Sri Lanka (formerly known as Ceylon), a tiny island nation south of India in the Indian Ocean. It is a rugged land of rainforest, diverse wildlife, endless beaches, and famous (ancient) Buddhist ruins/temples.
My friend Sudhir visited Sri Lanka from 19th May to 23rd May 2016 with wife and 3 and half year old daughter.
Day 1: Flight from Mumbai > Madurai > Colombo (Rs 8000 INR per person)
From Colombo airport, there was a hotel pickup to Negombo (where hotel was) - it took 25 mins from Colombo airport to reach hotel in Negombo
Stay: Paradise Beach Hotel (Rs 7200 INR per night includes breakfast and dinner)
Day 2: Visit to beach and zoo
After morning breakfast, visited the Negombo beach which is just adjacent / walking distance to the hotel. A good morning walk and also bought some small souvenir (necklace) from the locals
National Zoological Gardens in Dehiwala (Entry fee: 700 LKR per adult)
Used public transport (bus) from Negombo city to Dehiwala - approx. travel time was 1 hr 15 mins
- The zoo hosts a variety of animals, reptiles and birds. It is one of the oldest zoological gardens in Asia. Also saw the sea lion's performance at the sea lions' pool according to a time table. (strongly
recommended - must visit place, esp. for children it is a very good learning experience)
Day 3: Swimming at the hotel pool and enjoying the rains
Lunch at a restaurant known as Mr. Crab (highly recommended for sea-food lovers)
Day 4: Visit to elephant orphanage, spice garden and Buddhist temple
Booked a car to travel to visit below places on day 4
1. Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage (Entry fee: 700 LKR per adult)
This orphanage is a nursery and captive breeding ground for wild Asian elephants located at Pinnawala village. Tourists can observe the bathing elephants from the broad river bank as the herd interacts socially, bathing and playing. The orphanage is open to the public daily, and all admission fees are used to look after the elephants.[citation needed] Visitors to the park can view the care and daily routine of the elephants, such as bottle feeding of elephant calves, feeding of all other elephants, and bathing in the Ma Oya (River)
Also bought some souvenirs and then had lunch from the local restaurant.
2. Spice Garden (Entry: free)
Sri Lanka is famous for its spices and spices gardens. Stopped at one of the spice gardens and was taken around by a guide who showed us various trees and spices which is used to prepare ayurvedic medicines and products. Also given an option to buy the products if interested and did buy a couple of them.
3. Sri Dalada Maligawa Temple in Kandy (Entry fee: 700 LKR per adult)
Sri Dalada Maligawa or the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a Buddhist temple in the city of Kandy. It is located in the royal palace complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy, which houses the relic of the tooth of the Buddha.
Day 5: Left for the airport
Lunch at Mr. Crab restaurant
Left for the airport in the afternoon for onward journey to Male, Maldives
Note: Since India is a part of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) group (other countries are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) - the entry fees in some tourist locations are discounted for the passport holders of these countries.
My friend Sudhir visited Sri Lanka from 19th May to 23rd May 2016 with wife and 3 and half year old daughter.
Day 1: Flight from Mumbai > Madurai > Colombo (Rs 8000 INR per person)
From Colombo airport, there was a hotel pickup to Negombo (where hotel was) - it took 25 mins from Colombo airport to reach hotel in Negombo
Stay: Paradise Beach Hotel (Rs 7200 INR per night includes breakfast and dinner)
Day 2: Visit to beach and zoo
After morning breakfast, visited the Negombo beach which is just adjacent / walking distance to the hotel. A good morning walk and also bought some small souvenir (necklace) from the locals
National Zoological Gardens in Dehiwala (Entry fee: 700 LKR per adult)
Used public transport (bus) from Negombo city to Dehiwala - approx. travel time was 1 hr 15 mins
- The zoo hosts a variety of animals, reptiles and birds. It is one of the oldest zoological gardens in Asia. Also saw the sea lion's performance at the sea lions' pool according to a time table. (strongly
recommended - must visit place, esp. for children it is a very good learning experience)
Day 3: Swimming at the hotel pool and enjoying the rains
Lunch at a restaurant known as Mr. Crab (highly recommended for sea-food lovers)
Day 4: Visit to elephant orphanage, spice garden and Buddhist temple
Booked a car to travel to visit below places on day 4
1. Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage (Entry fee: 700 LKR per adult)
This orphanage is a nursery and captive breeding ground for wild Asian elephants located at Pinnawala village. Tourists can observe the bathing elephants from the broad river bank as the herd interacts socially, bathing and playing. The orphanage is open to the public daily, and all admission fees are used to look after the elephants.[citation needed] Visitors to the park can view the care and daily routine of the elephants, such as bottle feeding of elephant calves, feeding of all other elephants, and bathing in the Ma Oya (River)
Also bought some souvenirs and then had lunch from the local restaurant.
2. Spice Garden (Entry: free)
Sri Lanka is famous for its spices and spices gardens. Stopped at one of the spice gardens and was taken around by a guide who showed us various trees and spices which is used to prepare ayurvedic medicines and products. Also given an option to buy the products if interested and did buy a couple of them.
3. Sri Dalada Maligawa Temple in Kandy (Entry fee: 700 LKR per adult)
Sri Dalada Maligawa or the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a Buddhist temple in the city of Kandy. It is located in the royal palace complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy, which houses the relic of the tooth of the Buddha.
Day 5: Left for the airport
Lunch at Mr. Crab restaurant
Left for the airport in the afternoon for onward journey to Male, Maldives
Note: Since India is a part of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) group (other countries are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) - the entry fees in some tourist locations are discounted for the passport holders of these countries.
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