housed hundreds of thousands of people. Heritage Tours in Sri Lanka * Overnight stay in Polonnaruwa.
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Sigiriya Rock Fortress & Minnariya National Park Breakfast at the hotel and leave for Sigiriya and visit the Sigiriya rock fortress. Sigiriya : Sigiriya (Lion Rock) is a Rock Fortress and archaeological significance that is dominated by a massive column of rock nearly 200 meters (660 ft) high. According to the ancient Sri Lankan chronicle the Culavamsa, this site was selected by King Kasyapa (477 – 495 CE) for his new capital. He built his palace on the top of this rock and decorated its sides with colorful frescoes. In the afternoon Take a jeep safari through the Minneriya National Park , looking for elephants, deer, peacocks, boars, and many kinds of birds. Heritage Tours in Sri Lanka * Overnight stay in Sigiriya.
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Golden Rock Temple (Dambulla Cave Temple) & Temple of the Tooth Next day Breakfast at the hotel and leave for Kandy via Dambulla and Matale. En-route visits the Golden rock temple. Golden Rock is a cave temple which dates back to the 1st Century .BC. Its rock ceiling is one large sweep of colorful frescoes which depict Buddhist mythology and the tales of the Buddha’s previous births. The caves house the largest collection of Buddha statues in one place. Then travel to Kandy visit the Matale spice garden. In Kandy visit the Temple of the Tooth. View a cultural dance in evening. Kandy – The Last seat of the Sinhala Kings, is a very popular destination for visitors from home and abroad. *Overnight stay in Kandy
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Transfer to the airport on time for the flight, En-route you will have a city tour in Colombo Colombo is the commercial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka. Colombo has a population of 555,031 in the city limits. It is the financial center of the island and a popular tourist destination. Do a City tour of Colombo before you flight back home- Visit & cover all major highlights of Colombo.
