Luxury in the Footsteps of Geoffrey Bawa

Having arrived in Sri Lanka you will be greeted by our chauffeur guide at the airport. Take a leisurely drive, just about four hours into the depths of the island – the Cultural Triangle and check in to your hotel. As soon you enter the hotel you will realize that the structure of the hotel itself is worth the journey – Heritance Kandalama surrounded by a jungle and overlooks the Kandalama Lake. When Sir Geoffrey first built the hotel, he told hotel management that one day it would peer out from under a canopy of lush vegetation. They didn’t understand what he was describing. Today, they say he had described the hotel exactly as it is. Enjoy your stay and the Architecture of the great legend.

Explore the cultural triangle and head out just 30 minutes away to mount Sigiriya - a 5th century fortress in the sky, which is perhaps the most fantastic single wonder of the island. It is also referred to as Lion’s Rock because of the huge crouching lion image that is carved at the entrance to the fortress. Next drive to the UNESCO World Heritage City of Polonnaruwa, this was the medieval capital of Sri Lanka from the 11th - 13th century A.D and better kept ruins of ancient Ceylon. While walking you will see the ruins of the Royal Palace, the Gal Viharaya - where three splendid statues of Buddha can be seen which are carved out of the rock, the Audience Hall, and the Parakrama Samudraya lake built by King Parakramabahu the Great. If interested you may enjoy a bicycle ride inside the ancient city.

Today morning you may drive towards Kandy. You can break the journey at the Matale Heritage Centre where one could view the artistic designs of Mrs. Ena de Silva’s – a close friend of Geoffrey Bawa who contributed many artefacts to his projects. Today Mrs. Ena de Silva is well known for her local batik work. Whilst you are at the Matale Heritage Centre please do not forget to have lunch from the 3 different type of rice and over 30 curries. There after proceed to the city of Kandy where you will be visiting the Temple of the Tooth Relic, where the most sacred relic, a tooth of the Lord Buddha is kept for worship. The Temple itself dates from the 16th century. (visiting the Kandy city is optional and only if time permits) Continue on your journey and you will also be passing Sri Lanka's tea growing region. You will be driving through the endless views of tea estates, factories and Tea pluckers who picks the perfect “two leaves and a bud”. You also have the option of visiting a Tea Factory as well.

Today morning you may proceed to Bandarawela. In Bandarawela you may visit the granite built Bandarawela Chapel of the Good Shepherd's Convent, which designed both by Geoffrey Bawa and Ulrik Plesner.

From the hills of Bandarawela descend over seven hours to reach Dickwella and then Galle. Enroute admire one of Sri Lanka's finest views and visit the Rawana Ella Falls. Rawana Ella Falls are 49 metres high and follow the water cascading down the mountainside in a series of mini waterfalls. Arrive at the coast of Dickwella to visit Fitzherbert House, now known as Claughton House, which too was built by Bawa. Then drive towards Galle and en-route drop by another of his work – the Ruhunu University Campus and the Matara Office building. Once in the town of Galle walk through the Dutch Fort- a UNESCO world heritage site and look out for the old Dutch Church as well as the bastions. After an eventful day relax and unwind at the Geoffrey Bawa designed Jetwing Lighthouse overlooking the Indian Ocean.

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Since Geoffrey Bawa designed not just hotels and other public buildings, but also private homes, this too is a must see. The home of Duchini & Jayakoddy in Bentota. In between we recommend having lunch at the Hotel Heritance Ahungalla, where Bawa created features such as interconnecting expanses of water lead the guest into the hotel. For evening tea, drop by Geoffrey Bawa’s country residence Lunugana where you will find that nature has been incorporated in the very design of the house. Spend the night at a boutique hotel, Club Villa too built by himself.

On your way to the capital Colombo, visit the five star hotel The Blue Waters, Wadduwa designed by Geoffrey Bawa. Once in Colombo, take an exterior tour of the current Sri Lankan House of Parliament. Finally, arrive at his very residence at No. 11 for a complete tour. The evening continues with dinner at his former office, the Gallery Cafe and if possible with the company of Channa Daswatte, who trained under Bawa. You may check- in at Tintagel for your overnight stay.

Today you will be taken to the Airport for your departure.