Dream Ceylon Tours

October 7, 2015

Things To See In Sri Lanka

Temple Of tooth & Botanical Garden in Kandy -

Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a Buddhist Temple in the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is located in the royal palace complex which houses the relic of the tooth of Buddha.

Kandy, which is a world heritage site, was the last ancient capital of the Sri Lankan Kings and its name brought up visions of splendor and magnificence. Many of the legends, traditions of folklores are still lovingly kept alive. You will be driven around the lake at Kandy, built by the last Sinhala King, Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe in 1798. The evening visit to the Temple of the Tooth Relic is truly breathtaking, followed by a visit to the famous Kandy cultural show featuring traditional Sri Lankan Kandyan Dancing .

The history of the Royal Botanic Gardens dates as far back as 1371 when King Wickramabahu III ascended the throne and kept court at Peradeniya near Mahaweli Ganga. Later, in the reign of King Kirti Sri Rajasinghe from 1747 to 1780 this was made a Royal Garden and from 1780 – 1798 King Rajadhi Rajasinghe resided therein, where a temporary residence was erected for him.

Anuradhapura & Polonnaruwa -

Anuradhapura, ancient capitals of Sri Lanka in Sinhala, one of the, famous for its well-preserved ruins of ancient Lankan civilization. The city, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies 205 km north of the current capital Colombo in Sri Lanka's North Central Province, on the banks of the historic Malvathu Oya. From the 4th century BC, it was the capital of Sri Lanka until the beginning of the 11th century AD. During this period it remained one of the most stable and durable centers of political power and urban life in South Asia. The ancient city, considered sacred to the Buddhist world, is today surrounded by monasteries covering an area of over sixteen square miles. Anuradhapura is also significant in legend as the fabled capital of the Asura King Ravana in the Ramayana.

Vijayabahu I, Polonnaruwa, the capital of the kingdom for over two centuries, produced two great kings. his nephew Parakramabahu 1 (1153-86 AD), not satisfied with the ouster of the ruling Sri Lanka chola 's southern India made by his uncle, not only brings the war directly on Indian soil, but went with a quick foray up in Burma. Caught by the demon at home instead of building, erected a large number of buildings in the capital and dig a large number of tanks across the country. However, the excesses in both the military and architectural wear down the country and probably the duration of Polonnaruwa as their capital.

Sigiriya The World 8th Wonder -

Sigiriya dates back from over 7,000 years ago, through Pre-Historic to Proto-Historic to Early Historic times, then as a rock-shelter mountain monastery from about the 3rd century BC, with caves prepared and donated by devotees to the (sangha) Buddhist monks.The garden city and the palace was built by Kasyapa 477 - 495 AD. Then after Kasyapa's death it was a monastery complex up to about the 14th century. However, there is also another version of the Kasyapa story, related by one of the most eminent historians of Sri Lanka, Prof. Senerat Paranavitana. He claims to have deciphered the story of Sigiriya, written by a monk named Ananda in the 15th cent. AD. this work had been inscribed on stone slabs, over which later inscriptions had been written. Till to date no other epigraphist has made a serious attempt to read the interlinear inscriptions.rock fortress citadel built by a fugitive king in the sky, acclaimed as the 8th wonder of the world. Marvels include the mirror wall, lion stairway, water gardens and glowing colourful frescoes.In a cave on the steep west wall of Sigiriya, beautiful girls smile still incredible frescoes. Around the foot of the rock, siadagiano The oldest gardens of 'Asia, dotted with pretty lakes and huge boulders fallen from the walls of the fortress.

Spice Garden , Matale -

During Past history Sri Lanka known as Taprobane, was world renowned for its Quality Spices. During ancient times the Greeks, Romans and the Arabic maintained their links with Sri Lanka through the spice trade. In the 16th century Ceylon, as it was then known, was discovered by Portuguese who soon began trading in cinnamon and other spices. The Dutch and British followed bringing with them their own history and influences, forming a strong Western presence which created a history of food expressed with spices which can be tasted in the dishes today.

