Buddhism, Meditation and Ayurveda Getaways in Sri Lanka
Basic Package includes following;
Day 01 - Airport – Colombo Bhikku Training Center
Warmly meet and great at the airport and proceed to Colombo.
In the evening do a familiarization tour at the Bhikku Training Center in Maharagama… This a major training centers for young Sinhalese monks. The Late Mahanayaka of the Amarapura Nikaya used to stay here. There is a meditation section in the back where foreign monks some times reside
Bellanvila Rajamahaviharaya Templ After the above familiarization tour proceed to the ancient Bellanwila Raja Maha Viharaya which is situated close proximity of Maharagama.
Miraculous and Marvellous temple referred to as the Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya, with a heritage of glorious history, stands out as the most historic and significant among the many temples in the island today.
www.bellanwila.orgOvernight in Colombo
Day 02 - Colombo – Kelaniya – Kandy
After breakfast proceed to Kelaniya temple.
Kelaniya
The Kelaniya Temple (Raja Maha Vihara) is one of the most sacred worshipping places of the Buddhists of Sri Lanka since it is a site made hallowed by the visit of Lord Buddha. In the past Kelaniya itself was a large city and the Kelani Raja Maha Viharaya was one of the largest and one of the most beautiful temples of Sri Lanka.The guests will be able to view the magnificent Kelaniya Stupa and also the famous wall paintings in the temple. Furthermore they will be able to compare and contrast its architecture of the Buddhist Temples which they will be seeing during the rest of the tour.
After that proceed to Pinnawela Elephan Ophernage
The Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage in time to witness the bathing and bottle feeding of the baby elephants. (40 km – transfer time approx. 1 hour)Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage Among the green hills of Kegalle, about 50 miles (85km) from Colombo on the road to Kandy in the hill country, a herd of about 60 elephants roam free in the Pinnewela Elephant Orphanage. The Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage… is one of Sri Lanka's most popular tourist attractions. The orphanage's population has now mushroomed to around 65, making it the world's largest collection of captive elephants. The elephants here range in age from newborns to elderly matriarchs, and include orphaned and abandoned elephants, as well as those injured in the wild, amongst them famous residents such as the three-legged elephant, Sama and a blind elephant Raja.
Visitors are invited to observe and assist the baby elephants as they are fed from giant feeding bottles, before the pachyderms plod down to the river for their daily bath.
After Lunch proceed to Nilabe Meditation Centre
Nilabe
The Nilambe town is situated approximately 20 KMS from the Kandy and it is an approximately 40 minutes steep walk through tea plantations to reach the Meditation Center. For the more abled they can enjoy the walk to the top,alternatively they could choose the method of auto rickshaws to reach the top.The climb to the summit is always a enjoyable journey and the envoirns are ideally situated to suit to calm ones mind.
Over night at the Meditation centre
Day 03 - Kandy
The day is spent at the Nilabe Meditation centre…
- 04.45 Wake up
- 05.00 Group Meditation
- 06.00 Tea
- 06.30 Hatha Yoga
- 07.30 Breakfast
- 08.30 Working Meditation
- 09.30 Group Meditation
- 11.00 Individual and Outdoor Meditation
- 12.00 Lunch
- 12.30 Rest/Reading in Library
- 14.30 Group Meditation
- 16.30 Hatha Yoga
- 17.30 Sunset Watching/Individual Meditation
- 18.30 Chanting and Group Meditation
- 19.30 Snack
- 20.00 Discussion or Talk, Loving-kindness Meditation
- 21.00 Take Rest
Overnight at NIlabe Meditation centre
Day 04 - Kandy
After Breakfast proceed to Kandy. Visit the Temple of the Tooth and other sites in Kandy.
Sightseeing tour of Kandy including a visit to the temple of the tooth, upper lake drive and market square.
Temple of the Tooth Relic. Dalada Maligawa or the Temple of the sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy is the most venerated place of worship for Buddhists throughout the world.
Built in the 16th century this temple houses the sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha brought to Sri Lanka from the Kalinga province in ancient India in the 4th century AD. Several buildings have been added to the temple complex by successive rulers, the latest being the Golden Canopy over the inner shrine where the Tooth Relic is placed. Originally the Temple was within the King's palace complex as it was the symbol of Royal Authority
Overnight in Kandy
Day 05 - Kandy
After breakfst proceed to a Ayureda centre at Amaya Lake Resort in Dambulla
En rouite visit a Spaice Garden. Spice garden in Matale to see many different types of spices Sri Lanka is famous for. Just 25 km from the hill capital of Kandy, the Matale spice gardens are among the best on the island. You will be introduced to different spices and shown how some of these spices are grown and processed. A processing and training unit has been set up in the area and farmers are grouped in a cooperative to ensure fair prices and you will also be able to purchase spices.
Visit the Golden Temple of Dambulla
Proceed to Amaya Lake resort.
After lunch: Experience the Ayurvedic sensation
Day 06
Full day at the Ayurvedic Amaya Lake resort. Just relax and and Enjoy the Ayurvedic Sensation for whole day
Ayurveda derived from two sanskrit words - Ayur (life) and Veda (knowledge) is a form of indigenous medical treatment known to Sri Lanka and India for over 3000 years. Modern day C 21st. ayurvedic treatment or alternative medicine based on natural healing has 2 aims: to preserve health - wellbeing and cure a body afflicted by disease or stress. Ayurvedic practice is different to western medicine using pharmaceutical medicines with side effects. Westerners visiting Sri Lanka use gentle alternative medicine nature treatments at ayurveda health resorts designed for foreign tourists to restore their general well being.The basic concept of ayurveda and ayurvedic medical treatment is just as animal and plant life has to live in harmony with the Laws of Nature to remain healthy and balanced so too do human beings despite industrialization. Ayurveda and ayurvedic treatments return patients to health by using the inherent principles of nature.Regain your well being in the tranquil relaxing environment of a choice of luxurious ayurvedic resorts in the paradise tropical island of Sri Lanka with its all year round summer weather. Ayurveda brings the stressed individual back into health equilibrium with their true self. "ayu" or "self" is comprised of four essential parts - the combination of mind, body, senses and the soul.
Day 07
After Breakfast: Climb the Srigiriya Rock Furtress: A massive monolith of red stone rises 600 feetrock fortress of Sigiriya must have been when a palace crowned it 15 centuries ago. Sigiriya (say see-gih-REE-yah) was no gloomy and forbidding fortification, as many other citadels are. At the brief height of its glory, a flowering of only 18 years in the late 5th Century, it was one of the loveliest royal cities that ever graced the earth.
Visit the dambulla Cave Temple:The Dambulla cave temple is by far the most impressive of all the many cave temples in Sri Lanka. Among the cave’s numerous statues – there are 48 of the Buddha alone – are images of Upulvan (Vishnu) and Saman dating from the 12th Century (they may be the earliest devala statues to appear in a Buddhist image house). The cave’s history dates to the 2nd or 1st Century BC, when King Valagam Bahu took refuge here after being driven out of Anuradhapura by invading armies.