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Samu Travel, Ella, Sri Lanka	Travel Agents in Sri Lanka

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Buddhist Tour

PRICE INCLUDES[nbr][nbr]• 6 Nights’ accommodation in 4* or 5* Hotels.[nbr][nbr]• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.[nbr][nbr]• Transfers in a luxury air condition vehicle accompanied by a professional Chinese speaking[nbr][nbr]chauffer guide.[nbr][nbr]PRICE EXCLUDES[nbr][nbr]Transportation, entrance & other Charges for optional visits & activities.[nbr][nbr]All government taxes and fees[nbr][nbr]Entrance tickets to all mentioned locations and attractions[nbr][nbr]Tips for Hotel & Guide / Driver[nbr][nbr]Flights to and from Colombo[nbr][nbr]Sri Lanka visa fees[nbr][nbr]Travel insurance[nbr][nbr]All personal expenses such as laundry, drinks not mentioned on itinerary, faxes, telephone calls,[nbr][nbr]Mini bar expenses, etc.[nbr][nbr]Day 01[nbr][nbr]A Samu Travel & Tours tour guide will await your arrival at the Colombo International[nbr][nbr]Airport assuming the arrival is in the afternoon. Thereafter proceed to kandy. Check into[nbr][nbr]THE HOTEL in Kandy. Evening at leisure. OVERNIGHT STAY IN KANDY[nbr][nbr]Read More[nbr][nbr]Day 02[nbr][nbr]Breakfast at the hotel and visit the ‘Dalada Maligawa’ Temple of the Buddha’s Tooth[nbr][nbr]Relic to attend the special pooja when the door to the sanctuary holding the casket is[nbr][nbr]opened for pilgrims to offer flowers amidst clouds of incense and the beating of drums.[nbr][nbr]Thereafter visit Kandy to discover the Royal City of Kandy. Kandy is Sri Lanka’s last[nbr][nbr]royal kingdom and is a World Heritage site. The tour will take you to the Botanical[nbr][nbr]Gardens, Market Place and gem & jewelry shops. Later, discover the Kandy Evening In[nbr][nbr]the late evening be escorted to a performance of the energetic traditional Kandyan[nbr][nbr]Cultural Dance show, accompanied by tumultuous drumming and climaxes with the[nbr][nbr]amazing fire-walking show. Later proceed to a relaxing inland hotel in Kandy.[nbr][nbr]OVERNIGHT STAY IN KANDY.[nbr][nbr]Read More[nbr][nbr]Day 03[nbr][nbr]After breakfast leave for Dambulla en-route visiting Aluvihare Temple in Matale. The significance of[nbr][nbr]this temple is that the Mahavansa (Buddhist chronicle of the island) was inscribed here in Pali. The[nbr][nbr]original manuscript, inscribed on palm leaves prepared by 500 monks, was destroyed in the mid-[nbr][nbr]19th century, and replacements are still being inscribed today. In the afternoon, depart for the visit of[nbr][nbr]the caves temples of Dambulla. The caves in the city provided refuge to King Valagamba (also[nbr][nbr]called Vattagamini Abhaya) in his 14 yearlong exile from the Anuradapura kingdom.Buddhist monks[nbr][nbr]meditating in the caves of Dambulla at that time provided the exiled king protection from his[nbr][nbr]enemies. When King Valagamba returned to the throne at Anuradapura kingdom in the 1st century[nbr][nbr]BC, he had a magnificent rock temple built at Dambulla as a gratitude to the monks in Dambulla.[nbr][nbr]Ibbankatuwa Prehistoric burial site near Dambulla, where prehistoric (2700 years old) human[nbr][nbr]skeletons were found according to scientific analysis gives evidence on civilizations in this area long[nbr][nbr]before arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. There are more than 80 documented caves in the[nbr][nbr]surrounding. Major attractions are spread over 5 caves, which contain statues and paintings. This[nbr][nbr]paintings and statues are related to Lord Buddha and his life. There is a total of 153 Buddha statues,[nbr][nbr]3 statues of Sri Lankan kings and 4 statues of god and goddess. The latter 4 include two statues of[nbr][nbr]Hindu gods, Vishnu and Ganesh. The murals cover an area of 2,100 m2. Depictions in the walls of[nbr][nbr]the caves include Buddha’s temptation by demon Mara and Buddha’s first sermon. OVERNIGHT[nbr][nbr]STAY IN DAMBULLA[nbr][nbr]Read More[nbr][nbr]Day 04[nbr][nbr]After breakfast, depart for Sigiriya. The ancient city of Sigiriya was designated a cultural World[nbr][nbr]Heritage Site in 1982. It is also proposed that the site should be named the eighth wonder of the[nbr][nbr]world, indicating it is in the same league as other international wonders such as the Grand Canyon[nbr][nbr]and Ancient Pyramids. Translated as ‘Lion Rock’ into English, the name of the monument indicates[nbr][nbr]the way in which visitors used to begin their final ascent to the top – through the open jaws and[nbr][nbr]throat (‘giriya’) of a lion (‘sinha’). Unfortunately, the only remains of this lion figure are the gigantic[nbr][nbr]paws, sculpted into the side of the rock. The geography of the area is flat except for the massive[nbr][nbr]rock outcrop of the fortress itself (which rises an incredible 600 ft up from the green scrub jungle).