Spices are an essential element of the cuisine of Sri Lanka and the Ayurvedic tradition and a visit to a garden specializes in the cultivation of these substances and an excellent way for purposes of new uses of certain ingredients that perhaps though they knew well. Find cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, vanilla, cardamom and black pepper, to name a few. Europeans can buy the products in their natural state or in the form of oils and potions that are used by Ayurvedic medicine, during the Dutch, very famous spices of Sri Lanka and we export to different countries. That has earned the country the name of "Island of the spices”.

National Parks "Yala" & "Wilpattu" -

The Yala West (Ruhuna) Ntional park includes a strictly protected natural reserve and a national park, which together form a total area of 126,786 acres preserved. This park is divided into five blocks, Quail of the most visited and one block (14,101 hectares).This game park has one of the highest densities of leopards. You may have the opportunity to spotted Deer, elephants, crocodiles, sloth bears and mongoose the Yala, Udawalawe and other 11 National Parks such as Wilpattu, Wasgamuwa, Kaudulla and Bundala are home to 92 species of mammals 14 of which are endemic to the island. Pride of place goes to the majestic elephant and other exotic species which include the leopard, sloth bear, sambhur, spotted deer, mouse deer, wild boar, porcupine, ant eater, civet cat, jackal, giant squirrel, and a variety of monkeys including the endemic macaque, purple faced leaf monkey, grey langur and the shaggy bear monkey. Also 427 recorded birds species make Sri Lanka an Ornithologist's paradise. Not forgetting 242 species of breathtaking butterflies, exotic and varied Flora and the mesmerizing Minneriya Tank and National Park.

Wilpattu National Park (Willu-pattu; Land of Lakes) is also a main park located in Sri Lanka. The unique feature of this park is the existence of "Willus" (Natural lakes) - Natural, sand-rimmed water basins or depressions that fill with rainwater. Located in the Northwest coast lowland dry zone of Sri Lanka. The park is located 30 km west Anuradhapura and located 26 km north of Puttalam (approximately 180 km north of Colombo). The park is 131, 693 hectares and ranges from 0 to 152 meters above sea level. Nearly sixty lakes (Willu) and tanks are found spread throughout Wilpattu. Wilpattu is the largest and one of the oldest National Parks in Sri Lanka. Wilpattu is among the top national parks world renowned for its leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) population. The leopard population in Wilpattu is not known.

Nuwara Eliya -

Nuwara Eliya, is the heart of the hill country. The Central Highlands of Sri Lanka offer a salubrious cool climate. The mountain slopes are covered with acres and acres of tea with its fragrant aroma mingling with the fresh air. Nestled among the mist covered central hills in a cool basin Nuwara Eliya, the hill resort, resemble a little English village. Road leading to this hill station winds through miles and miles of 'green carpet' of tea bushes where tea pluckers are seen busily picking the 'bud and two leaves' that go to form the most popular brew in the world, the 'Ceylon Tea'.

Devon Falls, St. Clares, Ramboda Falls and Baker's Falls are the main eye-catching water falls in Sri Lanka. The geographical formation of the Island with the central highland sloping down to the coastal plains has resulted in several rivers and streams in the hill country. Starting from the central region, flowing down the hilly slopes in a radial pattern they create beautiful waterfalls in several places.

Moon Stones Mine : Meetiyagoda-

The village of Meetiyagoda near Ambalangoda, is where moonstone is most commonly found, concentrated within an acre of land. believed to have been blessed by the moon.The mysterious gem, as captivating as the full moon gleaming in the night sky, is considered sacred and has been used in jewelry for centuries. The most sought after moonstones have a haunting blue sheen, an effect produced by the orthoclase feldspar, which is found almost exclusively in the gem mines of Sri Lanka. Here, you can even go down into the deep, narrow shafts from which the stones are mined and witness the process yourself.

Dambulla -

Dambulla Rock Temple, Climb up to the temple, which was donated by King Walagambahu in the 1st century BC to Buddhist monks. Dambulla is a world heritage site and is the most impressive of Sri Lanka's natural cave temples belong to the 3rd century B.C. meditation for Buddhist monks. The complex of 5 caves with over 2000 sq. meters of painted walls and ceilings are the largest area of paintings found in the world. These caves contain over 150 images of the Buddha, of which the largest is the colossal figure of the Buddha carved out of rock spanning 14 meters.

