Sri Lanka Itinerary

Day 01

Arrive Colombo

Arrive in Colombo. On arrival, you will be met and assisted by our office representative to the hotel (Rooms will be available from 1400 Hrs). In the evening we will have an orientation with the group leader followed by a welcome dinner in a local restaurant.

Overnight in the Hotel

Day 02

Colombo – Sigiriya
(By surface approx. 165 Kms/03 plus Hrs)

Morning a tour and shooting session in Colombo – a drive through the city taking you to the most photogenic areas including the busy commercial center, the tree lined residential Cinnamon Gardens, Sea Street, the Goldsmith’s quarter in Pettah, the bazaar area, a Hindu Temple, the Dutch Church of Wolfendhal dating back to 1794, the historical Davatagaha Mosque, the Clock Tower and the old Parliament. We’ll also visit Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara (Buddhist Temple) believed to be the site visited by Lord Buddha 2500 years ago.

In the afternoon we leave for Sigiriya.

In the evening visit Sigiriya a UNESCO World Heritage site and considered by many as the eighth wonder of the world. Climb the 5^th century A.D. Rock Fortress. The vision of a patricidal king named Kasyapa, it is an awesome monolith that was transformed into a cloud swept city. The mirror wall protects a series of exquisite frescoes of celestial maidens, which are painted using natural pigments and the Lion’s Paw entrance to the ruined palace on the summit are well worth the effort of the ascent. The images that can be captured from this elevation in the last light will call to you.

Overnight in the Hotel

Day 03

Sigiriya – Polonnoruwa – Dambulla – Sigiriya

(By surface approx. 67 Kms/01 Hrs)

After breakfast leave for Polonnaruwa another UNESCO World Heritage site and a former capital of Sri Lanka in the 11^th to 12^th century A.D. The obvious South Indian influence on the architecture is noticeable. The Gal Vihare is comprised of four colossal statues of the Buddha carved out of the living rock stand testimony to the skill of master craftsmen. The reclining Statue of Lord Buddha is 14 metres long. In addition to the buildings and the statuary there will be an abundance of worshippers to photograph

Lankathilake or the Image House was one of the splendid shrines in Asia in the 12th century. The Watadage and the Hatadage, Gal Pota, and Kiri Vehera are also included in the visits. Visit also the Tivanka Pilimage with its priceless murals and the vast man-made lake that is the Sea of Parakrama – a feat of ancient engineering.

Evening visit Dambulla, another UNESCO World Heritage site, to visit the rock cave temple, which is comprised of a series of 5 caverns with ceilings of natural rock covered with intricate paintings. The natural folds of the rock have been skilfully used to give the illusion of cloth. Forty eight statues of the Buddha and images of the various deities can be seen inside the cave.

Overnight in the Hotel

Day 04

Sigiriya – Trincomalee

(By surface approx. 85 Kms/01 plus Hrs)

Morning leave for Trincomalee. Visit Fort Frederick built on Swami Rock.

Koneswasran Temple is one of the 5 recognised Ishwarams of the Hindu deity Shiva. The accidental retrieval of the Shiva Symbol was narrated by Sir Arthur C Clarke in his book, ‘Reefs of Taprobane’. (Please note that footwear is not allowed inside the temple).

In the afternoon there will be many chances to capture great images, but the best opportunity of the day will the sunset from the summit of the rock.

Overnight in the Hotel

Day 05

Trincomalee

In the early morning, with the first light of the day, we will shoot fisherman bringing in their catch.

Later we visit the harbor area, some of the world’s finest natural harbor providing many landscape shots, drive around the town and then visit the busy market – a great source of people shots, the 1852 St Mary’s Cathedral, Kali Kovil with its picturesque gopuram or tower.

Overnight in the Hotel

Day 06

Trincomalee – Matale – Kandy

(By surface approx. 160 Kms/03 Hrs)

In the morning, leave for Kandy, en route visiting the Spice Gardens at Matale.

Visit Ena de Silva’s Matale Heritage Centre and see some of the finest batiks. You can mingle around in the kitchen and also enjoy Sri Lankan dishes. Visit work shop to photograph the process of batik making. Kandy was the seat of the Kandyan Kings from the 14^th century A.D. and is a repository of Sinhala culture.

For our sunset shooting we visit the sacred city of Kandy, which has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage due to the Temple of the Tooth and the Dalada Maligawa, which we will visit this evening.

Overnight in the Hotel

Day 07

Kandy

Morning, city tour of Kandy – drive around the beautiful lake and the upper lake drive. Visit the Arts and Crafts centre where you can buy Kandyan silver and brass ware, Metal work, Lacquer work, Wood and bone carvings, Pottery and Hand woven fabrics. There will be demonstrations of artisans at work, also a great chance for photos.

Visit The Trinity College, founded in 1872 – its Chapel continues to be admired today being the first open chapel in the world and architecturally similar to the Polonnaruwa period.

This afternoon, camera in hand, we visit the Gadaladeniya, Lankatilak and the Embekke Temples belonging to the 14^th century. Gadaladeniya is built of stone and reminds us of the South Indian influence of the period. Lankatilaka temple is a magnificent brick building in white and in the shrine room is found a superb seated image of the Buddha. Embekke temple is famed for its carved wooden pillars with intricate designs.

