Luxury Holidays in Sri Lanka -Sri Lanka Holiday Packages

Sri Lanka officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an island country in the northern Indian Ocean off the southeast coast of the Indian subcontinent in South Asia. Known until 1972 as Ceylon, Sri Lanka has maritime borders with India to the northwest and the Maldives to the southwest. Sri Lanka has a documented history that spans over 3,000 years, but there are theories to suggest that Sri Lanka had pre-historic human settlements dating back to at least 125,000 years.

• 02 nights accommodation in Kandy
• 01 night accommodation in Nuwara Eliya
• 01 night accommidation in Yala.
• 01 night accommodation in Bentota
• 01 night accommodation in Colombo
• Daily Breakfast
• All transfer and Sightseeing as per itinerary
• Transportation by A/C luxury vehicle with an English Speaking guide for 06 Pax and a separate English speaking guide for 07 Pax Onward.
• All Taxes

• Airfare
• Tips.
• Tips to guide and driver
• Expenses of Personal Nature
• Anything not Mentioned in the package inclusions

• Country:Sri Lanka
• City:Colombo
• Area:65,610 km²
• Weather:34°C, Wind
• Local time:4:10 PM
• Currency:Sri Lankan rupee
• Language: Sinhalese
• Population:20.48 million

General Information About Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), a tiny island nation south of India in the Indian Ocean, is a rugged land of rainforest, diverse wildlife and endless beaches. It’s famed for its ancient Buddhist ruins, including the 5th-century citadel Sigiriya, with its palace and frescoes, and the sacred city of Anuradhapura. Its flavorful cuisine reflects its history as a maritime hub and cultural melting pot.

ANCIENT SRI LANKA

bout 500 BC when a people called the Sinhalese migrated there from India. According to legend the first settlers were led by a man named Vijaya. According to tradition Buddhism was introduced into Sri Lanka in 260 BC by a man named Mahinda. It soon became an integral part of Sinhalese culture. However at first Sri Lanka was divided into different states. A man named Dutthagamani (161-137 BC) united them into a single kingdom. As well as being a powerful ruler Dutthagamani was a great builder and he erected palaces and temples. The capital of the first Sri Lankan kingdom was at Anuradhapura. The staple diet of the Sri Lankan people was rice but to grow rice needs to stand in water. However in Sri Lanka’s hot climate water soon evaporated. Some water was provided by rain in the rainy season (October to April) but it was not enough. To gain extra water the people dammed streams and rivers. However in time it became the ruler’s responsibility to provide water for farming. King Mahensa (274-303) built large reservoirs and irrigation canals to take water from one area to another. The network of reservoirs and canals gradually became bigger and more complex. In the 2nd 3rd and 4th centuries AD Sri Lanka became a rich kingdom.

She traded with India, China, Persia and Ethiopia. however from the 5th century onwards Sri Lanka suffered from invasions from India. In the 10th century the Chola kingdom became powerful in southern India. In 993 the Cholas captured northern Sri Lanka and they made Polonnaruwa the capital. In1017 they captured the south. However the Sinhalese continued to resist and in 1030 the Cholas withdrew from Rohana, in the Southeast. In 1070 the Sinhalese ruler Vijayabahu recaptured the north. However after his death in 1111 weak rulers succeeded him. Sri Lanka broke up into independent states. Then in 1153 Parakrama Bahu the Great became king of the realm of Dakkinadesa. This great ruler reunited Sri Lanka and he repaired the irrigation system. He died in 1183. In the 13th century Sri Lankan power declined. There were repeated invasions from India and political instability. The irrigation system began to breakdown and the people drifted to the Southwest. In 1255 the capital Polonnaruwa was abandoned. In the 13th century the Tamils settled in the north of Sri Lanka and by 1505 Sri Lanka was divided into 3 areas. In the north lived Tamils. There was a Sinhalese kingdom in the Southwest based in Kotte and another in the centre and east based in Kandy.

PORTUGUESE COLONIALISM IN SRI LANKA

A new era in the history of Sri Lanka began in 1505 when the Portuguese arrived. The Portuguese sought cinnamon (a very valuable spice). In 1517 they sent an expedition to Colombo and asked permission to build a fort there. King Vijayabahu of Kotte reluctantly assented. However the Portuguese then ordered the king to sell them his cinnamon at a price fixed by them. When the king refused the Portuguese used force. In 1518 the king of Kotte was forced to agree to give cinnamon to the Portuguese each year as tribute. Increasing Portuguese demands led to a war in 1520-21, which the Portuguese won. The king lost the support of his people and he was overthrown by his 3 sons. The eldest son became King Bhuvanekbahu VI. He reigned until 1551. However he agreed to give his 2 brothers principalities of their won within Kotte to rule. The largest of these became the kingdom of Sitavaka. The smallest was based on Rayigama but when its ruler died in 1538 it was absorbed into Sitavaka.

