Golden Triangle with Sri Lanka

Upon arrival at the New Delhi you will be transferred to the hotel. Check into hotel and relax. Spend rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay at hotel.

After breakfast, set out on a sightseeing tour of Delhi city. You’ll first go for Old Delhi sightseeing, starting with Jama Masjid, the country’s largest mosque, built in 1656. The mosque’s courtyard is capable of holding 25,000 devotees at once. Next, visit Old Delhi’s oldest and biggest market Chandni Chowk. Later, enjoy a rickshaw ride from Fatehpuri Masjid to the impressive red sandstone monument of Red Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, our driver will pick you up and drive you to Raj Ghat, the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi – Father of the Nation. Afterward, proceed to Humayun’s Tomb (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), an early example of fine Mughal architecture in India, built in 1565. Humayun’s Tomb is often said to be the inspiration behind the Taj Mahal. Later, take a sightseeing tour of New Delhi and drive past Rashtrapati Bhawan (President’s House), Parliament House, and India Gate – a war memorial constructed in memory of 70,000 Indian soldiers who fought in World War I. Lastly, visit Qutub Minar (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), a soaring tower of victory. Its construction was commenced in 1193 under the supervision of Islamic ruler Qutub-ud-din-Aibak, immediately after the defeat of the last Hindu Kingdom in Delhi. The marble and red sandstone built structure is nearly 73 meters tall and tapers from a 15-meter-diameter base to just 2.5 meters at the top. Overnight stay at hotel.

After breakfast, you will be driven towards Agra via one of India’s finest freeways. Upon arrival in Agra, check into hotel and freshen up. The city of Agra is home to Taj Mahal – the UNESCO World Heritage Site and perhaps the world’s most photographed monument. Pay a visit to this beautiful edifice commissioned in the 17th century by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his loving wife. Then, visit the massive Agra Fort (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), an elegant building that reflects a perfect fusion of the Hindu and Central Asian architectural styles with massive courtyards, mosques & private chambers. Next, visit the Mehtab Bagh, an extension of the Taj Mahal Garden, located on the other side of the river. Overnight stay at hotel.

After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to Agra via Fatehpur Sikri (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Built in the 16th century, this ancient fortified city was once the capital of the Mughal Empire. The complex includes Diwan-i-Khas building, which has a beautifully carved pillar at its centre and the Panch Mahal Palace. Upon arrival in Jaipur, check into your hotel and relax. Later, check out and explore the unending shopping options in Jaipur. As part of the tour, we will start off from the essential point of the Rajasthani craft work i.e., block making and block printing and visit some of the local stores. We will also explore some of the famous places for a variety of jewelry including chunky tribal jewelry, gold and diamond jewelry as well as colorful lac bangles. Overnight stay at hotel.

Morning after breakfast, set off for a day of exploration in Jaipur and ride to the top of the hilltop fortress – the Amber Fort (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) on an elephant’s back. Get to know the dramatic grandeur of the fort perched on the Aravalli Hills and surrounded by fortified battlements. Then, pay a visit to the Hawa Mahal or Palace of the Winds, the five storied structure featuring 953 small windows called jharokhas, decorated with intricate latticework. Made using red sandstone, the towering structure resembles a honeycomb and was initially built to allow the royal ladies to peer down without being seen. Next, visit the City Palace. Built in the 18th century, the City Palace is a perfect exemplar of the Rajasthani and Mughal architectural styles and fortified walls, built for protection from invading armies. Also, visit the Jantar Mantar Observatory (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), an astronomy site which was built by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur in the 18th century with 13 architectural astronomy instruments. Overnight stay at hotel.

After breakfast, drive back to Delhi. Then will be transferred to the Delhi Airport to board flight for Colombo. Kindly note, you need to be at the airport 3 hours before the flight departs to Sri Lanka. Arrive at Colombo international airport. Meet of representative and then transfer to Negombo hotel Check-in at the Hotel. Overnight in Negombo.

