ROCS Guided Holidays 2023 13 Day Sensational Sri Lanka Tour

SRI LANKA 13 DAY TOUR Visiting: Colombo, Anuradhapura, Dambulla, Ritgala, Sigiriya, Matele, Kandy, Pinnawela, Nuwara Eliya, Horton Plains, Ella, Yala, Galle € 2769 13 DAYS FROM

DAY 1 - MALTA – SRI LANKA Meet your Tour Manager at Malta International Airport for your flight to Sri Lanka. DAY 2 - COLOMBO Ayubowan (meaning, may you live long) is our traditional greeting and we welcome you with the same whole-hearted gesture to our beautiful island of paradise! Complete the airport formalities, then collect your baggage and clear the customs. Proceeding to the arrival lobby you will be met by our representative who will warmly greet you with the hospitable smile the destina tion is so famous for! Upon arrival head to Colom bo and check-in at the 5* Movenpick Colombo Hotel. Considering your long journey, we have allocated for you to rest and relax on the first day in order to adjust to the new surroundings, and prepare for the exciting journey ahead. Later in the day head out to explore the interesting town and surroundings of Colombo. A modern city as it looks now, the history runs deep into the colonial era when the Portu guese arrived on the island. You will walk through some of the narrow streets busy of local folk, and witness some of the buildings which have stood the test of time from the Dutch and British era! Another wonderful fact you will wit ness is the harmony among all faiths and beliefs of citizens,

as you visit the tranquil Bud dhist temple of Gangarama, the serene church of Wol vendaal standing tall since the 18th century, the vibrant red mosque in pettah and the astonishing hindu kovil built to worship Lord Muruga! A highlight during this city tour would be the visit to the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya, identified as one of the sites that Lord Buddha sanctified during his third and final visit to the island. Also witness the vibrant paintings done by a famous Sri Lankan artist who specialized his talent in Bud dhist temple paintings. Meals: Dinner Rise and shine! Fill up with a scrumptious breakfast and we head out to explore the an cient city of Anuradhapura. As you reach close to the mag nificent city you would see the tiny peaks of the temples, but do not let this deceive you as when you visit them you will see how colossal they are! This will give you a clear idea of the devotion ancient kings paid to Buddhism and it will make you wonder how such magnificent and massive structures were built by hu man hands. The most famous series of locations visited and venerated in the ancient city are the ‘eight sacred places’. Each of which have an inter esting tale to depict. Listen as DAY 3 - COLOMBO - ANURADHAPURA - DAMBULLA

our guide will narrate to you as you visit each location. But of course, we will accompany you to more interesting and important sites located in the ancient city as well. A high light will be the visit to the sa cred Sri Maha Bodhi. A branch of the same sacred tree which Lord Buddha sat under when attaining enlightenment that was brought to the island from India under Royal pa tronage accompanied by the sister of the same monk who preached at Mihintalaya. Since Buddhism was introduced to the island during this era, an immense change took place with regard to the cultural val ues of people, their norms and practices. We will also visit the location which is considered to be the cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, the Mihintalaya temple. It is believed that this is the site where an encounter be tween a Buddhist missionary monk and an ancient king took place, as the king was on a hunting trip he was intervened by the monk, was preached to and with the insight this ancient king accepted and inaugurated the presence of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Completing an insightful day, we head to the 5* Jetwing

SRI LANKA 2023

Lake Hotel for check in. Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 4 - ANURADHAPURA – RITIGALA – DAMBULLA LLeisurely wake up and break fast is prepared for you to en-

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