SRI LANKA: THE GEMS

Arrive into Colombo and settle into your hotel, one of the capital’s finest boutique properties. This jazzed up 1930’s mansion is stylish, quirky, hip, with only 12 capacious individually designed suites, where the design-driven interiors were created by owner, Udayshanth Fernando of Paradise Road fame.

Join our specialist walking guide, to discover on foot, the many points of historic and colonial interest in the Old Fort precinct- including the Gangaramaya Buddhist temple and the Seema Malaka floating temple redesigned by Geoffrey Bawa. The walk ends at the Dutch Hospital where you will enjoy a typical curry rice lunch. We also visit Number 11, the former residence of Geoffrey Bawa that is an essay in architectural bricollage. A romantic candlelit courtyard dinner highlights Sri Lankan cuisine

Reach the “Cultural Triangle”, the driest region of the country with a web of Sri Lanka’s most significant ancient sites. Lunch in a rural village where dishes are cooked in earthen pots over a fire.

Late afternoon, as the light softens and the heat of the day diminishes, visit Sigirya. This UNESCO site, an astounding feat of engineering is ruins of the capital built by the parricidal King Kassapa I (477–95) on the steep slopes and at the summit of a granite peak.

Wake to a symphony of birdsong in your divine eco retreat with villas cantilevered over wetlands abundant with wildlife. Make an early start for World Heritage Polonnaruwa, once a sprawling fortified city where Hinduism and Buddhism sit side by side that was the second seat of Sri Lanka’s royal dynasty.
 Later enjoy a jeep safari in Minneriya Park, one of the best reserves to get up close and personal with many elephants in large herds as well as rich bird life and a variety of monkeys.

First stop today is Dambulla, a unique historical site. The temple’s many caves are a perfect witness to the evolution of the ancient Sri Lankan arts with stunning frescoes, reclining Buddhas and amazing statuary. Lunch today is an elaborate curry rice banquet at Aluwihare Heritage Centre the inspiration of artist Ena da Silva who established a brilliant batik centre here. Reach Kandy in time for the evening devotional drumming ritual at the famed Temple of the Tooth.

Wake up in your ancestral mansion home turned boutique hotel midst lush tropical gardens for a swim in the infinity pool. Visit the famed and truly impressive Botanical gardens of Peradaniya. Lunch today is in a special local home in Kandy, the Suryakantha Cultural Centre whose founders, through their private collection of art and objects, embody their love of two cultures, Sri Lankan and French.

Today’s longish scenic drive is through pine and eucalyptus forest, stylised landscapes of immaculately manicured and sculpted tea plantations and market gardens which periodically open up to reveal heart-stopping views through the hills. Arrive at famed Yala National Park, one of Sri Lanka’s oldest and most popular wildlife reserves, and famous for one of the world’s highest densities of leopard, though they remain elusive to spot.

Awake to the sounds of the ocean. Today there are two game drives with an expert naturalist.

Meander along the coastline where fishermen try their luck perched on stilts, though this is a dying tradition. Arrive at your abode for the next two nights – gorgeous suites overlooking lovely jungle settings, with a mix of English décor and Sri Lankan style, relaxing verandahs, and lovely open pavilions for dining and lounging as well as an inky green rainwater infinity pool. A boat cruise on the lake takes you to the house of a cinnamon peeler and a Buddhist temple. Cinnamon was once worth its weight in gold and Sri Lanka is still the world’s largest producer.

Cycle through the paddy fields and villages to reach the seaside in time for a seafood lunch. Later visit a Tea Estate famous for its production of white tea plucked with golden scissors (“virgin” tea originated with the Chinese Emperor Tsong).

Segue to 16thC Fort Galle for a delightful lunch and walking tour of the best example of a fortified city built by Europeans in South Asia, illuminating the interaction between European architectural styles and Asian traditions. 
Your residence the last two nights is at glamorous Amangalla, a sensitive restoration of a 400-year old building that has respected, down to the finest detail, the heritage and beauty of its legendary predecessor. There is a secluded garden, gorgeous pool and a stunning dining balcony that connects to the life of the street as well as serving sumptuous food. Of course the service is without parallel.

Gardens are today’s inspiring focus. First visit Brief Garden, once the home of Bevis Bawa, brother of renowned architect Geoffrey Bawa. Italianate in its compartments and balustraded staircases it is a controlled riot of a Jungle Book garden, and the house has an eclectic range of artworks, including some by Donald Friend. Later continue to Lunaganga. the country home of the renowned Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa. Lunuganga takes the wild and airy English Romantic tradition and gives it a Sri Lankan twist, with rubber, rice and cinnamon woven into the mix

Today, enjoy a late Brunch. With most flights leaving late evening, you have most of the day to relax or do last minute shopping amongst the Fort’s delightful boutiques and craft shops. Early evening transfer to the airport for international departures.

SUGGESTED TOUR EXTENSIONS:
- An Ayurveda Retreat
- Lakshadweep Islands – Bangaram Is
- Maldives
- Seychelles
- South India