TOUR OF

SRI LANKA
From 15 - 18 Feb
Zaini Osman Abdul Rahman
Zafaran Khan Hudzaifah Adam
Fairus Manaf Noorfarihin Mahadi
INTRODUCTION
Sri Lanka officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an island country in South Asia,
located southeast of India and northeast of the Maldives.

The island is home to many cultures, languages and ethnicities. The majority of the population is
from the Sinhalese ethnicity, while a large minority of Tamils have also played an influential role in the
island’s history; Christians in both groups are recent converts who have kept the traditional culture.
Moors, Burghers, Malays, Chinese, and the aboriginal Vedda are also established groups on the is-
land.

Sri Lanka’s documented history spans 3,000 years, with evidence of pre-historic human settlements
dating back to at least 125,000 years. It has a rich cultural heritage and the first known Buddhist writ-
ings of Sri Lanka, the Pāli Canon, date back to the Fourth Buddhist council in 29 BC. Its geographic
location and deep harbours made it of great strategic importance from the time of the ancient Silk
Road[15] through to the modern Maritime Silk Road.

Sri Lanka was known from the beginning of British colonial rule until 1972 as Ceylon. Its recent history
has been marred by a thirty-year civil war which decisively ended when the Sri Lanka Armed Forces
defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2009.

The current constitution stipulates the political system as a republic and a unitary state governed by a
semi-presidential system. It has had a long history of international engagement, as a founding mem-
ber of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), and a member of the United
Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, the G77, and the Non-Aligned Movement. Along with the
Maldives, Sri Lanka is one of only two South Asian countries rated “high” on the Human Development
Index (HDI), with its HDI rating and per capita income the highest among South Asian nations.

PRE-HISTORY

Main article: Prehistory of Sri Lanka

The pre-history of Sri Lanka goes back 125,000 years and possibly even as far back as 500,000
years. The era spans the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic and early Iron Ages. Among the Paleolithic human
settlements discovered in Sri Lanka, Pahiyangala (named after the Chinese traveller monk Faxian),
which dates back to 37,000 BP, Batadombalena (28,500 BP) and Belilena (12,000 BP) are the most
important. In these caves, archaeologists have found the remains of anatomically modern humans
which they have named Balangoda Man, and other evidence suggesting that they may have engaged
in agriculture and kept domestic dogs for driving game.

One of the first written references to the island is found in the Indian epic Ramayana, which provides
details of a kingdom named Lanka that was created by the divine sculptor Vishwakarma for Kubera,
the Lord of Wealth. It is said that Kubera was overthrown by his demon stepbrother Ravana, the pow-
erful emperor who built a mythical flying machine named Dandu Monara. The modern city of Wariyap-
ola is described as Ravana’s airport.
Early inhabitants of Sri Lanka were probably ancestors of the Vedda people, an indigenous people
numbering approximately 2,500 living in modern-day Sri Lanka. The 19th-century Irish historian James
Emerson Tennent theorized that Galle, a city in southern Sri Lanka, was the ancient seaport of Tarshish
from which King Solomon is said to have drawn ivory, peacocks, and other valuables.
MAIN ATTRACTIONS IN SRI LANKA

Kindly refer below link to explore the attractions in Sri Lanka.

https://www.srilankatravelandtourism.com/places.php

PROPOSED VISIT

As per the request made by Zaini, we will be exploring the Heritage sites and Mountainous
areas in Sri Lanka. Since the limited time available we have to maximize the time in Sri Lanka
to ensure you get to visit many places without having to spend most of your time. As your ar-
rival is expected to be early morning 16th Friday around 1.30 AM it will be 2.30 AM when you
come out of the terminal. So there is no point going to lodge in to Colombo Hotel. I suggest to
start the trip from the Airport itself. I have considered two options depending your availability.

PROPOSED SCHEDULE

Travelling Night Stay

15th Thursday Airport to Sigiriya Sigiriya
16th Friday Sigiriya to Kandy to Nuwaraeliya Nuwaraeliya
17th Saturday Nuwaraeliya to Colombo Colombo
18th Sunday Morning at Colombo Back to Singapore

Note: Additional details on the locations are given below.