Sri Lanka is an island that is captivating both by its name - that means Land of Splendour - and by what it actually offers to the visitor. The attractions of Sri Lanka - known to the world by several names from ancient days - have been known through the centuries. While legend has it that this is the Lanka of the Ramayana, it is the name by which it has always been known to its own people.

The Romans called it Taprobane, marked on Ptolemy's map of the world, derived from "Tambapanni" - land of copper coloured earth and lotuses given by the first known migrants from North India. The Arab traders of the past called in Serentivu and Serendib - island of delight, which gave birth to the English word Serendipity - the prospect of discovering pleasant surprises. The Portuguese corrupted this to Ceilao; the Dutch to Ceilan and the British called it Ceylon. But the people of the East, as distant as Indonesia, always knew the island by the name given by its own people - Sri Lanka.

Almost dangling like a pendant from the southern tip of India, Sri Lanka has been known as the Peal of the Orient for its variety of attractions. It is not a mere tropical isle known for sun, sea and sands, although it has all this in plenty. In fact the island has over 1400 km of sunkissed beach. The warm waters of the Indian ocean that offers attractions for surfing, undersea diving, the fascination of coral reefs, and also for the more adventurous, the chance of exploring the wrecks from Portuguese galleons to British warships of World War 2. But its attractions are not limited to those of the sea and sunny beaches fringed by coconut palms.

Sri Lanka has much more to offer, and in a compact package too. Within four hours one could drive from the sunny coast to cool, cloud-kissed mountains, where the best tea in the world grows. For miles around one could see hills and valleys covered by an unending carpet of tea, and enjoy the aroma of the fresh tea leaves.

In this enchanting hill country of Sri Lanka is located Adam's Peak, the only mountain in the world hallowed by the believers of the four major faiths - Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism and Christianity. Buddhists believe that a depression on the summit of the peak is a footprint of the Buddha himself, placed there on one of his visits to the island.

Those of the Islamic faith believe it to be the footprint of Adam, the first man, who stood there on one leg for a year, in repentance after being banished from the Garden of Eden. To Hindus it is the footprint of the Lord Shiva, and they call it "Shivanadi Paadam". Eastern Christians believe the depression to have been caused by the knee of St. Thomas, the Apostle of Christ who came to preach in India and the East, as he knelt down in repentance for his doubting the divinity of Christ. Nowhere in the world do the four major faiths mingle in this manner, and it is from the springs at Adam's Peak or "Sri Paada" (the sacred footprint) as referred to by Buddhists, that the four main rivers of the country begin their flow to the sea, meandering through mountain and valley. Not without reason has Sri Lanka also been referred to by travel writers of the past as "this other Eden".

Traveling down the mountain slopes one comes to Ratnapura - the City of Gems - known from ancient times and mentioned in the tales of the Sheherazade or Arabian Nights. It was to Ratnapura in Sri Lanka that Sinbad came to obtain sapphires, rubies, cat's eyes and other gems of priceless value. It was from Sri Lanka and Ratnapura that King Solomon obtained the gems and other gifts such as peacocks and elephants to woo the Queen of Sheba. Ratnapura and its surrounds still abound in gems, much sought after by the world. Tradition has it, that the gems that are found in the riverbeds around Ratnapura, are in fact the crystallized tears of Adam & Eve as they wept after being banished from the real Eden to this other Eden.

Always a few hours driving distance away is the wildlife of Sri Lanka, given sanctuary in many national parks, and strict nature reserves. Here one can see the elephant and leopard roam in freedom, as do the sloth bear, the spotted deer and Sambhur. There are peacocks aplenty displaying the vibrant colours of their tails to attract mates, as well as many species of parrot, stork, swift, the Brahiminy Kite, the Fishing Eagle, the colourful Kingfishers and Woodpeckers, and the unique tailor birds and weavers to name only a few. The inviting warm tropical climate of Sri Lanka also brings in a large number of winged visitors from as far away as Siberia to escape the cold of the winter, the most colourful of these being the Siberian Flamingo. There are also plenty of tern and wild duck that come here during the winter adding to the island's own 150 plus species of indigenous birds.

