Bird Watching Tour Continue

Spice Garden

The Island had been famous for its spices since the medieval times and is considered as one of the main reasons for the Europeans to conquer her and then for the Arabs to trade with her from the 13th century onwards. The most interesting feature would be the opportunity you’ll get to identify the real plants of spices you are so familiar with in your day to day life. A qualified guide will do a conducted tour of the garden and a presentation of its products.

Dambulla

Dambulla cave temple is situated close by; yet another world heritage site where in five pre historic caves you’ll find not only fantastic colorful drawings, mostly of Buddha and events of his life, painted on the rock-wall but some outstanding sculpture work dating back to the 1st century as well. The paintings are perhaps second only to the ones at Ajantha and Ellora in Aurangabad in India. Eminent painters who visit the caves as an essential part of their itinerary are often mesmerized by the creation of such rich colors, so soothing to the eye, so early in civilization, and wonder at the mystery of treasured paintings to survive all these centuries!

Upon arrival at Sigiriya check into Sigiriya Village Hotel.

Sigiriya Village Resort

This 3 star property is built in a large forest garden amidst a lot of greenery and one could stroll aimlessly along its endless footpaths under the fine shade of great trees with only troops of grey langur monkeys and agile giant squirrels to disturb you. The garden is identified as a bird watcher’s paradise with over 100 exotic species of birds roaming and nesting in it. The hotel pool is built on a strategically prominent spot where the giant rock envelops everything else in the back drop.

We visit the Sigiriya Rock Fortress in the evening.

Sigiriya

The spectacular rock fortress of Sigiriya belongs to the 5th century. It’s yet another world heritage site. Different theories of its creation are published by eminent archaeologists. Some say that once a Kingdom of a King was later used by monks as a monastery complex. Whichever the theory, the 640 foot gigantic rock striking into the clouds from the arid flat plains by itself presents an inscrutable mystery to most. As you approach the great fortress, firstly you’ll get to brave the deep moat built right around the rock that had been infested with man-eating crocodiles during the King’s time. The pleasure gardens of the King comes next in where during the rainy season, water fountains still emits a substantial spray most astonishingly. After you pass the classic rock garden and walk through stunning boulders that may have held many impressive structures together as guard points in ancient times, you’ll proceed towards the all important cavity in the rock located halfway up where the world famous frescoes of the beautiful maidens are found, drawn and painted on the very rock-wall in natural colors so miraculously. This indeed is a masterpiece that is priceless. At certain times of the year you could watch nesting peregrine falcons in some of the other cavities on the rock-wall.

Afterwards, proceed to the colossal Lions paw made of bricks, climbing further along the incredible mirror wall on which the yesteryear admirers of the paintings wrote poetic verses delineating what they saw in quaint, early Sinhalese characters, readable perhaps only to archaeologists.

A further adventurous climb from the Lion’s paw will take you to the flat summit of the rock to enjoy one of the most beautiful views in the Island, that of the ever-green tree canopy of the Island’s dry zone that is seen dotted with ancient man-made lakes. The immediate area surrounding the rock is a declared sanctuary in where wild elephants and other game still roam. On the peak you will also come across the King’s court, remains of his living quarters and his pool complex, presently opening out to the heavens in the absence of any shelter! The mystique fortress that is sadly dead now leaves its wonderful legacy for you to visualize its heyday with so much ease.

We do a night walking safari in the bush looking for rare owls!

Day 09

We spend the morning bird watching in some sites around and then proceed to Polonnaruwa lake. Lunch and a village tour en route.

Village Tour

In the morning hours you can do a fantastic village tour where you will be taken on traditional bullock-carts to a very remote village that borders an ancient tank. The surrounding areas are infested with wild elephants and the brimming lake surface will be dressed-up in blooming water lilies and lotuses in January. Numerous aquatic birds will scuttle through the lake herbage and cormorants will form artistic formations in the skies above. You will then board boats (life jackets are there) and the village boatmen will navigate the boats towards seasonal chena cultivations found in absolute isolation on the opposite bank where you will be entertained with refreshments. A cooking demonstration by the native villagers is on the cards where the guests too could take part on an educational mission and should you wish to have a meal it will be served on a tree house built to chase the wild animals away. Fresh tank fish fried is customary. Ones who fancy alcoholic beverages can try-out arrack cocktails served in coconut shells!

In late afternoon we board canoes and visit an uninhabited island in the middle of the lake for bird watching. It is called the bird island and all kinds of aquatic birds roost and nest in this amazing colony.

