Around The Cultural Capital Of Kandy 8 hours

After mornign pick up visit:

MORNING

Famous Ceylon Gem Museum: To learn first-hand why Sri Lanka has been renowned for its gems in the world market since ancient times. Fellow traveller Marco Polo called Sri Lanka ‘Serendib’ means the island of gems. Sri Lankan blue sapphires “Ceylon Sapphire” are sought-after by gem enthusiasts the world over.

Famous Ceylon Tea Factory: Sri Lanka was formerly known as Ceylon. The humidity, cool temperatures, and rainfall of the central highlands provide a climate that favours the production of high-quality tea. Tea production became one of the main contributors to the economy of Sri Lanka. What many do not know is that Sri Lanka is one of the few countries where each tea leaf is picked by hand rather than by mechanization of modern technology. In general, these tea plants require constant nurturing and attention and the two leaves and a bud, which have the flavour and aroma, are skilfully plucked by mostly women.

AFTERNOON

Visit Royal Botanical Garden: The historic Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya is a popular tourist and lovers' attraction, renowned for its rare tropical plants and collection of orchids. The garden includes more than 4000 species of plants, comprising of orchids, spices, medicinal plants and palm trees. In 1821, Alexandar Moon formed the groundwork for the botanical garden. He used it for coffee and cinnamon plants.

Have Lunch at a local restaurant.

EVENING

Watch Kandyan Cultural Show: The Kandyan Dance is iconic to Sri Lanka. "Ves" dance, the most popular form of the Kandyan dance, originated from an ancient purification ritual. The elaborate ves costume, particularly the headgear, is considered sacred and is believed to belong to the deity, Kohomba. Only toward the end of the 19th century were ves dancers first invited to perform outside the precincts of the Kankariya Temple at the annual Kandy Esala Perahera festival.

Visit The Temple Of the Sacred Tooth Relic: This sacred Buddhist temple of the highest veneration in Sri Lanka, was a royal place of the Kandyan kings of the past. It houses Gautama Buddha's left canine tooth which is enshrined in a stupa decked with gems and gold jewellery. Please note that you will not be able to see the tooth itself and the door to the stupa is usually closed. It is usually showcased only on rare special occasions.