By far the biggest attraction of Sri Lanka is its people. The Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims are all friendly by nature and the country has an unsullied record of hospitality over the centuries. It is a land of smiles and a warm welcome, observed by Anton Chekov, Bernard Shaw and Sir Arthur C. Clarke who has made Sri Lanka his home, and the inspiration for at least two of his books. It is known as a land of tolerance that has been tempered over the years by the teachings of the Buddha. Its overall Buddhist culture, with a lasting blend of Hindu influence has been the source of an ancient civilization, with masterpieces of sculpture, construction, and irrigation that have lasted to this day in the several ancient and medieval cities that bear testimony to Sri Lanka's historic splendour. The huge irrigation tanks that dammed rivers and also harnessed the rain from the 1st Century BC are known as marvels of a unique hydraulic civilization and still provide the water for the rice field of today. At the beginning of a new millennium, Sri Lanka that has known much of history, still beckons as a land of splendour far beyond the limits of a tropical island.

Geography	Sri Lanka is an island situated at the southern tip of India in the Indian Ocean. From North to South - 432 km From East to West - 224 km Total area - 65, 525 sq. km
Population	The majority of Sri Lankans are Singhalese and Buddhists, but the total population is a mixture of Tamil, Moor, Burgher (people of European descent). Sinhala, Tamil and English are the national languages. English is spoken throughout the island. (20,277,597 - 2012 Census)
Time & Climate	Sri Lanka is +5 ½ Greenwich Mean Time. The south-west monsoon brings rain to the western, southern and central regions from May to July, while the north-eastern monsoon occurs in the north and east in December and January. The weather is finest in the coastal regions and hill country of the south-west from October to March. The temperature in the lowlands averages 27 degrees Celsius. However, temperatures fall rapidly with altitude. In Kandy the temperature on average is around 20 degrees Celsius and in Nuwara Eliya it is often below 15 degrees Celsius.
Shopping	Sri Lanka offers good bargains in ceramics, garments, leather goods, gems etc.
Clothing	Lightweight clothing is recommended. It is a good idea to be conservatively dressed on the streets and shorts are not permitted in places of worship. Footwear off in temples. A light sweater is recommended in the hill country. Bring rain proofs, avoid synthetics.
Telephones...........	Card operated telephone booths and cyber cafes can be found in most towns. Cards can be obtained at the nearest shop or kiosk. Mobile telephone rentals are also freely available.
Health	It is safer not to drink water from the tap though water in major towns are treated. Boiled water, bottled water and water and ice at reputed hotels are safe. Government run hospitals and a number of private hospitals are available in the event of an emergency. Most hospitals are well equipped with medical specialists on call at any time of day. Reputed hotels have a Doctor on call.
Electricity	210-240 volts, 50Hz, Alternating Current / Plug sockets take round pins.
Currency	The currency in Sri Lanka is the Rupee. The value fluctuates with world market rates. All commercial banks are authorized to exchange money and so are most tourist class hotels. American Express, Master Card and Visa Card are also widely accepted.
Visas	Nationals of most countries may obtain visas on arrival, at the airport. It is best to check with your nearest Sri Lankan diplomatic mission or consulate. The visa that is issued at the point of entry is only valid for 30 days. Extensions can be obtained, if required, from the Department of Immigration & Emigration in Colombo.

Map of Sri Lanka

Travel Tips

Nationals from 80 countries who visit Sri Lanka for tourist purposes are exempt from visa requirements and automatically receive a free 30-day visa on arrival. Those from these countries who visit for purposes other than tourism should obtain prior visas from a Sri Lankan Consular Office. For nationals of other countries there is a varying fee for the 30-day visa.

The 30-day visa can be extended up to 90 days on the payment of a fee. You’ll need to show a return or onward airline ticket out of Sri Lanka, along with proof of funds, such as traveler’s cheques or credit card, and provide a copy of the bio-data page of your passport and 02 photographs.

Department of Immigration and Emigration,
Ananda Rajakaruna Mawatha,
Maradana,
Colombo 10.
Tel: +94-11-5329000, +94-11-5329316/20/21/25
www.immigration.gov.lk

Sri Lanka is a year round destination with an abundance of sunshine all year round. The average temperature is around 27°C - 30°C in most parts of Island. The temperature gradually drops as the land rises towards the hill country, with some parts of the highland as low as below 10°C.