15th Thursday
7 AM - Starting the climbing of Sigiriya Rock
10.30 AM - Checking in to A4 & Spa (Accommodation)
3 PM - Elephant Safari
6 PM - Visit to Rangiri Dambulu Viharaya

16th Friday
5 AM - Leaving the hotel and heading to Kandy
7 AM - Visit to Dalada Maligawa
8 AM - Kandy Botanical Garden
11 AM - Leaving Kandy and heading to Nuwaraeliya by train
3.30 PM - Checkin to Hill Town Cottage in Nuwaraeliya and have a good rest
5 PM - Exploring the Nuwaraeliya City

17th Saturday
7 AM - Leaving the hotel and going to Colombo via Southern Coast
- Rest will be decided during the course of the day. We will be
going to Hikkaduwa for Glass Boat ride. Then take lunch and heading
to Colombo

18th Sunday
11 Am - Leaving to Air Port and Say “Good Bye” to Sri Lanka
COST BREAKDOWN

Description Ticket/Room Price Multiplier Total (Rs/=)

Sigiriya Rock 4,620 6 27,720
Horton Plains 2,310 6 13,860
A4 Villa & Spa (Sigiriya) 7,500 4 30,000
Hill Town Cottage (N’ Eliya) 10,000 3 30,000
Cinnamon Red (Colombo) 15,666.67 3 47,000
Hiring of Vehicle (inc. Excess Milage) 100,000 1 100,000
Boat Ride 10,000 1 10,000
Food Per day 30,000 3 90,000
Miscellaneous 100,000 1 100,000
Total 448,580

The total cost in USD = US $ 2938.20

Cost per person in USD = US $ 489.70/person

Cost per person in S$ = S$ 648.41/person

NOTE: Remember i have kept Rs. 100000 for miscellaneous. So cost can even go down depending
on what we do or may be go high as well. But I am pretty sure we can manage within this. Hope this
is managable for you.

WHAT YOU NEED TO PACK

1. Enough cloths as per your choice.

2. Nuwaraeliya is very cold. So bring jackets.
3. Swimming trunk
4. Good Camera
5. Rest as of your choice
6. Cap or Hat
7. Binocular if available

WEATHER

During the day the temperature goes up to 30 °C. At night the falls around 24 °C. However tempera-
ture in Nuwaraeliya is below 20 °C during the day and it falls below 11 °C during night. As of now the
probability of rain is very low.

SCHEDULE IN BRIEF

We will be going to Sigiriya on the first day and stay overnight and will be heading to Nuwaraeliya via
Kandy on the second day. We will be visitng Sacred Dalada Maligawa and Horton Plains on the sec-
ond day and hoping to stay in Ella. Depending on your decision we will be visiting beautiful beaches
in Southern Sri Lanka and will be staying in Colombo on the last night of your stay.
SIGIRIYA

Referred by locals as the Eighth Wonder of the World this ancient palace and fortress complex has
significant archaeological importance and attracts thousands of tourists every year. It is probably the
most visited tourist destination of Sri Lanka.

The palace is located in the heart of the island between the towns of Dambulla and Habarane on a
massive rocky plateau 370 meters above the sea level.

Sigiriya rock plateau, formed from magma of an extinct volcano, is 200 meters higher than the sur-
rounding jungles.

Its view astonishes the visitors with the unique harmony between the nature and human imagination.

The fortress complex includes remnants of a ruined palace, surrounded by an extensive network of
fortifications, vast gardens, ponds, canals, alleys and fountains.

The surrounding territories of Sigiriya were inhibited for several thousand years.

Since 3th century BC the rocky plateau of Sigiriya served as a monastery. In the second half of the 5th
century king Kasyapa decided to construct a royal residence here.
KANDY AND SRI DALADA MALIGAWA

The Temple of Tooth at kandy is the final location of the sacred tooth of the lord Buddha which was
brought to srilanka during the reign of king “keerthi sri Megawarna” by prince “Dantha” and Princess
“Hemamala” from the kindom of kalingu India. It became the palladium of srilankan kings and was pre-
ciously guarded in a special shrine built within precincts of royal palace where the capital was located.

The Temple of the Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha, sri dalada Maligawa is in the centre of the city, the
highest venerated religious place with steeped in cultural heritage attracting the highest respect of the
Buddhists as well as the other religions all over the world. The beautiful magnificent temple was built
by late king Vimaladharmasooriya 1st in 1592 AD.

The Relic Shrine is approached by a large draw-bridge over the moat and through a beautifully deco-
rated frontispiece. A tunnel” ambarawa”, leads to the main shrine complex, having a central courtyard
surrounded by storied structures.

