COLOMBO / CITY TOUR
Colombo like many capital cities in developing countries is fast changing its face. Almost overnight, skyscrapers arise from where old buildings once stood. Yet in parts, the old world charm is retained.
For example, there is a 100-year-old clock tower and several British built, colonial buildings. Other places of interest are, the Pettah Bazaar Ð where one can shop for bargains, Hindu and Buddhist temples, residential areas where you find the stately homes of the affluent, the Colombo museum, the Bandaranayake Memorial International Conference Hall Ð an outright gift to Sri Lanka from the PeopleÕs Republic of China, the Old Parliament, University of Colombo, Royal College, which is probably the largest school in Asia with 7500 students and the Independence Square.
Monday Morning
| 09:00. Depart pier |
| 09:15. Drive past clock tower, Pettah, Fort, Old Parliament, and Presidential House. |
| 09:45. Drive through residential area Cinnamon Gardens. Drive past University of Colombo, Royal College and Independence Square. |
| 10:15. Arrival at the National Museum. |
| 11:00. Depart the National Museum. |
| 1:15 - 12:00. Time for shopping. |
| 12:30. Arrival at the pier. |
COLOMBO / PANORAMIC - COLOMBO
Monday Morning
| 10:00. Depart pier. |
| 10:15. Drive past Colombo Fort, Pettah, Old Parliament, Galle Face. |
| 10:45. Drive past Gangarama Temple, a Hindu Temple, Independence Square, Cinnamon Gardens, Bandaranayake Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), Royal College, University of Colombo. |
| 11:15. Arrive at the Ceylon Continental Hotel for refreshments. |
| 12:00. Depart Ceylon Continental Hotel. |
| 12:15. Drive past Jami-Ul-Akbar Mosque. |
| 12:30. Arrive at the pier. |
COLOMBO / PANORAMIC - COLOMBO
Leave the pier in the morning and proceed to Kandy. We pass by Pineapple plantations, Damsels selling Caju nuts by the roadside, cane product outlets, a pottery industry outlets etc. Approaching Kandy you climb up to an altitude of 500 meters above sea level and pass through very scenic areas.
Nestled in a valley surrounded by hills, Kandy was the last capital of the Sinhalese monarchy Ð an appropriately regal location surrounded by a ridge of mountains, and dense jungle that borders the cityÕs gardens, tea and rice fields. The town's focus is a beautiful artificial lake with a pagoda in its centre. Dalada Maligava, the Temple of the Tooth Relic, stands here.
The highlight of the day will be your visit to the Temple of the Tooth Relic. Built to house this precious relic of the Buddha, which is enshrined in an inner chamber, the temple is a work of art in itself. An impressive stone rampart encloses the shrine, which stands two storeys high on a platform in the centre of the courtyard. The upper gallery is connected to the first floor of the temple by a small bridge. There, behind a gilt railing, the golden reliquary rests on a silver table. It contains a nest of six boxes Ð the famous tooth lies within the smallest one. Ritual prayers by the monks are accompanied by beating drums, blaring trumpets and hypnotic chants. Lunch will be at the EarlÕs Regency Hotel.
The countryside is green and lush Ð tropical fruits and spices grow all around you as you head into the interior to meet some large but extremely engaging new friends. The Pinnewela Elephant Orphanage was created to care for baby elephants found abandoned or orphaned. Here approximately 60 animals are looked after, fed, trained, and studied by the Sri Lankan Wildlife Authority. Once acclimated to the lifestyle, they are unable to care for themselves in the wild, and so grow up and reproduce here in the protection of the reserve. This means that you can sometimes find very small babies among the every growing family. At the orphanage, you will learn about the efforts being made to care for these magnificent mammals, as well as the ongoing battle for the conservation of their native habitats.
You may be able to accompany the elephants to the nearby river, to see them enjoy their daily bath. And they do enjoy it! Their keepers help them get all those hard to reach spots, while they relish the cooling water.
Monday Morning
| 08:30. Depart pier and proceed to Kandy. Kandy was the last capital of the Sri Lanka Kings and is a world heritage site. |
| 12:30. Visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic, where the sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha is enshrined. Drive around the Kandy Lake built by the last Sinhala King, Sri Wickrema Rajasinghe in 1806. |
| 13:15. Depart Temple of the Tooth Relic. |
| 13:30 - 14:30 Lunch at the EarlÕs Regency hotel (International Buffet). |
| 16:00. After lunch proceed to the Elephant Orphanage at Pinnawela, where baby elephants found abandoned in the jungles are being fed and looked after. Watch them playing in the garden or bathing in the river. |
| 17:05. Depart Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage. |
| 19:45. Arrive at the pier. |