In time the states of Kotte and Sitavaka began to quarrel. The rulers of Sitavaka resented the increasing Portuguese influence in Kotte. So Kotte and Sitavaka fought a number of wars. Each time Kotte was forced to look to the Portuguese for help. So inevitably Portuguese influence in Kotte increased. In 1551 King Bhuvankbahu was assassinated and the Portuguese installed a puppet ruler in Kotte. Meanwhile Catholic missionaries were at work in Kotte. In 1557 the puppet ruler became a Catholic. Many of his subjects also converted. Finally in 1597 the Portuguese annexed Kotte and Sitavaka. In 1619 they annexed Jaffna. Only Kandy was still independent. The Portuguese made several attempts to conquer Kandy, in 1594, 1603 and 1629, without success.

DUTCH COLONIALISM IN SRI LANK

In 1636 King Rajsinha of Kandy turned to the Dutch for help. (The power of Portugal was declining while Dutch power was increasing.) In 1637 he received Dutch envoys. In 1638 the Portuguese invaded again but they were crushed at the battle of Gannoruwa. Afterwards the Dutch agreed to capture the Portuguese held ports on the Sri Lankan coast in return for their expenses. Between 1638 and 1640 the Dutch captured certain ports but they held onto them instead of giving them to Kandy, claiming their expenses had not been paid. The Dutch and Portuguese made peace in 1640 but war resumed in 1652. Once again the kingdom of Kandy formed an alliance with the Dutch. This time the Dutch attacked Colombo and they captured it in 1656. However they refused to hand it over to Kandy. Instead they pushed inland. In 1658 they captured Jaffna. That was the end of Portuguese rule in Sri Lanka. The Dutch extended their rule and in 1665 they captured Tincomalee on the east coast. Kandy remained independent and continued to exist uneasily beside the Dutch colony until 1760 when war broke out between them. The Dutch won the war and they forced Kandy to accept a humiliating treaty. Kandy was forced to recognise Dutch sovereignty over all the Sri Lankan coast line, even those parts that formerly belonged to Kandy, to a depth of 4 Sihanalese miles.

BRITISH COLONIALISM IN SRI LANKA (CEYLON)

However in 1796 Dutch rule gave way to British. In that year the British annexed Colombo and Jaffna and Dutch rule was extinguished. The British were keen to conquer Kandy. They gained their opportunity in 1815. Kandy was ruled by Sri Wickrama Rajasiha (1798-1815). He was a cruel king and was deeply unpopular with his subjects. Some of his nobles conspired with the British to get rid of him. The British army invaded Kandy and met little resistance. The king fled abroad. However in 1817-18 there was a rebellion in parts of Kandy against British rule but it was crushed. At first the British trod cautiously. Trial by jury was introduced in 1811 and the British built a network of roads. Then in 1833 they introduced wide-ranging reforms. English was made the official language and the administration was reformed. Slavery was abolished in 1844. In the early 19th century the British created large plantations for growing coffee. Import duties on coffee in Britain were reduced and coffee drinking became more common. Exports of Sri Lankan or Ceylonese coffee boomed and large numbers of labourers from India were brought to work on the plantations.

However from the 1870s the coffee crop was devastated by the slow spread of a fungus called hemileia vastratrix. In the late 19th century tea replaced coffee as the main Ceylonese crop. Rubber and coconuts were also important crops. Also in the late 19th century both Hinduism and Buddhism revived in Ceylon. In the early 20th century Sri Lankan nationalism grew. The Ceylon National Congress was formed in 1919. In 1910 the Ceylonese were allowed to elect one member of the legislative council and in 1924 the British made further concessions. However the Ceylonese were not satisfied. In 1931 Ceylon was granted a new constitution. From then on the legislature was elected by universal suffrage. However the Ceylonese demanded complete independence. Yet another constitution was introduced in 1946 but in 1947 the British announced that India was to become independent. The Ceylonese now demanded their independence and in June 1947 the British agreed to make Sri Lanka a dominion. Sri Lanka became independent on 4 February 1948.

