Incredible India & Sri Lanka

Depart from Los Angeles airport in the evening.

Across The Pacific.

Arrive in Colombo. Pick up at the airport & transfer to Negombo, is a significant city on the western coast of Sri Lanka, known for its beautiful beaches, and rich history as a fishing village. Stay at Sentido Heritance hotel, The luxurious complex, a good waterfront hotel. Ultimately, it is a brilliant hotel with a lovely beach location! (L/D)

After your breakfast at the hotel. Start your journey in the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka is exploring the Sacred City of Anuradhapura, served as Sri Lanka’s first capital for nearly 1,300 years, ruled by more than 100 kings. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities globally. The city is considered sacred in Buddhism for housing the Sri Maha Bodhi Tree, believed to be a sapling from the original tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment. The city flourished as a center of Theravada Buddhism for centuries, attracting pilgrims from all over the world. Visit the Thuparama Dagaba Stupa, Jetavaramaya Stupa and Abhayagiri Stupa in the ancient city. Continue to visit the Dambulla Cave temple, was built in about 80BC It is the largest and best-preserved cave temple in Sri Lanka. Inside are 153 Buddha statues in various reposes, three statues of ancient kings, and four other statues including those of Vishnu and Ganesh. The ceiling and walls have been repainted over the centuries containing a juxtapose of imagery including those of royal life.

Immerse yourself in the profound spiritual and historical ambiance of Anuradhapura (UNESCO World Heritage Site), serving as Sri Lanka’s first capital.

Wander through this ancient city, visiting towering stupas, sacred Bodhi trees, and centuries-old monastic ruins. (B/L/D)

After a gourmet breakfast, depart to visit the Sigiriya rock fortress, which is Sri Lanka’s most iconic UNESCO World Heritage Site, built by King Kashyapa in the 5th century. The ”Lion Rock” is a citadel of unusual beauty rising 200 meters from the scrub jungle. A moat, rampart, and extensive gardens including the renowned water gardens ring the base of the rock and enjoy the world-renowned frescoes of the ”Heavenly Maidens”.

Afternoon visit Polonnaruwa was the second capital of Sri Lanka from the 11th to 13th centuries, after the destruction of Anuradhapura. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Polonnaruwa showcases the ancient Sinhalese kingdom’s architectural and engineering prowess with its vast irrigation systems and stunning temple architecture. Visit Gal Viharaya (Rock Temple): This iconic site showcases four large Buddha statues carved from a single granite rock, each depicting different aspects of Buddha’s life. Drive to Kandy. Visit Dalada Maligawa, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a world-renowned place of worship, where the left tooth of Gautama Buddha is enshrined. The temple which is venerated by thousands of local & foreign devotees and tourists daily was named as a world heritage by UNESCO in 1988. Watch the Kandyan Cultural Show in the evening and experience the vibrant culture of Sri Lanka.

Discover the spiritual heart of Sri Lanka in Kandy, home to the Temple of the Tooth, a world heritage site. This sacred site houses
the tooth relic of Buddha, drawing pilgrims and visitors from around the globe to partake in its divine ambiance. (B/L/D)

Today we leave Kandy and drive to Nuwara Eliya, a picturesque journey packed with beautiful waterfalls, tea plantations, and picturesque mountain ranges. On the way stop at the cascading Ramboda Waterfall and take some photos. Nearing Nuwara Eliya, you’ll find yourself enveloped in its cool, crisp climate – a stark contrast to the tropical warmth you’ve left behind. Standing at 6,200 feet above sea level, this cool climate makes it the perfect environment for tea cultivation, earning it the title of the Hill Country’s “tea capital,” a title that endures. Along the way, you’ll be escorted to a tea plantation, where the world’s best Ceylon Tea is produced. Upon arriving in Nuwara Eliya, you’ll sense a faint British country village ambiance with its colonial-era bungalows, Tudor-style hotels, well-kept hedgerows, and charming gardens. Once colonized by the British and often referred to as “Little England,” Nuwara Eliya maintains its old-world charm. (B/L/D)

After immersing yourself in the natural wonders of Nuwara Eliya, your journey continues to Galle, a port city steeped in history with its well-preserved Dutch Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The main attraction of Galle no doubt is its ancient Galle Fort, which instantaneously takes visitors back to the Dutch Colonial era. Walking through the narrow streets of the fort, you’ll encounter an array of heritage buildings, including Dutch churches, grand mansions, museums, and historic mosques.

