Lanka's most important Buddhist Sites

Colombo - Anuradhapura - Polonnaruwa - Kandy - Dambulla - Sigiriya - Tissamaharana - Kataragama - Negombo

According to traditional Sri Lankan chronicles, Buddhism was introduced into Sri Lanka in the 4th century BCE by Venerable Mahinda, the son of the Emperor Ashoka, during the reign of Sri Lanka's King Devanampiya Tissa. During this time, a sapling of the Bodhi Tree was brought to Sri Lanka and the first monasteries and Buddhist monuments were established. Among these, the Isurumuni-vihaara and the Vessagiri-vihaara remain important centers of worship. He is also credited with the construction of the Pathamaka-cetiya, the Jambukola-vihaara and the Hatthaalhaka-vihaara, and the refectory. The Pali Canon, having previously been preserved as an oral tradition, was first committed to writing in Sri Lanka around 30 BCE.
Sri Lanka has the longest continuous history of Buddhism of any Buddhist nation, with the Sangha having existed in a largely unbroken lineage since its introduction in the 4th century. During periods of decline, the Sri Lankan monastic lineage was revived through contact with Myanmar and Thailand.
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Day 1 : We will meet you up at the airport or your hotel (optional) and drive with you to Colombo City. In the afternoon we will visit several famous Buddhist temples in and around Colombo . The main temples are: GANGARAMAYA, WAJIRARAMAYA ,BELLANWILA WIHARAYA , MANELWATTA RAJA MAHA WIHARAYA
In the evening you also can attend to the Pooja Ceremony at Kelani Rajamaha Vihara Temple in Kelaniaya .
Overnight at the PEGASUS REEF* in Colombo 4***
Day 2 : After breakfast we will be heading to Annuradhapura, one of the Historical Unesco World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka. This ancient city gained most of its cultural and religious reputation during the late period, when the royal families and nobilities of Sri Lanka strongly supported Buddhism.
In the afternoon you can visit Sri Maha Bodiya , Isurumuniya , lovamahapaya and many other well known ritual centers.
In the evening you can gather up to a little Pirith Chanting ceremony at Ruwanwelisaya and can bind a PIRITH NOOL ( Blessing Thread ) by a monk.
Overnight at THE HERITAGE* in Anuradhapura 3***

Day 3 : After breakfast you will embark on a city tour of Anurdhapura. Anuradhapura is the most celebrated of Sri Lanka's ancient ruined cities. The city's greatest treasures are its dagobas constructed of small sun-dried bricks and hemispherical in shape. The most notable of these dagobas are the Ruvanveli which dates back to the 2nd Century BC and is 300 ft in diameter, the Jetawanarama is 370 ft and the Thuparama which enshrines the collarbone of the Buddha.
The city's most renowned relic is the sacred Bo-Tree which is said to have grown from a branch of the tree under which the Buddha gained enlightenment. It was planted 2.250 years ago and is the oldest historic tree in the world.
Overnight at THE HERITAGE* in Anuradhapura 3***
Day 4 : Morning sightseeing tour of Polonnaruwa. Polonnaruwa , the capital from 11th -13th century A.D. Here the monuments are better preserved as in some other historical sites. The circular relic house (Vata-Da-Ge) Lankathilaka, Thuparama, Royal Palace, Rankoth vihara and Galvihara with the beautiful rock cut Buddha statues are the most interesting. There is the option to do the sightseeing by bicycles.
Overnight at SUDUARALIYA HOTEL* in Polonnaruwa 3***
Day 5 : After breakfast we proceed to Kandy, Sri Lanka's cultural capital, via Dambulla. En route you can visit Sigiriya (optional).
Sigiriya - a fortress around the palace on the summit of a 600 foot high rock, contains beautiful paintings of the Heavenly Ladies called" Vijjulatha" and "Meghalatha" with 21 figures remaining out of more than 500 which are similar to the Ajantha paintings of India. In case you may feel a bit tired and don't want to climb the Sigiriya Rock, get ready for a little hike to the Pidurangala Temple. (optional )
This was the temple which was constructed by King Kashyapa in memory of him and his daughters, by the name of "Bodhi " and "Uthpalawanna" ."Kashyapagiri Viharaya" or "Bo Upulwan Kassapagiri Vehera" was constructed by the king in Niiyanthi, the woods on the outskirts of the north entrance of Sigiriya. According to stone inscriptions, this was the "Dala Vehera" which has been mentioned in Mahawansa..
Dambulla is a vast isolated rock mass 500 ft high and a mile around the base. Here is the famous Rock Temple dating back to the First Century BC. The caves of Dambulla sheltered the King Walagamba during his 14 years of exile from Anuradhapura. When he regained the throne he built the most magnificent rock temples to be found on the Island.
Overnight at SUISSE HOTEL* in Kandy3***
Day 6 : In the morning you can wake up with refreshing cool mountain breeze. Now you are in the sacred city Senkadagalapura, the old name of  Kandy. On your tour of the city you will cover most of the important temples in Kandy and you can see its position as impregnable natural fortress, secured by rings of mountains and the river Mahaweli. Some of the major site are the Lankathilke, Degaldoruwa Viharaya , Gadaladeniya Temple.
The day concludes with an evening visit to the Temple of the Tooth, home of one of the most important Buddha relics, and join the Pooja Ceremony.
Overnight at SUISSE HOTEL* in Kandy3***
Day 7 :  Today will be a special day,  because you can go to the Mahamewna with a noble thought for having a spiritual relaxation. You will have to face to the meditation experience and a retreat program in the calm and serene Mahamewnawa atmosphere.
Overnight at SUISSE HOTEL* in Kandy3***
Day 8 : After breakfast we will proceed to Nuwara Eliya. Nuwara Eliya - The 'Little England' of Sri Lanka, is set against beautiful backdrops of Mountains, Valleys, Waterfalls and Tea Plantations. It is supposed to be one of the coldest places on the island, but it is really just like an English spring day, although the temperature does drop at night. All around Nuwara Eliya you will see evidence of the British influence. Houses are like country cottages or Queen Ann style mansions.
Overnight at THE ROCK* in Nuwara Eliya 3***
Day 9 : From Nuwara Eliya we will be driving from the mountains down to the South Coast and visit Kataragama in the afternoon. Kataragama is one of multicultural pilgrimage town sacred to the Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim people of Sri Lanka. It also houses the ancient Kiri Vehera Buddhist Stupa. The town has Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devalaya, a shrine dedicated to Skanda-Murukan also known as Kataragamadevio.
In the evening you can join a Pirith Chanting ceremony at nearby Kiriwehera.
Overnight at HIBISCUS Hotel* in Tissa 3***
Day 10 : Today you can join with the local people for the alms giving ceremony. The idea of self is also described As the feeling of " I AM "held to be a false idea. Most of the Sri Lankan people do alms giving to SANGA ( Monks ) because it will cause them to have a highly spiritual merit.
Overnight at HIBISCUS Hotel* in Tissa 3***
Day 11 : After breakfast we proceed along the South Coast to Kalutara. Kalutara is historically important due to the fact that it was one of the 32 places indicated by Arahant Mahinda Thera to the king Devananpiya Tissa in the 2nd century B.C. as a place where one of the thirty two saplings of the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi tree in Anuradhapura be planted, to which the King extended his patronage. It is recorded in the Sinhala Maha Bodhi Wansa, that until such time when the maritime provinces were subjugated by the Portuguese in 1.505 A.D. In the evening transfer to Negombo. 
Overnight at GOLDEN STAR BEACH in Negombo 3***
Day 12 : Transfer to the airport or your next holiday destination on the island (check-out 12 noon)

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