The Incredible 12th century Tank – Parakrama Samudra

At dusk, we travel on the tank bund (hiking, cycling or by coach ) to enjoy the panorama of endless sheets of aquamarine blue waters on one side and the vast stretches of green paddy fields on the other, making the bund a paradise of its own. There will be thousands of chirping aquatic birds crossing the lake to their favorite tree to roost and the setting sun will decorate the sky with a symphony of colors. The comfy blowing that blows across the vast lake will offer a soothing effect for the students to enjoy the wondrous Mother Nature at her best.

We return to Sigiriya Village Hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 10

After breakfast we travel to outskirts of Anuradhapura, passing many birding sites like Hiriwadunna and Nachchaduwa. Upon arrival check onto Palm Garden Village Resort.

Palm Garden Village Hotel

The resort is built in a large forest garden in an absolute tranquil setting. So much so that during the height of the drought in September wild elephants roam a village tank in the back-yard of the resort, looking for drinking water which is so scarce. It is a bird watcher’s paradise as well.

Afternoon leave for a jeep safari at the Wilpattu(lake country) National Park; undoubtedly one of the most beautiful National Parks in the Island. The park is reached after a 45 minute drive from your hotel.

Wilpattu National Park

The safari covers most of the 47 fresh and brackish water lakes from medium to large in size where wild and bird life thrive on their well wooded banks.

A network of jeep tracks takes you on the pristine sandy plains that hugs these enchanting lakes, home for elusive leopard, sloth bear, langur and torque monkey, jackal, different types of cats and mongoose, all four types of deer from sambhur(elk) to mouse deer, monitors and crocodiles. The elephant population is thin compared to other parks but the ones you come across are massive rogue elephants that live a single life most of their life.

In addition large numbers of resident and migratory birds live in this ridiculously strange eco-system and extremely rare birds have been recorded by bird watchers in their intriguing expeditions of the inaccessible forest glades. One border of the park is the rugged North Western coast where the first inhabitants of the Island who arrived from North India said to have landed some two thousand five hundred years ago. The distance involved is too much for a normal half day safari to cover these remote sites. The untouched vegetation of the Wilpattu forest too is unlike any other region where the largest and the oldest trees in the Island are found which is a clear sign that this area may have been left in the wilds for a considerable time.

Dinner and overnight at Palm Garden Village Resort.

Day 11

En route visit the Ana Vilundawa bird sanctuary which is a cluster of lakes, not too far from the township of Chilaw. Lunch en route.

Upon arrival check into OZO hotel, facing the Indian Ocean.

OZO Hotel

The latest 4 star sensation in Colombo. You will not feel like leaving the roof-top bar and the restaurant!

Colombo

Evening explore the city of Colombo visiting the lovely Galle Face Green; the great British Built lawn overlooking the waterfront of the Indian Ocean, Classic old parliament and the present sky-line of the city integrating into one another so incredibly.

It is a city where great colonial era buildings are still left intact and are immaculately maintained to stand side by side with the modern in the most elegant manner. This outlook in fact is not seen so prominently in any other city in Asia. It no doubt speaks volumes of the glorious past attached to the city of Colombo from the 15th century onwards when the ownership of the city changed hands from the King to the Portuguese and then to the Dutch and to the English later, until the Island became a sovereign state once again in 1948. All Europeans left their own footprints in the city and more importantly their values among its people that made the Islanders a great Nation and their capital so pleasingly special. You will get to visit the 17th century Dutch Wolfendhal church, The Museum, the Town Hall and The Victoria Park built by the British, a lovely temple of Buddha in a lake setting and a colorful Hindu shrine. The latest attraction is the tastefully salvaged 400 year old Dutch Hospital in Colombo Fort which is now renovated to its former glory ever so wonderfully. You will find lively pubs, ritzy restaurants offering choice cuisines, coffee and tea houses, up-market spas and even ample shopping, all within the unparallel charm of the vast hospital complex. The area with classic court yards, maze of alluring terraces with seating resembles European thoroughfares of the colonial times. The latest addition to the city is the newly renovated colonial race course which is now an international class rugby grounds where the mammoth grand stand feature great up-market shopping with amazing eating-houses. It is no doubt that this is the oldest colonial grand stand and pavilion in Asia.

Latest Independence Arcade Mall – one of many salvaged colonial buildings Farewell dinner at the Galleries Café.

Galleries Café

Galleries café is the former office of the world renowned Sri Lankan architect Mr Geofery Bawa, now converted to this most fascinating restaurant, loved and admired by many a visiting tourist for its highly refined taste in its deco, not to mention its mouth watering cuisine. Overnight in Colombo.

Day 12

Early morning leave for the Airport for the departure.