Colombo Trip Overview
Sri Lanka’s documented history spans three thousand years, it is a diverse country and home to many religions, ethnicity and languages. This trip takes you to the bustling city of Kandy, which is home to one of the countries most sacred relics – a tooth of Buddha. Located in the middle of Sri Lanka, Kandy is surrounded by iconic tea plantations and lush scenery.
A trip to this beautiful country would not be complete without a visit to Nuwara Eliya which is a town that was once popular with the British settlers, the numerous Colonial buildings that still stand to this day are a testament to this.
Sri Lanka also has a rich Buddhist heritage, and the first known Buddhist writings were composed on this historic island.
Additional Info
Duration: 4 days
Starts: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Trip Category: Multi-day & Extended Tours >> Multi-day Tours
Explore Colombo Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s documented history spans three thousand years, it is a diverse country and home to many religions, ethnicity and languages. This trip takes you to the bustling city of Kandy, which is home to one of the countries most sacred relics – a tooth of Buddha. Located in the middle of Sri Lanka, Kandy is surrounded by iconic tea plantations and lush scenery.
A trip to this beautiful country would not be complete without a visit to Nuwara Eliya which is a town that was once popular with the British settlers, the numerous Colonial buildings that still stand to this day are a testament to this.
Sri Lanka also has a rich Buddhist heritage, and the first known Buddhist writings were composed on this historic island.
Itinerary
Day 1: Kandy ‘The Last Kingdom Of The Sinhalese’
Stop At: Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Sri Dalada Veediya, Kandy 20000 Sri Lanka
The Temple of Tooth Relic, locally known as Sri Dalada Maligawa, is in the very centre of Kandy. This is the final location of the sacred tooth of the Lord Buddha. Since ancient times, the relic has played an important role in local politics as it is believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country.
Sri Dalada Maligawa is in the centre of the city and is the most highly venerated religious place in Sri Lanka, and it attracts great respect from Buddhists all over the world. The magnificent temple was built by the late King Vimaladharmasooriya I in 1592 AD.
Monks of the two chapters of Malwattu and Asgiriya conduct daily worship in the inner chamber of the temple. The rituals are performed 3 times daily, at dawn, noon and in the evening. On Wednesdays, there is a symbolic bathing of the sacred relic with a herbal preparation from scented water and fragrant flowers called “Nanumura Mangalya”.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Kandy, Kandy, Kandy District, Central Province
Kandy City Tour:-
Kandy is the popular charming city in Sri Lanka that is surrounded by hills, valleys, rivers, lakes and waterfalls. It is the cultural center of the island and a UNESCO heritage city. The sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha is enshrined at the Dalada Maligawa, the Temple of The Tooth.
Before it was brought under British rule in 1815, Kandy was the last royal capital of Sri Lankan kings. Kandy offers an array of culture, history and heritage and attracts many visitors from around the globe.
Its main attractions include the Gem Museum and Factory, the woodcarving centre, batik factory and the Upper Lake drive. Kandy is also home to many arts and crafts bazaars as well as bustling markets filled with colourful produce.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Kandy Lake Club – Cultural Dance Show, 7 Sangamitta Mawatha, Kandy 20000 Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is rich in history, culture and traditions which date back thousands of years. With all this history, it’s no surprise that this cultural and dance show is bursting with vibrant colour, energy and passion.
Kandyan dances are commonly known as Uda Rata Natum. There are many dances that serve different purposes, many are used as offerings or rituals to the gods.
The “Ves” dance is the most popular. It originated from an ancient purification ritual, the Kohomba Yakuma or Kohomba Kankariya. Then, there is Naiyandi, distinguished by the dancers in their special Naiyandi costume, who perform during the initial preparations of the Kohomba Kankariya festival, while the lighting of the lamps and the preparation of foods for the demons take place.
Lastly, there is the prestigious “Uddekki” dance. Its name comes from the “uddekki”, a small lacquered hand drum in the shape of an hourglass, believed to have been given to people by the gods.
As many as 12 different folk and traditional dances are performed by Kandy lake club dance troop within the span of one hour.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: “Overnight at Hotel Topaz, a 4-Star Hotel”
Day 2: The Old Colonial Outpost known as ‘Little England’ or Nuwara Eliya
Stop At: Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya Rd, Kandy, Sri Lanka
Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens, the finest of its kind in Asia, the largest of the botanical gardens of Sri Lanka, couldn’t be better located. In the Mediterranean climate of Kandy, the gateway to the Central Highlands, the Gardens, at an elevation of 500 meters above sea-level and tightly bounded on three sides by a loop of River Mahaweli (Great sandy river), the largest river of Sri Lanka.
The Orchid House offers the visitor a captivating display of exotic blooms of Cattleya, Dendrobium, Arachnis, Oncidium, Phalaenopsis, Vanda and their hybrids. Around the Orchid House may be seen several hardy tropical orchids including the largest orchid in the world which produces flower spikes up to 2.5 m long and the Green Orchid (Coelogyne meyeriana).
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Ramboda Waterfall, Pussellawa Sri Lanka
This unique waterfall is situated in the Pussellawa district in the city of Kandy. Ramboda Falls is the 11th highest waterfall in Sri Lanka, hidden just off of the Ramboda Pass.