MODERN SRI LANKA

The first prime minister was Dr Stephen Senanayake. When he died in 1952 his son Dudley Senanyake followed him. Dudley resigned in 1953 and was replaced by Sir John Kotewala. All three were members of the United National Party. However in 1956 their party fell from power. The next government was led by S W R D Bandaranaike. He promoted Sinhalese culture and extended state control of the economy. However he was assassinated in 1959. He was replaced by his widow Sirima Bandaranaike. She was prime minister until 1965. She continued the policy of nationalisation. She also brought most schools under state control. In 1965 she was replaced by Dudley Senanayake who was prime minister again until 1970. From the 1950s tension between Tamils and Sinhalese grew. In 1956 Sinhalese was made the only official language (instead of both Sinhalese and Tamil). Mrs Bandaranaike also deported many Indian Tamil labourers. In 1971 a rebellion of young people was led by an anti-Tamil organisation called the Janatha Vimukthi Permuna. The rebellion was quickly crushed. In 1972 Sri Lanka was given a new constitution. This one stated that Buddhism had 'foremost place' among Sri Lankan religions. This was very unpopular with followers of other religions. Furthermore in 1972 the number of Tamil places at university was reduced. Furthermore in 1972 the name of the country was officially changed from Ceylon to Sri Lanka. In 1976 the Tamil United Liberation Front was formed.

They demanded a separate Tamil state. Then in 1977 Sri Lanka was rocked by ethnic riots in which 128 people died. Yet another constitution was introduced in 1978. This one made a president the head of state. However the new constitution failed to satisfy the Tamils. In 1983 civil war broke out between Tamils and Sinhalese. On 23 July 1983 Tamil separatists ambushed and killed 13 Sinhalese soldiers. The result was rioting in which hundreds of people died. Afterwards the Tamils fought a guerrilla war against the government. India was drawn into the crisis in 1987 when they agreed to send a peacekeeping force to the north and east of Sri Lanka. However fighting soon broke out between the Indian forces and the Tamil 'Tigers' or guerrillas. The Indian Peace Keeping force withdrew in 1990 and fighting between Tamils and Sinhalese began again. Meanwhile in the late 1980s Maoist Janatha Vimukion Peramuna led a violent campaign in the south. It was crushed in 1989-1990. In 1993 President Premadasa was assassinated. From the mid 1990s efforts were made to end the fighting. A cease fire was made in February 2002 and talks were held. However the cease fire broke down and fighting resumed. The war ended in 2009 with the defeat of the Tamil Tigers by the Sri Lankan government. Despite the bloodshed some progress was made in Sri Lanka. By 1986 Sri Lanka was self sufficient in rice. Life expectancy increased from 50 in 1948 to 69 in 1983. From 1977 the Sri Lankan government adopted a market economy. Sri Lanka still produces tea, rubber and coconuts and a textile industry is growing. Tourism has now become a major industry. Today the economy of Sri Lanka is growing rapidly. Today the population of Sri Lanka is 21 million.

Colombo

The largest city in Sri Lanka, Colombo is a perfect brew of modernity and ancient architectures. Colombo-the capital of Sri Lanka-is the largest city and main port of Sri Lanka. It is also the commercial and financial center of Sri Lanka. A bustling metropolis, the city is an attractive blend of old and new. It has the lazy charm of the bygone era combined with the verve and vivaciousness of a modern city. Colombo is an ideal location to start the Sri Lanka sojourn.

Kandy

Kandy is also known as the cultural capital of Sri Lanka. Nestled in the hills at an altitude of 488 m, it is located at a distance of 115 km from Colombo. Kandy has a rich history. It was originally known as Senkadagala pura after a hermit named Senkada who lived there. Many of Sinhalese people call it Mahanuwara meaning the Great City. The name Kandy was derived by the colonial rulers from the word Kanda in Sinhala, meaning a hill. Kandy was the stronghold of the Sinhalese kings, who promoted and protected the local culture until the city fell to the British in 1815.

Galle

Galle is located 116 km to the south of Colombo on the southwest corner of the island, was founded in the 16th century by the Portuguese. It is the best example of a fortified city built by Europeans in South and South-East Asia, showing the interaction between European architectural styles and South Asian traditions. Galle has been declared a World Heritage City by the UNESCO.

Dambulla

Dambulla is a small town located at a distance of 19 km from Sigriya on the Sigriya-Kandy road. Dambulla has over 80 caves in the surrounding and some of them have been used by the monks as meditation locations. Major attraction is the Dambulla Rock Temple consisting of five cave temples dating back to the 1st century BC. The temples contain many statues and paintings. Hindu statues are believed to be of the 12 century AD and the latest paintings are of the late 18-century. Other places of tourist interest are Iron Wood Forest and Rose Quartz Mountain.

