Finest Expeditions, Sri Lanka  

Duration : 8 Days / 7 Nights
Departures : Daily                                Validity:- 31st October 2011

Tour Itinerary (Buddhist Tour) including Meditation Session

Day 01 - Airport / Yapahuwa (D)-140 Km (3 Hrs 15 Minutes)

Meet Greet & Assist upon Arrival  & leave to Yapahuwa via Kurunagala.

 

Dinner & Overnight stay at Paradise Resort, Yapahuwa-2*

   

Day 02 - Yapahuwa / Anuradhapura / Mihintale / Dambulla (B/L/D)

Breakfast at Hotel.

Thereafter transfer to Anuradhapura.

Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura is the first ancient capital of Sri Lanka from 3rd Century BC to 11th

Century AD. At its height, Anuradhapura was one of the greatest cities of its age,

functioning as the island's centre of both temporal and spiritual power, dotted with

dozens of monasteries populated by as many as 10,000 monks - one of the greatest

monastic cities the world has ever seen.

 

Sri Maha Bodhi (Sacred Bo Tree)
According to popular belief, the tree was grown from a cutting, from the original Bo Tree

in Buddhagaya, India, under which the Buddha attained enlightenment. This was

brought to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BC by Princes Sangamiththa. The tree is the

oldest historically authenticated tree in the world.

 

Ruvnvaliseya (also known as the Maha Temple or Great statue).
The most revered Dagoba in the city, built in the 2nd century BC, is popularly believed to

enshrine various remains of the Buddha. This dagoba is fully restored, painted white and

always filled with pilgrims throughout the day. It stands on a terrace whose outer face is

decorated with elephant herds.Heading north from the Ruwanweliseya, a broad walkway

leads to the

 

The Brazen Palace
Leaving the northern gate of the Bodhi Tree the pilgrim will see on the right a veritable

forest of stone pillars, forty rows of forty pillars each. This is the remains of the Brazen

Palace or Lohapasada first built in the 3rd century BC by King Tissa and later redesigned

by Duthagamani as the chapter house for the Mahavihara. The Brazen Palace was

ninestories high, with a thousand rooms and got its name from the sheets of gilt copper

that covered its roof. Being made mainly of wood it burned down and rebuilt several times

and restored for the last time by King Parakramabahu I.

 

Jetavana Dagoba
In its original form the dagoba stood 120 meters high, and was at the time of its

construction the third tallest structure in the world. Proceed to the Twin Ponds.

This is a 7th century swimming pool meant for the Buddhist monks or for the royal family.

The water to the pond was filtered using a very simple device, which could be seen

even today. The third stop will be the Abhayagiriya Complex. This lies on the northern

side of the city, and was founded by King Wattagamani Abhaya (also known as

Walagamba) in 88 BC.   

The Refectory
Leaving the Brazen Palace and proceeding north along the path the pilgrim will see the

foundations of a building off to the right. This is the remains of one of the Mahavihara's

several refectories. With so many monks aroundAnuradhapura it was simply impossible

for them all to be sustained by begging for alms so each monastery usually had huge

dining rooms like this one below. Monks who were entitled to eat in such places were

issued with wooden ration tickets.The main entrance leads to a large paved rectangular

courtyard which was originally surrounded by a pillared verandah under which monks

used to sit, probably on mats on the floor or on wooden benches. Note the drains where

there would have been facilities for the monks to wash their bowls and their hands after

their meals. Against the east wall of the refectory is a huge stone trough made of several

pieces of stone so finally finished that they fit together perfectly. In the Mahavamsa such

troughs are called rice boats. Steaming rice was tipped into these troughs and then doled

out to monks as they lined up and walked passed with their bowls. It has been calculated

that this particular trough would have held enough rice to fill 3,800 bowls.  
 

Thuparama Dagoba.
This was the first dagoba to be built in Sri Lanka.This was constructed by King

Devanampiya Tissa in the 3rd century BC, shortly after his conversion to Buddhism.