The falls form a ‘Y’ shape in the air, as two water sources become one, to form the splurging waters of the falls. The main source is the Kotmale Oya, a river which is part of the Mahaweli River, the largest in Sri Lanka. The area surrounding the waterfall is renowned for its lush greenery comprising of hilly mountains, ridges, plains and streams.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Bluefield Tea Gardens, Ramboda, Nuwara Eliya 22200 Sri Lanka
Surrounded by misty mountains and with a lingering smell of tea plants, you’ll visit a tea factory and plantation where you see how the world’s famous “Ceylon Tea” is manufactured, the best tea in the world.
James Taylor arrived in 1852 to settle down in Loolecondera estate in Kandy. After some time, he decided to produce commercial tea and created the first commercial plantation in Sri Lanka. Today even those who know little of Sri Lanka and its history are familiar with Ceylon tea, which is known for its quality.
During the visit you will learn more about the story behind the perfect ‘cuppa’ as you walk through the tea plantation as well as sampling some of tea along the way.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Gregory Lake, Nuwara Eliya Sri Lanka
Gregory Lake was built under the period of British Governor Sir William Gregory in 1873. The area was originally a swamp before the governer authorised the building of a damn and the expansion of the town.
When it was built the lake was stocked with trout for fishing. Interestingly, in 1913, the water from the lake was channelled into a tunnel which flowed into a hydropower station. To this day, this method continues to supply electricity to the town.
Today, this is the most prominent attraction in Nuwara Eliya and visitors to the area generally spend time by the lake relaxing and enjoying the magnificent views. The lake is used as a place for numerous types of water sports which can also be enjoyed at any time of year.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Nuwara Eliya, Nuwara Eliya, Central Province
Nuwara Eliya City Tour:- Nuwara Eliya is a beautiful colonial town where the British succeeded in creating a replica of the English countryside with hedges and homes in the style of Queen Anne and Georgian times.
Also known as the ‘Little England’ of Sri Lanka, the area is set against beautiful backdrops of mountains, valleys, waterfalls and tea plantations. It said that this is one of the coolest places on the island, situated 6,200 metres above sea level. The weather is reminiscent of the English spring months, although it gets a little colder at night.
Nuwara Eliya is bursting with British influence, with country cottages and typical English countryside farms. Victoria Park, in the middle of the town, is a lovely place for a stroll or a picnic and you will also catch a glimpse of some rare birds here.
Seasons may be absent elsewhere in Sri Lanka, but here you get all four, easily detected by the flowers, which bloom in the spring and autumn. These are the seasons when low-country folk flock to Nuwara Eliya to escape the coastal heat and humidity.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: “Overnight at Daffodils Hotel, a 3-Star Hotel”
Day 3: The Capital City Of Colombo
Stop At: Rafting Kitulgala, Kalugotenna, Kitulgala, Sri Lanka
Experience white water rafting in the picturesque Kelani River, covering 5 major rapids and 4 minor rapids. This activity is for anyone above the age of 10 years. Safety gear, modern rafts, and a comprehensive safety briefing will be given by the white water rafting instructors beforehand.
The distance covered on this adventure is around 5 kilometres. The river and its surrounding scenery will be an utterly memorable experience to take away from Sri Lanka with you.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Independence Square, Independence Avenue, Colombo 00700 Sri Lanka
Independence Memorial Hall is located in the Independence Square at Colombo 7. This place was known as Torrington Square in the early days. This Hall was built for the commemoration of the independence from the British in 1948.
Every square inch of this monument is filled with lavish symbols of the island’s rich history and political freedom. At the entrance to the building is an imposing statue of D.S. Senanayake, who was Sri Lanka’s first prime minister, surrounded by four menacing stone lions with large eyes.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Galle Face Green, Galle Road, Colombo Sri Lanka
Galle Face Green is a five-hectare ocean-side urban park and one of the largest open spaces in Colombo. It’s a wonderful place to partake in outdoor activities or some exercise, and it is one of the best spots in the city to watch the sun set over the west coast of Sri Lanka.
The park is rarely empty and gets particularly busy in the early evening as street food vendors take their place and locals come to feast on their snacks.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct, Hospital Street Galle Fort, Colombo 00001 Sri Lanka
The Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct is one of the most attractive shopping centres in Sri Lanka. During the Dutch occupation of Sri Lanka, this building was a hospital – it is considered to be the oldest buildings in the Colombo Fort area.
It is now a heritage building and a shopping and dining precinct. The building was initially designed as a hospital for the soldiers and personnel of the Dutch East India Company. The hospital’s close proximity to the harbour also allowed it to serve Dutch seafarers.
Paintings from the era show that there was once had a canal running next to the hospital, along what is now Canal Row lane. This canal was filled in by British colonists after their capture of the city.
The courtyard in the centre sometimes plays host to live music, here you will find some great restaurants, shops, bars and a lively atmosphere.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: “Overnight at Berjaya Hotel, a 4-Star Hotel”
Day 4: Sightseeing and departure
Stop At: Bandaranaike International Airport, Canada Friendship Rd, කටුනායක 11450, Sri Lanka
After Breakfast, your driver will transport you to the airport to catch your flight home. We hope to welcome you again soon in Sri Lanka.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.