After breakfast, transfer to Dambulla. Visit Pinnawala elephant orphanage en-route. Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage – is a home for elephants (out of which there are baby elephants) found abandoned or orphaned in the wild. They are being cared, fed and trained by the wild life authority. The best time for your visit is at 9 in the morning, when you will have the opportunity of seeing these ‘babies’ being bottle-fed. You could also see the elephants having their daily baths at a river close by. Also, visit the Dambulla caves. Overnight stay at Dambulla/ Sigiriya

After breakfast do a city tour of Dambulla. Sigiriya Rock Fortress – which is a world heritage site, built by king Kashyapa (473 – 491 A.D). The “lion rock” is a citadel of unusual beauty rising 200 meters from the scrub jungle. The rock was the innermost stronghold of the 70 hectare fortified town. The base of the rock is ring by a moat, rampart, and extensive gardens including the renowned water gardens. The world-renowned frescoes of the “heavenly maidens” of Sigiriya which are in a sheltered pocket of the rock approached by a spiral stairway is one of the main attractions. The frescoes are painted in earth pigments on plaster. Visit Minneriya National park in the evening. Minneriya – do a safari of the Minneriya National Park. The extent of this national park is about 8,889 hectares. There are wet lands in this national park which have international importance, animal and plant species which are plenty in dry zone are found in this park. Wild elephants, various amphibians, local and immigrant bird species are plenty in this park. About hundred and sixty species of birds, 09 amphibians, 25 reptile species, 26 fish species and more than 78 butterfly species have been found in this area. There are bamboo trees which are rare in other parks and wild elephants can be seen conveniently. Overnight stay at Dambulla/ Sigiriya

After breakfast, transfer to Kandy. Visit Mawanella Spice Garden. Rest of the day free for leisure activities. Overnight stay at hotel.

After breakfast do a city tour of Kandy, Kandy – The last capital of the Sri Lankan kings which is a world heritage site. The name Kandy conjures visions of splendor and magnificence. Many of the legends, traditions and folklore are still lovingly kept alive. Drive around the Kandy lake built by the last Sinhala king Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe in 1806, visit the Kandy town and bazaar, the arts and crafts center and a gem museum and lapidary. The evening is the best time to visit the temple of the tooth relic and thereafter witness a traditional cultural dance show. Visit Kandy temple, botanical gardens and cultural show. Overnight stay at Kandy.

After breakfast, transfer to Nuwara Eliya. Visit Ramboda falls and Tea plantation. Nuwara Eliya – is Sri Lanka’s premier hill resort with a fine bracing mountain climate. Nuwara Eliya is also the heart of Sri Lanka’s tea country producing 50% of the world’s best tea. Sri Lanka’s highest mountain Lagala (8282 ft) is located here. Nuwara Eliya is the location for one of the finest 18 whole golf courses in Asia. Overnight stay at Nuwara Eliya

After breakfast, transfer to Udawalawe (Approx. 4 hours) Udawalawa National Park – is famous for large herds of wild elephants and deer. Crocodiles, wild buffalo, peacock and a large variety of bird life could be seen. Overnight stay at Udawalawe.

After breakfast, transfer to Bentota (Approx 4 Hours). Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay at Bentota.

After breakfast do a city tour of Bentota. Visit Maduganga boat ride and turtle hatchery. Bentota – It is situated on the Northern limit of the Southern Province, at the confluence of the sea and the Bentota River, 62 km from Colombo. Its location in the sun drenched southern coast at the mouth of the Bentota River and its picturesque, sandy, palm-fringed beaches which border the warm, sparkling waters of the Indian Ocean, made it a natural choice for development as Sri Lankas first planned tourist resort. Today it is famed in Sri Lanka’s global tourist markets as a highly attractive holiday resort with a varied choice of distinctive hotels to suite every taste and purse. Bentota also has a complete range of tourist facilities within the resort complex including very popular water sports centers. Overnight stay at Bentota.

After breakfast, transfer to Colombo. On the way City tour of Colombo. Colombo – visit fort and Pettah areas and drive past the 100-year-old clock tower, the old parliament and several British built colonial buildings. Other places of interest are, a Hindu and a Buddhist temple, residential areas where you find the stately homes of the affluent, the Colombo museum, the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH). Also visit the ceramics corporation showrooms, the ODEL unlimited dress boutique and the majestic city shopping complex. Overnight stay at Colombo.

After breakfast check out from the hotel and then transfer to Airport for onward flight with beautiful memories of your tour conducted by Travel Across Oceans.