The island has two wet monsoon seasons; briefly between May and July in the south-west region and between December and January in the north-east. However, Sri Lanka has no off season per se as clear blue skied bright sunny days are the general rule even during the wet season.

Sri Lanka is 5 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Median Time), 2½ hours behind Singapore and 4½ hours behind Australia EST (Eastern Standard Time).

Sri Lanka has a tropical country and cotton clothes are the most ideal to wear and of course your bathing suits are a must if you are visiting the beaches. Sun tan lotion could be very handy as it can be very hot sometimes.

If you are visiting the cultural and religious sites, it is a must that you wear appropriate clothing. Gents are required to wear trousers to cover their knees or a “sarong” with a shirt or T-shirt. Ladies should ideally wear decent attire such as a trouser or a skirt to cover the knees and a blouse or t-shirt. It may not be advisable for ladies to wear deep necked or a sleeveless top.

If you are interested in booking a Round Trip program, the flight times is an important component when making the maximum use of your stay. Most travelers prefer to stay near airport in the first night (if they arrive in evenings). However most European and Middle East carriers arrive early morning to Sri Lanka which is ideal for most travelers to start the tour in the same day

The "Rupee" is the currency of Sri Lanka (LKR). Foreign currency and Traveler's Cheques may be changed at any hotel, although commercial banks offer better rates. Converting Sri Lankan rupees back to a selected foreign denomination could be done at the airport bank which is open 24 hours of the day. Please retain your money changing receipts.Currency notes are in 10s, 20s, 50s, 100s, 500s, 1000s,2000s ,5000s. Click Here for a Currency Converter.

Hotels and shops accept most international credit cards. No surcharge is required for their use. Cash advances may be acquired against credit cards at certain bank ATMs. Most widely accepted cards are American Express, Visa and MasterCard.

It is advisable to enquire if your card type is accepted by the establishment before the use of any services.

Banks are generally open from 9.00am to 1.00pm from Monday to Friday. Some city banks close at 3.00pm, while others offer night banking facilities. Banks are closed on Saturdays, Sundays, all public holidays and special bank holidays on June 30th and December 31st. ATMs are most found adjoining bank branches island-wide.

Most shops open at 9.00am and close at 6.00pm. Shops are usually closed on Sundays and Full moon (Poya) days. The full moon poya day has religious significance for Buddhists and alcohol is not served in hotels, bars and public recreational areas on this day.

You may be required to open your baggage for inspection. Refrain from carrying prohibited or restricted goods. Certain types of animal products, antiques and gold are not allowed to be taken out of the country. Important Retain your shopping receipts, especially for gems.
Embarkation forms are available at the airport check-in counter and need to be filled and handed over to the immigration desk prior to departure.

Filtered, mineral and bottled drinking water is available at most retail shops. Avoid drinking water from the tap.
Your hotel provides safe and high quality food and we, as a policy do not recommend restaurants outside the hotel. Always wash and peel fruit before consumption. Drink plenty of water during the day to avoid dehydration.

Wi-Fi facilities and International Direct Dialing (IDD) facilities are available at all city hotels, resorts, post offices and telecommunication centers. Postal services are provided at most hotels and at the local post office or authorized sub-post offices. Telegrams and faxes can be handed over to the hotel reception for transmission.
Mobile phones have been made so affordable in Sri Lanka that almost everybody has one, and coverage has extended beyond the major cities. There are four main network operators on the island; Dialog GSM , Mobitel, Etisalat. Also Airtel and Hutch. If you'd rather not use your own mobile phone on roaming but still want to be contactable, the cheapest alternative is to get a mobile phone connection with one of these major companies. All these phone companies have a pay-as-you-go plan where you can buy a local SIM card for around Rs.300 (that will work in GSM phones from Europe, the Middle East and Australasia) and keep adding money to the connection as you require it. You will find recharge cards at any corner store throughout the island.

220~240 Volts/50 Hz AC. Two and three pin plugs are used mostly.

Sri Lanka has two official languages . Sinhala and Tamil - with English as a link language. Most people have some knowledge of English, and signboards are often in English.
Sri Lanka Standard Time is five and a half hours ahead of GMT. (Allowance should be made for summer-time changes in Europe.)

