Excursions

Within 10 Minutes.

Bambaragala Raja Maha Viharaya Temple

The history of this cave temple goes back to the pre-Christian era and the cave was donated to Maha Sangha by Datta, wife of King Naga. The temple was used to hide the Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha before it was taken to the Sri Dalada Maligawa ( Temple of the Tooth) in Kandy . The temple was disturbed by treasure hunters and almost all of the statues and stupas were damaged, however it is a worthwhile place to visit.

Climbing Pettigala Rock

The climb to the top of the rock behind the Bambaragala Raja Maha Viharaya Temple is very steep but you are rewarded with stunning views of the Victoria Reservoir and Knuckles Mountain Range. Be sure to take a guide with you if you venture up the rock - the track is very steep and not easy to discern. Guides can be arranged by the golf club.

Within 30 Minutes.

Sri Dalada Maligawa (The Temple of the Tooth) in Kandy

The Temple of the Tooth is Sri Lanka 's most important Buddhist shrine, it sits on the edge of the Kandy Tank. Home to the legendary Buddha's Tooth, this is one of the main tourist attractions in Kandy . Many like to visit the temple during the Puja ceremony which happens 3 times a day (6am, 9am and 630pm) and usually lasts for 90 minutes.

Traditional Kandyan Dancing in Kandy

Visit the Kandy Lake Club to see the evening performance of the Kandyan Dancers. Guests bear witness to many of the traditional forms of Kandyan dancing by both men and women dressed in spectacular outfits. Men with drums beat out the rhythm for the dancers. Fire walking is also part of the exciting hour long show.

Royal Botanical Gardens , Peradeniya, Kandy

These beautiful gardens are found just outside of Kandy . Once the pleasure gardens of a Kandyan Queen, this 150 acre site is a paradise of tropical foliage. Seats, gazebos, pavilions and a restaurant are found within the gardens allowing one to relax within the tranquil environment. The Great Palm Avenue and the Orchid House are particular highlights.

Within 1.5 hours.

Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage

This orphanage situated just beyond Kegalle holds the world's largest population of captive elephants. The best times to go are during the feeding sessions (9.15 am, 1.15 pm & 5pm) where you can watch babies drinking vast quantities of milk whilst the adults eat palm leaves. The bathing of the elephants (10-noon & 2-4pm) is also an exciting experience - they are driven down to the river where they splash around happily, this can be viewed close up or from the verandah of one of the lakeside restaurants.

Day Trips.

Nuwara Eliya & The Hill Country

Nuwara Eliya is a former colonial hill country town and is a great place to visit -a round of golf on the town's golf course is well worth it. Scattered around the town and further off into the hill country are many tea estates which produce some of the world's finest teas. The Labookelie Tea Estate has beautiful tea gardens surrounded by the undulating hill terrain. You can tour the factory and taste some of their tea alongside some cake in their restaurant.

Sigiriya

This is Sri Lanka 's famous rock fortress, declared a World Heritage Site in 1982. The climb to the top of the rock provides excellent views of the surrounding area and on reaching the summit you can inspect what remains of the old fortress.

Dambulla Caves

The cave temples found in Dambulla are like art galleries of unique beauty - each of the five dimly lit caves is covered in the exquisite paintings of Buddhist monks. The caves are also filled with statues and it is within this complex that Buddhist monks began their militant nationalist movement against the British. These unusual temples are well worth a visit.