Sri Lanka is one of the world’s most important tea producers. There are thousands of tea plantations all around the island. Instead of automated tea processing, Sri Lanka still uses the mechanized colonial process. This is because it ensures a higher quality than the new brands. Giragama Tea Plantation has opened its factory for in-depth tours on tea processing. The tour provides insight into refining black teas and the complex process conceived back in the British colonial era. The factory is located just outside Kandy.

Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic

Kandy is the second most populated city in Sri Lanka. It is a heartland city surrounded by misty mountains and a winding river. Lush green forests, spice lands and tea plantations dominate the Kandyan landscape. Historically, the ancient city served as the last Sinhalese capital until 1815. Today, it continues to be a bastion of Sri Lankan culture and way of life. The city is designed around the Sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic. This temple houses the venerated left canine Tooth of the Buddha. It is a UNESCO world heritage site and one of the most sacred places of worship in the Buddhist world. Thousands of pilgrims regularly visit Kandy in memory of Buddha, which gives the city a religious atmosphere. Each year, an annual procession is known as the “Sri Dalada Perahera” attracts thousands of both local and foreign visitors to the temple (usually held in July or August). It is, without doubt, the most colourful celebration of Sri Lankan culture. The final night-time procession (The Randoli procession) is one of the most colourful events in the world. Even on a regular day, Kandy is a busy place but it’s part of the city’s charm. The chaotic commercial city is bordered by a beautiful artificial lake.

Kandy Lake Club - Cultural Dance Show

The traditional Kandyan dance show is one of the most popular events in Kandy. It is held daily at 5.00 PM It is better to arrive early as the show gets sold out very quickly. The show is full of intense dance routines, traditional costumes and energetic performances. There are about five different shows but the best one is the Kandy Lake Club dance show, which starts at 5.00 PM.

Colombo Fort Railway Station

Pick up and drop off will be provided from most closely located hotels in Colombo.

Golden Temple of Dambulla

Dambulla golden rock cave temple was home to thousands of meditating monks since its monastic beginnings in the first century BCE. Today the same cave temple hosts a massive collection of Buddhist murals and sculptures belonging to a pan-Asian artistic tradition. The cave temple was abandoned at regular intervals since its humble beginnings. Yet the royals and Buddhist elite kept renovating it to appease countless faithful pilgrims.

Sigiriya The Ancient Rock Fortress

Sigiriya rock fortress is the most visited tourist attraction in Sri Lanka. It is sometimes known as the Sigiriya Lion Rock, after its original name “Sinha-Giri”. The name comes from its palace entrance through a massive brick sculpture of a lion head. Only the paws of this sculpture remain at the foot of the rock today. Sigiriya rock fortress is a fifth-century fortified palace complex, which was used by King Kassapa (477CE-493CE). The Sigiriya rock abruptly rises 600 feet high from the surrounding plains. The ruins of King Kassapa’s royal palace are scattered on the peak rock plateau. The hike to the top is via 1200 steps. Some of them were constructed at the time of King Kassapa. The foothills and immediate surroundings of the Sigiriya rock were once an elaborate royal pleasure garden. The archaeological value of the site is immeasurable, perhaps unsurpassed in South Asia.

Ancient City of Polonnaruwa

The ancient city of Polonnaruwa was the second capital of Sri Lanka. Today, it is one of the best places to visit in Sri Lanka. Polonnaruwa is a UNESCO world heritage site. It is a huge archaeological site (122 hectares) with perhaps Sri Lanka’s most impressive artefacts and ruins. The site houses the ruins of Sri Lanka’s largest Buddhist University called “Alahana Pirivena”. The city is an important stop for Sri Lankan Buddhist pilgrims because of many Buddhist monuments and ruins attested to various historical incidents. In the past, the city gained influence under South Indian rulers who were ousted by the Sinhalese rebels during the eleventh century CE. The ruins of Polonnaruwa is popular for its blend of Anuradhapura and South Indian architecture. This is because the ancient inhabitants of Polonnaruwa were a mix of Buddhist and Hindu elite. In the face of growing South Indian power, the kingdom of Polonnaruwa was short-lived and abandoned around 1300 CE. The ruins of Polonnaruwa were mostly unknown until colonial explorations started in the Northern wildernesses of the island. The city has inspired many people through its liberal approach to Buddhist art and Hindu sensuality. It is a place where Buddhist monuments and Hindu shrines stand side by side. The kings of Polonnaruwa extended the Anuradhapura irrigation system to this kingdom as well. The main site lies on the bank of a large ancient reservoir. The Kingdom of Polonnaruwa is the earliest form of contemporary Sinhalese culture.

Minneriya National Park

Minneriya National Park is reported as the Largest known wild Asian Elephant Gathering at one place in the World. The national park's faunal species include 24 species of mammals, 160 species of birds, 9 species of amphibians, 25 species of reptiles, 26 species of fish, and 75 species of butterflies. This half-day Minneriya National Park safari mainly gives you the chance to spot 100 of wild elephants at once.

The best way to discover authentic Sri Lankan culture is by paying a visit to one of the rural villages. Villages around Sigiriya still hold on to the old ways of life. Arranged visits include lunch at villager’s home, traditional cooking class, slash and burn cultivation visit, canoe ride in a reservoir, cart ride, trekking and bird watching experiences. It is a good way to relax and enjoy a different culture at your own pace.