A list of embassies is given in the local telephone directory which is provided in most hotel rooms. If not, one may be obtained at the hotel concierge’s desk. Please feel free to contact us if further assistance is required.

If you need a doctor, please contact the hotel reception. The hotel will have a doctor within the hotel premises or nearby. Pharmacies can generally be found at the commercial center of most towns.

Visitors to Sri Lanka bringing in more than US$10,000 should declare the amount to the Customs on arrival. All unspent rupees converted from foreign currencies can be re-converted to the original currency on departure as long as encashment receipts can be produced.

On leaving the country you are allowed to export up to 10kg of tea duty free.

Purchase and export without license of any wild animal, bird or reptile, dead or alive . also the export of parts of animals, birds or reptiles, such as skins, horns, scales and feathers is prohibited. Occasional exports are, however, permitted exclusively for bona fide scientific purposes. It is prohibited to export of 450 plant species without special permits. The export of coral, shells or other protected marine products is also strictly prohibited.

Applications for special permission to export fauna should be made to the Director, Department of Wildlife Conservation.

Sri Lanka is a tremendously photogenic island, so it’s hardly surprising that most tourists bring a camera of some kind when they visit the country. The stunning landscapes, the captivating fauna and lush flora, and the stupendous archaeological remains provide great opportunities: a bonus is that Sri Lankans love to be captured on film. So it’s easy to capture the traditional rural lifestyle. You’ll find villagers, farmers, fishermen and tea pluckers will readily stand in front of your viewfinder. Your subjects will often ask to have a copy of picture sent to them. This may be laborious, but it is a reasonable courtesy as many may never have seen a picture of themselves. It is also understandable that many will also expect a token recompense for allowing themselves to be photographed.
There are some important restrictions that apply to photography regarding Buddhist imagery. When you visit a temple or other religious site, remember that photography should not be carried out in a manner causing disrespect. For instance, it is strictly forbidden to be photographed in front of or beside any statues and murals. Note that flash photography can damage old murals.

Usually all visitors to Sri Lanka travel by air; flights arrive at the Bandaranaike International Airport, 35 km north of Colombo, and 6 km of Negombo.

October 7, 2015

Things To See In Sri Lanka

Temple Of tooth & Botanical Garden in Kandy -

Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a Buddhist Temple in the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is located in the royal palace complex which houses the relic of the tooth of Buddha.

Anuradhapura & Polonnaruwa -

Sigiriya The World 8th Wonder -

Spice Garden , Matale -

National Parks "Yala" & "Wilpattu" -

Nuwara Eliya -

Moon Stones Mine : Meetiyagoda-

Dambulla -

Things To Do In Sri Lanka

Surfing In Arugambay -

Advantages in Windsurfing in Sri Lanka

(a) Sri Lanka being a tropical island, the windsurfer do not need to wear protective clothing against the cold winds in the beaches. However, a protective coating of lotion would save your skin from the bright tropical sun of the Indian Ocean.

(c) Sri Lanka's windsurfing tour packages offered by the tour operators and wind surfing clubs are affordable in comparison to the major windsurfing destinations of the world.

Sri Lanka Windsurfer support

Sri Lanka Windsurfing season

Thushal Gunawardena, (ranked among the top 10 at the World Windsurfing Championships of 1992), Sunshine Watersports Centre, Aluthgama, Sri Lanka.

Water Sports in Bentota -

The Centre provides Beginner and advanced dive courses, conducted by PADI certified instructors. They also offer a Beginners course in wind surfing, as they’re members of the VDWS (Verband Deutcher Windsurfing Schule, Germany ), which therefore makes the certification recognized world over.

The months of November through April are best for snorkeling, wind surfing, water skiing and deep sea fishing from an outrigger canoe, as the sea is at its calmest during this time.

Bird Watching in Kumana National Park -

Mountain Biking & Cycling -

Though cycling is enjoyed in exploring the island, cyclists ought to be extra careful in the main roads: the hurtling buses, zig-zagging three wheelers could push to the cyclists into tight corners.

Hot Air Ballooning , Kandalama -

About Sri Lanka

Map of Sri Lanka

Travel Tips