Sri Lanka & Buddhagaya

Sri Lanka Deluxe Luxury

Day 1 Negombo Seashells Hotel Brown Beach Hotel
Day 2 Anuradhapura Galway Miridiya Lodge Palm Garden Village Hotel
Day 3 Sigiriya/Dambulla Hotel Sigiriya Heritance Kandalama
Day 4 Kandy Serene Garden Hotel Earl’s Regency Hotel
Day 5 Colombo Ceylon Continental Hotel Hilton
India
Day 6 Buddhagaya Taj Darbar / Delta Lotus Nikko / Royal Residency
Day 7 Buddhagaya Taj Darbar / Delta Lotus Nikko / Royal Residency
Day 8 Kushinagar Imperial Imperial
Day 9 Lumbini Pawan / Yeti N.Crystal / Hokke
Day 10 Sravasti / Varanasi Mahamaya / Pathik Pawan / Lotus
Day 11 Varanasi Surabhi / India Clarks / H.H.I
Day 12 Buddhagaya Taj Darbar / Delta Lotus Nikko / Royal Residency Journeys
2 Passengers $ 1,390 (AUD 1,670) $ 1,690 (AUD 2,030)
3 - 4 Passengers $ 1,270 (AUD 1,520) $ 1,590 (AUD 1,910)
5 - 9 Passengers $ 1,140 (AUD 1,370) $ 1,490 (AUD 1,790)
10+ Passengers $ 1,090 (AUD 1,310) $ 1,390 (AUD 1,670)
A timeless journey of
Package includes:
• Return air fare from Colombo on Mihin Lanka
• Hotels on Full Board basis – packed lunches when on the move
Buddhist Heritage
• Air conditioned transport throughout the tour as per your itinerary
• English speaking escort throughout the tour as per your itinerary Sri Lanka & Buddhagaya
• Monument fees at each place (for single entry only)
Prices valid from 20 October 2009 Subject to change without notice
www.mihinjourneys.com
sales@mihinjourneys.com 12 Days From
$1,090
No 61, W.A.D. Ramanayake Mawatha
Colombo 2 , Sri Lanka.
all inclusive*
www.mihinlanka.com
Sri Lanka
Day 1 NEGOMBO Transfer from Airport to Negombo.
Dinner and overnight stay in Negombo.
Day 2 ANURADHAPURA The bastion of Buddhist Kings
Anuradhapura the first capital of ancient Ceylon, is the home of two World
Heritage Sites, and houses the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi. The sacred Bo Tree still
stands, and is a hallowed site where Prince Siddharta attained enlightenment.
To date millions of Buddhists revere this tree, and regard it as the holiest, if not
the most historical in the world. Pilgrims can meditate on this holy ground for
one hour and recapture the meditative spirit of devout Buddhists of bygone
eras. The tranquility around this sacred tree is further augmented by the Brazen
Palace and its 1600 stone columns. The Ruwanweliseya Dagoba illumined
during Wesak each year, the 'Samadhi' Buddha statue, and the world famous
Isuruminya lover’s rock temple stand testimony to architectural grandeur of
this ancient city.
Day 3 DAMBULLA / MATALE Mesmerising Murals to Aromatic Spices
Dambulla rock temple was built by king Walagambahu in the 1st century
B.C. and it is a World Heritage Site. It is the most impressive of Sri Lanka's
cave temples. The complex of five caves with over 2000 sq. meters of painted
walls and ceilings, is the largest area of paintings found in the world. It
contains over 150 images of the Buddha of which the largest is the colossal
figure of the Buddha carved out of rock and spanning 14 meters. Transfer
from Dambulla to Matale.Visit a spice garden in Matale to see different
spices for which Sri Lanka is famous for. Here, clients could see different spices
and how some of these spices are grown and processed.
Day 4 KANDY The Cultural Buddhist Citatel
Considered the cultural capital of Sri lanka, and the eternal Buddhist bastion,
Kandy is the proud citadel of tradition, culture and heroism. The last seat of
power of the Kandyan Kings, it is fittingly set aside as a World Heritage Site.
Kandy entralls every visitor conjuring visions of splendour and magnificence.