Along the way, consider stopping at one of the iconic stilt fishing spots to witness this unique fishing method firsthand. The picturesque scene features fishermen perched on slender poles above the water. These stilts enable the fishermen to see further out into the water and cast their lines into deeper areas. Enjoy your afternoon at your hotel in Unawatuna beach is a crescent-shaped cove known for its golden sands and calm waters, making it ideal for swimming and snorkeling. (B/L/D)

Morning departs to Colombo. En route visit Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery. The centre functions mainly as a hatchery and makes huge efforts to increase the rate of hatching, and survival of baby turtles in their very initial stages. In the afternoon, drive along the clean streets edging with lavish clothing, food & tea boutiques. Head along Bauddhaloka Mawatha towards ‘Arcade’ facing a historic way post, the Independence Square, Old parliament building. Smell the scent of incense while listening to the chiming bells of Gangarama temple. (B/L/D)

Enjoy your own time before transfer to the airport for the flight to New Delhi, the political capital of India, makes up one of the cornerstones of the golden triangle in the country’s north. Finding its genesis in the great Indian epic the Mahabharata, as Indraprastha, Capital of the Pandava princes, today the city has transformed itself into a new incarnation. Reflecting the many colors and flavors of India’s eclectic composition, contemporary New Delhi is one where you will be inspired, amazed, fascinated and impressed at every corner. (B/D)

You will be mesmerized by the Old and New Delhi as we visit the Red Fort, once the residence of the Mughal Emperors. Opposite the Red Fort lies Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque and made of red sandstone and white marble. Visit India Gate, built of Bharatpur stone, commemorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers. Visit Humayun’s Tomb, built in 1570, is of particular cultural significance as it was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent. It inspired several major architectural innovations, culminating in the construction of the Taj Mahal. Continue to visit Qutb Minar is the 2nd tallest minar in India at Mohali which stands 100 meters tall, originally an early Islamic Monument inscribed with Arabic inscriptions is a Unesco World Heritage Site. Drive past the Red Fort (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. (B/L/D)

Continue your enthrallment and travel to Agra, where we witness a completely different atmosphere. Agra’s biggest claim to fame is the Taj Mahal that stands as a lasting tribute to love and lovers beyond time. The snow-colored walls of the great Taj Mahal fascinates the modern day vagabond. An architectural splendor of the mausoleums, the fort and the palaces is a vivid reminder of the capital in the reign of the Mughal empire and even today it seems to linger in the past. A poignant poetry in marble, stands serene and awesome on a raised marble platform, by the banks of the Yamuna. Also visit the Agra Fort, a masterpiece of the great Emperor Akbar within the fort are a number of exquisite structures and palaces.

The Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. The Taj Mahal is widely recognized as “the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage”. Taj Mahal is regarded by many as the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Islamic, Persian, Ottoman Turkish and Indian architectural styles.
In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (B/L/D)

After a gourmet breakfast. Drive to Jaipur, the capital of the state of Rajasthan was actually color washed with pink to create the impression similar to the red standstone of the mughal cities. Like any good tourist cities, Jaipur has all the amenities of big city, but its real charm lies only in the inner lanes and streets of her markets. The regal aspect of this desert city is obvious to all who visit her and the atmosphere is infused with the romance, adventure and bravery of an amazingly rich historical tradition. We’ll stop at Fatehpur Sikri, a deserted red sandstone medieval city built by Akbar the Great in the 16th century, Fatehpur Sikri’s complex consists of religious, residential, and administrative buildings, including an elegant mosque considered to be a copy of the Mosque at Mecca. (B/L/D)

Travel to the burnt clay-colored walls of Amber Fort on a magical elephant or jeep. In the afternoon, you’ll flit through the sparkling offerings of the old bazaar by way of a breath-taking rickshaw ride. Visit City Palace, Jaipur. This sprawling complex, with its gorgeous buildings and marvelous collection of art and artifacts is without parallel in Rajasthan. A major part of the ‘City Palace’ now consists of the ‘Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum’. It is also the residence of the Jaipur Royal Family. Continue visit Hawa Mahal, the renowned ‘Palace Of The Winds’, or Hawa Mahal, is one of the prominent tourist attractions in Jaipur city. Located in the heart of Jaipur, this beautiful five-storey palace was constructed in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh who belonged to Kachhwaha Rajput dynasty. The main architect of this palace built of red and pink sandstone, is Lal Chand Ustad and the palace is believed to have been constructed in the form of the crown of Krishna, the Hindu god. (B/L/D)

Wake up on serene views of Mansagar Lake before heading back to Delhi. Visit to Akshardham temple, depicts the Indian culture and its architecture is amazing. This structure has 20,000 statues, floral motifs and exquisite carved pillars made of stones. It is built along the river Yamuna and lies over an area of around 100 acres with beautiful gardens, water fountains and carved pavilions. (B/L/D)

Enjoy your own time until transfer to the airport. (B)