Itinerary

By: Sarah Wijesinghe

Our trip to Sri Lanka is based around the theme of Culture, Heritage & Adventure. After researching on potential attractions that could be visited, we came came up with our own customized itinerary based on everyone's preferences. Our main target is to be able to grab the opportunity of education while we also get to have fun outside of class. On our trip we would be visiting there of the top known UNESCO heritage sites in Sri Lanka which is Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, while also capturing the sacred sites for the Buddhist-Temple of Tooth Relic situated in Kandy.

We are known the first batch studying at Taylor's University to be touring Sri Lanka, giving us the opportunity to be experiencing something different from all of the others thus making us uniquely different and special :D These last weeks of planning and putting the tour together and finally implementing all of our plans have been quite an accomplishment. Now we look forward to discovering Sri Lanka, let's take a quick look at our itinerary;

DAY 1

Reviewing our first day of the tour, after landing in the International Airport of Sri Lanka, we would be taking a journey to Colombo, the capital city of Sri Lanka to explore various activities it has to offer, we look forward to splurge at shopping, and also to visit few well known sites such as the National Museum of Colombo before we head back to the hotel to enjoy the sunset by the beach at Pegasus Beach Hotel, our accommodation for the first night. The first day is made flexible as we would be spending part of the day travelling from Kuala Lumpur to our destination.

DAY 2

Second day of the tour begins with an early head start having had to discover the most important heritage sites included in our overall itinerary. After having an early breakfast at the Pegasus Reef Hotel we would be saying our goodbyes to Colombo and head to the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka located at the Central Province area. Our journey from Colombo to our first site Polonnaruwa would roughly be about 3 hours. 

Polonnaruwa was the second capital of Sri Lanka after the destruction of Anuradhapura in 1993. It comprises, besides the Brahmanic monuments built by the Cholas, the monumenral ruins of the fabulous garden-city crated by Parakramabahu 1 in the 12th century, later heading to explore the wonders of the Sigiriya Rock Fortress where we would be climbing over 300 steps. Yeah, sounds difficult but we are all high spirited and looking forward for the challenge, as I'm hoping! J 

After having lunch we would be visiting and Eco-Hotel in Dambulla named Kandalama Hotel known for its beautiful architecture (built by Geoffrey Bawa - renowned architect in Sri Lanka and was among the most influential Asian architects of his generation) that provides the perfect and ideal place for us to learn the importance of eco-tourism aspects. After a long day of exploring we would be checking in to Amaya Lake Resort which has been awarded the top four star hotel in Sri Lanka. 

DAY 3

The excitement starts as we head off to explore another area of Sri Lanka which is the hill side, since we would be travelling in November, this would be the perfect season to enjoy the climate of the hill country side of Sri Lanka. At first we would visit the Matale Spice Garden, variety of spices hand-reared and harvested at Matale Spice Garden is known as Sri Lanka's immortal soul. Here you'll find in abundance the great scents, tastes and medicines that made Sri Lanka famous. We would also be receiving a complementary massage at this visit to the Spice Garden that would greatly help us to release the stress of climbing the rock fortress J 

After the relaxation time is done we would be visiting the Kandy Temple of Tooth Relic also known as the Dalada Maligawa where we will learn the legends of the sacred tooth relic most holy to the Buddhists'. According to the requirements of any holy places we have to be dresses accordingly in order to enter as a manner of respect. We also look forward to enjoy a cultural performance at Kandy after we visit the Dalada Maligawa to experience the culture of Sri Lanka.

On our way going further to the hill side of Sri Lanka, we would be visiting a tea plantation as to tea is known as one of the top industries in Sri Lanka and it's also known for one of the best teas in the world, in here we would get a chance to consume a variety of tea samples provided freshly by a mountain top overlooking and surrounded y carpet of greenery of tea plants.

Once our journey has made its' way the final end by going to Nuwara Eliya. We would finally be able to rest and relax and enjoy the beautiful weather while exploring the city of Nuwara Elia. We can participate in boat riding by the lakes, bathing in the cold water of waterfalls surrounding the landscape, and finally we would check in to our hotel and rest for the long journey ahead towards the beach to enjoy the sun. 

DAY 4

On our fourth day of the tour, the journey from Nuwara Eliya to Hikkaduwa would be a three and half hours journey, we look forward to reaching the beach as soon as we could to gain the full grace the beaches of Hikkaduwa have to offer, beaches of Hikkaduwa are well known for surfers, divers and also to the party people. 

As of this day, we also look forward to plan and organize a team building activity that would help us all to work together as a team as we always have doe. After checking in to Coral Rock Hotel in Hikkaduwa, we look forward to participate in the various activities it has to offer from noon till night..

DAY 5

The final day of the tour has arrived and sadly we now have to pack our bags and head back to the International Airport of Sri Lanka to fly back to Kuala Lumpur. We would be having an early breakfast at the hotel in Hikkaduwa in order to make it on time for our flight. 

By the end of the tour, we look forward in learning many aspects of a new culture away from class, and being from Sri Lanka, the thought of visiting home may not be a new experience for me as compared to the others, but I genuinely look forward to gain experience travelling with all my classmates and I am very sure that our lecturer, all my friends in class and I would have bundle of fun DISCOVERING SRI LANKA....

Eagerly waiting........! J