The two-storied open pillared hall in front constitutes the area where visitors and devotees gather. The
lower hall has its central part set apart for the beating of drums and other forms of traditional music
performed during ritual service hours. On either side are the Pallemale Vihara constructed by king
Kirti Sri Rajasimha and the Octagon (Pattirippuva) built by the last king, Sri Vikrama Rajasimha on one
side and the small “stupa” supposed to contain the Bowl Relic of the Buddha on the other. The storied
structures to the right and left of the shrine, constitute the residence quarters of the monks engaged
during daily service (Tevava), the conference hall, the Library and the Office of the Diyawadana Nil-
ame.The recognition of the sacred temple it has been declared kandy as a world heritage city by
UNESCO. Ven.Monks of the two chapters of Malwattu and Asgiriya conduct daily worships in the inner
chamber of the temple. Rituals are performing 3 times daily at dawn, at noon and in the evening. On
Wednesdays, there is a symbolic bathing of the sacred relic with an herbal preparation from scented
water and fragrant flowers called “Nanumura Mangalya”.
NUWARAELIYA

Nuwara Eliya is a city in the tea country hills of central Sri Lanka. The naturally landscaped Hakgala
Botanical Gardens displays roses and tree ferns, and shelters monkeys and blue magpies. Nearby
Seetha Amman Temple, a colorful Hindu shrine, is decorated with religious figures. Densely forested
Galway’s Land National Park is a sanctuary for endemic and migratory bird species, including bulbuls
and flycatchers.

Nuwara Eliya is said to have been founded by a couple of British officers who apparently got lost while
elephant hunting. The British governor Sir Edward Barnes was notified about the town and he himself
decided to reside at Nuwara Eliya and subsequently creating a health resort that was internationally
renowned. The town was later the ultimate destination for English pastimes such as golf, fox hunting,
polo, etc. Nuwara Eliya also has an archeological importance as well in which pre-historic human re-
mains are found. The city is has a good reflection of the colonial period even new hotels are furnished
according to the colonial era.
WORLDS END & HORTON PLAINS

The Horton Plains plateau comes to a sudden end at World’s End, a stunning escarpment that plunges
880m. The walk here is 4km, but the trail then loops back to Baker’s Falls (2km) and continues back to
the entrance (another 3.5km). The 9.5km round trip takes a leisurely three hours. Unless you get there
early, the view from World’s End is often obscured by mist, particularly during the rainy season from
April to September.

All you can expect to see from World’s End after around 9am is a swirling white wall. The early morning
(between 6am and 10am) is the best time to visit, before the clouds roll in. That’s when you’ll spy toy-
town, tea-plantation villages in the valley below, and an unencumbered view south towards the coast.

Horton Plains is an eerie, starkly beautiful highland plateau popular with walkers that includes the
fabled viewpoint of World’s End. If you’re travelling from the Central Highlands down to the coast, the
road through the national park is an utterly spectacular route to follow.
HIKKADUWA

Hikkaduwa is a seaside resort town in southwestern Sri Lanka. It’s known for its strong surf and beach-
es, including palm-dotted Hikkaduwa Beach, lined with restaurants and bars. The shallow waters op-
posite Hikkaduwa Beach shelter the Hikkaduwa National Park, which is a coral sanctuary and home
to marine turtles and exotic fish. Inland, Gangarama Maha Vihara is a Buddhist temple decorated with
hand-painted murals.
SNORKELING

Why should you book this trip?

Hikkaduwa’s brilliant coral reef and bountiful underwater ecosystem makes it one of the best
locations https://www.google.lk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=imgres&cd=&cad=r-
ja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjPsbXr19vYAhXDJpQKHZ6MB5MQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbesto-
flanka.com%2Fsnorkeling-in-hikkaduwa.php%3FlId%3D04&psig=AOvVaw3ZrmVyvJTE0axmTiaH-
0kUI&ust=1516164713392978 in the country for snorkelling excursions in particular.
Hikkaduwa offers excellent snorkelling opportunities very close to the shore. Just 200m offshore, in
shallow waters no more than 4m deep, a reef protects an expanse of brilliant coral which is populated
by vividly colourful reef fish.
It is ideal fun and adventure-filled activity for professionals and amateurs alike. You can come and
learn snorkelling if you are a beginner while experienced snorkelers can also enjoy Sri Lanka’s tropical
waters and its colourful reefs and fish.
There are around 60 species of hard coral along with over 170 species of tropical reef fish in the fring-