The right collarbone of Buddha was enshrined in the Thuparama, which remains a popular

pilgrimage site to this day.This venerable old rock temple also dates right back to the reign

of Devanampiya Tissa. To the right of the entrance is a pool with low-relief carvings of

elephants, designed so that they appear to be bathing in the waters.

 

Lunch at restaurant in Anuradhapura
Evening visit to Mihintale…
  
Mihintale
Mahintale’s original name was Missaka Pabbata, then it was called Cetiyagiri

(The Mountain of Stupas) and its present name is of course derived from Mahinda.

When Fa hien visited Mihintale there were 2,000 monks living on the mountain.

For at least a thousand years the monasteries on Mihintale were affiliated to the

Abhayagiri. During most of the time one of the monks he met was particularly revered

for his holiness. A mouse and a snake shared his cave with him but lived in harmony

with each other because they were influenced by the monks great metta. Mahinda

spent the remaining years of his life in Mihintale and died there in 202 and after a grand

funeral his ashes were enshrined in stupas throughout the country including one on

Mihintale itself. The king prepared 68 caves on the mountain. This is confirmed by an

inscription on one of the caves near the Kantaka Stupa which says it was prepared

for by who is known to have been one of the king’s brothers.

 

Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel Palvehera Village, Dambulla-2* or similar

Address : Dambulla, Sri Lanka
Tel : 027 22 46311

 

Day 03 - Dambulla/ Sigiriya /Polonnaruwa/Dambulla (B/L/D)

After Breakfast, transfer to Sigiriya.

 

Climb the 5th century Sigiriya Rock Fortress which is a world heritage site, built by King

Kashyapa (477-495 AD). The 'Lion Rock' is a citadel of unusual beauty rising 200

metres from the scrub jungle. The rock was the innermost stronghold of the 70 hectare

fortified town. A moat, rampart, and extensive gardens including the renowned water

gardens ring the base of the rock. Visit the world-renowned frescoes of the 'Heavenly

Maidens' of Sigiriya, which are in a sheltered pocket of the rock approached by a spiral

stairway. These frescoes are painted on plaster using earth pigments.

 

 Transfer to Polonnaruwa for Lunch

 

Do a city tour of Polonnaruwa which is a world heritage site and the 2nd capital city of

Sri Lanka built in the 11th and 12th centuries AD. See the ruins of the Royal Palace,

the Gal Viharaya where four splendid statues of the Buddha in 'Upright', 'Sedentary' and

'Recumbent' postures carved out of rock, the Audience Hall, the Lotus Bath, the statue of

king Parakramabahu, and the Parakrama Samudraya - a lake built by King

Parakramabahu the great. There are also monuments of famous places of worship such

as the Shiva Temple, the Lankathilake, the Watadage,the Galpotha, the Kiri Vehera and

the remains of a former Temple of the Tooth Relic.

 

Dinner and overnight stay at Palvehera Village Resort Dambulla-2* or similar

Address : Dambulla, Sri Lanka
Tel : 027 22 46311

 

Day 4 - Giritale/Dambulla/Matale/Kandy (B/L/D)

Day 6  Kandy/Maskeliya (B/L/D)

After Breakfast transfer from Kandy to Maskeliya. (Travel time approximately 3 ½ hrs)  late night check out from

the hotel after Dinner and proceed to Nallathanniya to hike Adams Peak.

 

Dinner & Overnight stay at Family Park Resort or similar

 

Day 7  Adams Peak/Colombo (B/L/D)

Early morning(0030 AM) with packed breakfast begin the expedition of ascend the

Adams Peak which is 2250mabove the sea level to experience the Sunrise & to

worship the Footprint of Lord Buddha on the top of mountain. After descending relax

at the Hotel till the Lunch served. Afternoon Transfer to Wattala via Colombo after some

Shopping.

 

Dinner & Overnight stay at Palm Village Uswatakeiyawa or similar

 

Day 8  Mt.Lavinia/ Airport (B)

Breakfast at Hotel.We intend arriving to the Airport for our onward flight via Colombo