[nbr][nbr]The unusual rock is particularly interesting due to its flat top (nearly 8 acres in size), that was used in[nbr][nbr]its entirety to build King Kasyapa’s fortress complex, still evident by the presence of the extensive[nbr][nbr]ruins. Afterward proceed to Polonnaruwa to discover the Polonnaruwa Ancient City. Polonnaruwa[nbr][nbr]ancient city remains one of the best planned archaeological relic sites in the country, standing[nbr][nbr]testimony to the discipline and greatness of the Kingdom’s first rulers. The ancient city of[nbr][nbr]Polonnaruwa has been declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO. Return to the hotel late in the[nbr][nbr]evening. OVERNIGHT STAY IN DAMBULLA.[nbr][nbr]Read More[nbr][nbr]Day 05[nbr][nbr]After Breakfast Proceed Anuradhapura to visit the Sri Maha Bodhi tree. The Bo tree was planted as[nbr][nbr]a cutting from the tree in Bodhgaya, in India under which Buddha found Enlightenment, brought by[nbr][nbr]Emperor Asoka’s daughter, the Princess Sanghamitta, at some point after 236 BC. Guardians have[nbr][nbr]kept uninterrupted watch over the tree ever since, making it the oldest historically authenticated tree[nbr][nbr]in the world. There are other Bo trees around the Sri Maha Bodhi which are bedecked with colourful[nbr][nbr]prayer flags. After the offering of flowers, a one-hour sermon will be arranged at the Temple. After[nbr][nbr]leave for Mihintale. This place is revered as the place where Mahinda converted King Devanampiya[nbr][nbr]Tissa to Buddism in 243BC, thereby enabling Buddhism to spread to the whole island. The legend[nbr][nbr]tells how King Tissa was chasing a stag during a hunting expedition. The stag reached Mihintale and[nbr][nbr]fled up the hillside followed by the King until reached a place surrounded by hills, where the animal[nbr][nbr]disappeared and the frustrated King was astonished to find a gentle person who spoke to him the[nbr][nbr]Buddha’s teachings. It was Mahinda, Asoka’s son, who was able to convert the King with 40,000[nbr][nbr]followers. An important religious site and a pleasant place to stroll around. Evening at leisure to walk[nbr][nbr]around the ancient Dagobas and even to meditate. The Services of a Buddhist Priest for Dharma[nbr][nbr]Sermon. OVERNIGHT STAY IN ANURADHAPURA.[nbr][nbr]Read More[nbr][nbr]Day 06[nbr][nbr]After breakfast proceed to Colombo. On the way visit Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihare, the most visited[nbr][nbr]Temple after the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy. The main significance of this Temple is the[nbr][nbr]legendary visit of the Buddha to this site. The Mahavansa (chronicle) recorded that the original[nbr][nbr]Stupa enshrined a gem-studded throne on which Buddha sat when he visited Sri Lanka. The present[nbr][nbr]Temple, which dates to the 19th century, is set amongst attractive frangipani trees and has an[nbr][nbr]impressive bell-tower. There is a famous image of the reclining Buddha. Each member will offer a[nbr][nbr]tray of flowers at this temple, light oil lamps and incense. The Resident monk will chant ‘Seth Pirith’[nbr][nbr](blessings) and tie a ‘pirith nula’ around the wrist. (A thread blessed by the monks). Enjoy the[nbr][nbr]evening at leisure. Optional tour can be arranged to visit the Gangarama Temple or a leisurely[nbr][nbr]shopping tour of Colombo. OVERNIGHT STAY IN COLOMBO.[nbr][nbr]Read More[nbr][nbr]DAY 07[nbr][nbr]After a late breakfast, checkout of the hotel and transfer to Colombo International airport. Your[nbr][nbr]journey with Samu Tour & Travels ends here. Have a safe journey back home and we look forward[nbr][nbr]to seeing you again soon. Note: Hotel stipulates checkout is before 12:00hrs noon time. Late[nbr][nbr]Checkout between 12:00-18:00 requires half of the room rate. Any checkout after 18:00 will cost one[nbr][nbr]extra night room rate[nbr][nbr]Read More[nbr][nbr]