People Of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has a population of approximately 20 million. About 74% belong to the Sinhalese majority, which is predominantly Buddhist, 18% are Tamil and predominantly Hindu, 7% are Muslim and the remaining 1% are Burghers, of mixed European descent, and Vedda, the few remaining descendants of earlier cultures. Sri Lanka has an enormous range of Buddhist, Hindu, Christian and Muslim festivals. The Kandy Esala Perahera (July/August) is the country's most important and spectacular pageant, with 10 days of torch-bearers, whip-crackers, dancers and drummers. It climaxes in a great procession honouring the Sacred Tooth Relic. Second in importance is the Duruthu Perahera held in Colombo in January, which celebrates a visit by Buddha to Sri Lanka

When to go

Climatically speaking, the driest (and best) seasons in Sri Lanka are from December to March for the west coast, the south coast and the Hill Country, and from April to September for the ancient cities region and the east coast. December through March are also the months when most foreign tourists visit, the majority of them escaping the European winter. During the Christmas to New Year holiday season, in particular, accommodation anywhere on the island can be tight due to the huge influx of foreign visitors. July/August is the time of the Kandy Esala Perahera, the 10-day festival honouring the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha, and also the time for the Kataragama festival in the South. In both towns accommodation just before, during and immediately after the festivals is very difficult to come by, and rates usually double or treble. Be sure to book rooms well in advance. Sri Lanka’s climate means that it is always the ‘right’ beach season somewhere on the coast. The weather doesn’t follow strict rules, though – it often seems to be raining where it should be sunny, and sunny where it should be raining. Rainfall tends to be emphatic – streets can become flooded in what seems like only minutes. Out-of-season travel has its advantages – not only do the crowds go away but many air fares and accommodation prices drop right down. Nor does it rain all the time during the low season.

Weather

Sri Lanka is tropical, with distinct dry and wet seasons. The seasons are slightly complicated by having two monsoons. From May to August the Yala monsoon brings rain to the island’s southwestern half, while the dry season here lasts from December to March. The southwest has the highest rainfall – up to 4000mm a year. The Maha monsoon blows from October to January, bringing rain to the North and East, while the dry season is from May to September. The North and East are comparatively dry, with around 1000mm of rain annually. There is also an inter-monsoonal period in October and November when rain can occur in many parts of the island. Colombo and the low-lying coastal regions have an average temperature of 27°C. At Kandy (altitude 500m), the average temperature is 20°C, while Nuwara Eliya (at 1889m) has a temperate 16°C average. The sea stays at around 27°C all year.

Currency Of Sri Lanka

The currency used in Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan Rupee, which is made up of 100 cents. Presently both coins and notes are used in the country, there are coins in the value of 10, 25 and 50 cents as well as 1, 2, 5 and 10 rupees, while the value of notes will vary from 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 and 2000 Rupees. If traveling on the public transport it is general practice to have a fair amount of change as bus conductors tend to be short on coins. This is not the case when it comes to three wheelers (tuk tuks) as the charges are higher. When withdrawing from an ATM, the smallest note that can be obtained are 100 Rupee notes while 1,000 and 2,000 notes are also sometimes discharged.

Nightlife Of Sri Lanka

After the hustle and bustle of the day comes to an end, the quiet rush of Sri Lanka’s nightlife begins. While cities such as Unawatuna, Bentota and even Kandy may have their fair share of bars, casinos and clubs, it’s Colombo that takes the spotlight of being the hub for the night owls. With a spot to cater to any mood, Colombo proudly showcases a variety of trendy bars, casinos, called clubs instead, and pubs open through-out the night, every day of the week. Whether you want to go clubbing and dance your worries away or enjoy a quiet drink with an intimate crowd, there is always a place for whatever your need. ‘The Island like no other’ truly takes Asian nightlife to a different level so indulging in the renowned Sri Lankan hospitality, is assured to be an unforgettable experience and guaranteed good time, promising something for everyone.

Clubs, Bars & Casinos

Tramps

Galadari Hotel 64, Lotus Road Colombo 01 94 11 544544

Club Nuovo

Taj Samudra Hotel 25, Gall Face Centre Road, Colombo 03 Sri Lanka 94 11 4621721

19th Bar

Waters Edge Hotel,316, Ethul Kotte Road, Battaramulla Sri Lanka 94 11 2863863

Breeze Bar

Cinnamon Grand Hotel 77, Galle Road, Colombo 03 Sri Lanka 94 11 2437437

Bally's Casino

14, Dharmapala Mw Colombo 03 Sri Lanka 94 11 2573497

Bellagio Casino

430, R A De Mel Mawatha Colombo 03 Sri Lanka 94 11 2575271

Language Of Sri Lanka

Sinhala and Tamil are official languages in Sri Lanka. Sinhala, a language of Indo-Aryan origin is the language of the majority. English is widely spoken and understood. Place names and sign-boards on buses and trains are usually in all three languages. Sri Lanka is a land of religious freedom and tolerance. Wherever you travel you will come across a Buddhist Temple or Dagaba, a Hindu Kovil, a Christian Church or a Mosque, each with its own distinctive architecture. When visiting holy places please conform to the requirements as regards dress in order not to show disrespect.