The ‘jewel of the crown’ is the sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic. The temple of
the tooth relic is symbolic of power, as traditionally the king who held the tooth
and the casket was regarded as king of Lanka. The famous annual Esala
paegent, draws scores of visitors both locally and abroad. In the precints of the
temple lies the divine Kandy lake built by the last Sinhala king, Sri Wickrama
Rajasinghe in 1798, a reminder of the glories of the Buddhist kings of Lanka.
Day 5 COLOMBO Shopping and sigh seeing. Dinner in Colombo.
Depart to airport early the following morning
India
Day 6 and Day 7 BUDDHAGAYA / RAJGIR / NALANDA The Sacred Trinity
Vajrasana. Considered the seat of stability, it is the holy seat of the The
Buddha, who used it as a point of meditation gazing East under the Boddhi
tree, The current site is named the Vajrasana where the stone platform is kept.
Ancient Railings surrounds the Temple dating back to the 1st Century B.C.
Chankramana is steeped in symbolism and marks the sacred spot of The
Buddha's Meditative Perambulations during the third week after enlightenment.
A Lotus is believed to have sprung up where he laid his feet.
The Nalanda University Archaeological Complex comprises 14 hectares of
excavation. All edifices are of red brick with beautiful garden. The buildings
divided by a central walkway house the monasteries or 'Viharas' and the
temples of 'Chaiyas'. The Vihara is the most interesting one with its cells that
leads to a dais for the gurus and the teachers.
India
Day 8 BUDDHAGAYA / VAISHALI / KUSHINAGAR Showpieces of Antiquity
The Nalanda Archaeological Museum showcases a beautiful collection of
undamaged statues of Lord Buddha, which are its main
showpieces.Teraacota jars dating back to the first century bear testimony to
past grandeur. The collection includes copper plates and stone inscriptions,
coins, pottery and samples of burnt rice. Venuvana Vihara was also dediated
to Lord Buddha to rest.
Day 9 KUSHINAGAR / LUMBINI A Mystic Key to Past Glories
The myth says that King Bimbisara was imprisoned here by his son and heir,
Ajatshatru. The captive king chose this site for his incarnation as he could see
Lord Buddha climbing up to his mountain retreat atop the gridhkuta hill.
Swarna Bhandar has two cave chambers hollowed out of a single massive
rock one of which is said to be a guard room. The rear wall has two vertical
and one horizontal line cut into the rock creating a doorway used by King
Bimbisara. The ancient key to opening the dorrway are supposed to be in the
Treasury inscriptions in the sankhalipi or shell script, etched on the walls,
undeciphered.
Day 10 LUMBINI / SRAVASTI The Genesis of Buddhism
Lumbini "in Nepal", is the birth place of Prince Siddhartha. Siutated there
is the holy pond where his mother 'Maya Devi' took a bath after the birth of
prince Siddhartha.
Sravasti, the capital of the ancient kingdom of the kosal sheltered Buddha
for 24 rainy seasons in the Jetvana gardens. This holy place also has the
famous Anand Boddhi Tree, an offspring of the one planted by Buddha's
main disciple Anand.
Day 11 SRAVASTI / VARANASI The Holy Water of Life and The Golden Temple
The river Ganga, holy of holiest rivers in India beckons pilgrims to stand
standing waist-deep in water, pray to the rising sun. There many ghats of the
river are importance significance which differ one ghat to the other and use
are visited by the tourists to have a fantastic look of sunrise with the sadhus
and offering their prayers.
Kashi Vishwanath Temple is also known as the golden temple, and
dedicated to lord Shiva. Varanasi is said to be the sight of the first Shivalinga.
The original temple was destroyed by the mughal Emperor Gurangzeb. The
present temple is an 18th century replica. And is open only for Hindus.
Day 12 VARANASI / BUDDHAGAYA The First Words of Wisdom
Sarnath is the blessed place chosen over 2,500 years ago Buddha for his
sermon, after attaining nirvana. Gautam Buddha, his five disciples founded
the first sangha along with yasa of Varanasi and 54 friends. The beginning
of the celebrated mantra, Buddham Sharanam Gachhami, owes its origin to
Sarnath.
Ramnagar Fort and Museum A 17th century fort Ramnagar is the home
of the Maharaja of Benaras, who is revered as the representative of Lord
Shiva in the city. The Museum has unique collection of Furniture, Palanquins,
Costumes, Coins and Weapons.
Day 13 Depart to airport.