Serendipity

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is home to the world’s largest troupe of captive pachyderms. The animals here range from newborns to elderly matriarchs, and include abandoned elephants, as well as those injured in the wild. Twice daily, the elephants are driven to the Ma Oya river for a leisurely bath but its best to coincide your visit with feeding time – watching the orphaned youngsters guzzle enormous quantities of milk from oversized baby bottles is one of the cutest sights you will ever see. Feeding times are 09:15 am, 13:15 pm and 17:15 pm.

Kandy (UNESCO World Heritage site), the Hill Capital of Sri Lanka, locally referred to as “Nuwara” meaning The Great City, is the most scenic ancient city in the country and the only city that borders a natural reserve – the Udawatte Kele famous for its avifauna. Sri Dalada Maligawa as its known locally or The Temple of the Tooth is one of the most sacred & famous Buddhist sites, not only in Sri Lanka but the world over. This spectacular 17th century temple took nearly a hundred years to construct from 1687 to 1782 and houses the sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha. Rituals are performed daily at 04:30, 10:30 and 6:30 p.m. The sacred square and old city centre within the temple complex contain the four shrines of the Gods Vishnu, Natha, Kataragama and the Goddess Pattini and many historical buildings and museums. The temple is host to one of Asia’s most celebrated festivals, The "Esala" procession, held during the month of July/August around the Full Moon. The casket of the tooth relic is paraded through the streets on the back of a tusked elephant in a grand procession followed by several traditional dancers, drummers and torch bearers accompanied by over a hundred beautifully costumed elephants. Nestled in the highlands, not only does its rich historical significance make “Nuwara” a popular tourist destination, but also the many shops displaying precious and semi-precious stones, skillfully crafted jewelry, handicrafts, colorful batiks and silks, and local food add unforgettable flavor to this beautiful city.

This morning after breakfast you will board the train to Ella (6hrs). Your chauffeur will drop you off at the Kandy railway station and will drive to the Ella station to pick you and drive you to the Bungalow. Settle in and unwind upon arrival.

Ella - If it’s sheer magnificent beauty that you seek, Ella has to be on your list. Associated with the famous stories that intertwine with the epic story – “Ramayana” from India, said to have been the place where King Ravana imprisoned Princess Sita from Lord Shiva, it is a popular destination in the tea country. Due to its elevation, Ella enjoys a cooler climate that supports an amazing variety of lush flora and fauna. This beautiful landscape provides a scenic backdrop for thrill seekers to experience some adventure activities – a stroll along a road less travelled, kayaking at the Buduruwagala Reservoir, a climb up Little Adam’s Peak, a relaxing cycling tour to the picturesque Ravana Falls, or enjoy bird watching at Ella jungle.

This morning after breakfast you will be heading to Bentota (5.5hrs) Enjoy the tranquility of the beach and surf sound tracked by the meditative rumblings of the ocean

Bentota is a favourite for those seeking the ultimate beach experience. With the sea and its beaches, the river and a lagoon fusing into each other at this location, Bentota attracts thrill seekers for a variety of water sports and boating excursions. At the North end of Bentota facing Aluthgama, lies 'Paradise Island' as it is popularly known; a narrow sliver of land between the choppy breakers of the Indian Ocean and the calm waters of a lagoon. At its rear, is the Bentota Ganga (Sinhala for river)) which provides the setting for some of Sri Lanka's biggest water sports events. Visitors have the option of taking boat trips through mangroves where time stands still. Ambling along the attractive beaches on the southern side lined by dense thickets of corkscrew palms, are some of the most amazing vistas along the island's coast. Visits to Sri Lanka’s most famous architect Geoffrey Bawa's estate home 'Lunuganga' whose creations are a marvelous blend of nature and modern artifice and his architect brother Bevis Bawa's estate “Brief" are not to be missed.