Also visit the brass making village.

Dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight in the Hotel

Day 08

Kandy – Pinnawala – Nuwara Eliya

(By surface approx. Kms/0 Hrs)

This morning visit the elephant orphanage at Pinnawala, on time to shoot the bathing time in the river

Then leave for Nuwara Eliya, in the heart of the tea country, established by the British as a replica of a little English village, reminiscent of the Lake District. Our drive takes us through hills covered with tea plantations, water-falls and picturesque mountain vistas. You will be taking pictures just about everywhere you turn.

Overnight in the Hotel

Day 09

Nuwara Eliya

Morning visit a tea factory where you can see the intricacies that go into the manufacture of the world’s best loved brew.

Pass through tea plantations and shoot the tea pickers deftly plucking the 2 leaves and bud with their bare hands.

Even today Tudor and Victorian style houses with trim English gardens speak of a gentler age. Tour this unusual photogenic little town and a beautiful lake are great material for your photo creativity.

Overnight in the Hotel

Day 10 (Friday)

Nuwara Eliya – Kataragama

(By surface approx. 120 Kms/02 plus Hrs)

Morning leave for Kataragama, a pilgrim center.

Evening, visit the temple to witness the pooja or religious ceremony.

Observe and photograph the many pilgrims and devotees.

Overnight in the Hotel

Day 11

Kataragama

Witness the Thaipusam festival at Sella Kataragama.

Thaipusam is an important festival dedicated to Lord Murugan. Every one of the events described here are opportunities of outstanding images. The festival is extremely energetic and action packed as it commemorates the vanquishing of evil. There will be conch shell blowing, trumpets blaring, drums beating and voices rising with holy chants. Intriguing and photogenic features include devotees who show their faith by attaching hooks to their body and are then mounted on ox driven carts. Tongues, cheeks, and backs are hooked on by skin and some will go far as to be suspended up in the air. The Kavadi (peacock) dance is a beautiful feature where men, women and children hold a colourful semi circular arch over their head and dance to the beat of the drums. The fire-walkers in Kataragama are a favorite feature that is done by the firewalkers who fast, meditate and pray before the festival for several weeks, they take a ritual bath in River Menik and pay homage to the Gods by stepping on hot cinders. The festivities end with a ceremony called water cutting, when the waters of the River Menik is ‘cut’ with a sword, on a full moon, which symbolizes the separation of pure from impure and the invocations of rain for the harvest.

Overnight in the Hotel

Day 12

Kataragama – Galle

(By surface approx. 120 Kms/02 plus Hrs)

En route to Galle you can shoot the Stilt Fisherman at Ahangama.

Galle, is the seafarer’s capital, a natural harbour and a Dutch Fortress with towering ramparts and the mediaeval Dutch buildings – all part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Work the Fort with your camera – its paved driveway, alleys, shops, restaurants and guest houses all have a magical feel taking you back 400 years in time.

Overnight at the Lodge

Day 13

Galle – Meetivagoda – Ambalangoda – Balapitiya

(By surface approx. 40 Kms/less than 1Hrs)

Morning, we leave for the fishing town of Ambalangoda en route visiting the moonstone village at Meetiyagoda.

Afternoon, visit the sunset temple or Sailatalarama Vihara which lies 7 km inland from Ambalangoda. This temple sits on a domed hill with broad views over spice plantations and lakes and has a 35m-long sleeping Buddha statue which is the largest in South Asia

Overnight in the Hotel

Day 14

Balapitiya – Ambalangoda – Balapitiya

Sunrise and early morning shoot of fisherman and the fish market

In the morning, visit the mask making center and mask and puppet museum at Ambalangoda

Visit the Bandu Wijesooriya School of Dancing to see the training of the southern forms of traditional Sri Lankan dance such as kolam (masked dance-drama), Kandyan and Sabaragamu.

Evening enjoy a special show and a shooting opportunity of the traditional dance forms.

Overnight in the Hotel

Day 15

Balapitiya – Lunuganga – Negombo

(By surface approx. 100 Kms/ 01 plus Hrs)

Morning leave for “Lunuganga” the country estate of Geoffrey Bawa one of Sri Lanka’s famed Architects. (Optional: High Tea – cost not included)

Lunuganga Estate was the country home of the renowned Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa. Started in 1947, the garden led Bawa, a lawyer called to the Bar at the Inner Temple in 1940, to decide to become an architect. As he went on to become Sri Lanka’s and one of Asia’s most prolific and influential architects, the garden at the Lunuganga estate remained his first muse and experimental laboratory for new ideas. He continued to change and experiment with its spaces and structures throughout his life until his final illness in 1998. Left to the Lunuganga Trust on his demise in 2003, the gardens are now open to the public and the buildings on the estate are run as a country house hotel.

We drive to Colombo where we will have a traditional lunch. Then onward to Negombo.

Overnight in the Hotel

Day 16

Depart Negombo

On time transfer to the International airport to connect with flight to International destinations.