Buddhist Cultural Tour

 

Due to the many requests we received to arrange a special package for the Buddhist pilgrims who wants to visit Sri Lanka to see the many locations that are important to the Buddhist world, we have designed a 7days/6 nights Buddhist Cultural Tour (which can be extended on request).

Initially this package was available only to Japanese clients on our website, but now we have decided to promote this package worldwide via this blog with the same amount of service at a reduced special discounted rate.

 

  

This is the official blog operation of the company “Visit Serendib” (PVT) Ltd, a registered tour management company in Sri Lanka.

* The company provides experienced chauffeurs with official Government tour guide License.

* All Accommodations except in the case of camping and special meditation programs that are held in our meditation center will be at 3 Star Hotels. (More information if requested).

* Only 25% of the payment has to be made before arriving and the balance during the tour, or 100% of the cost can be paid directly once arriving at the airport.

*Special discount rates for groups over 5 members.

* The touring party will be given free mobile phones and connections to keep in touch with local services as well the Tour Company till the tour is completed.

* Tour extensions possible at discounted rates.

* Special assistance for educational or research groups.

  

Chief Excursion officer assigned to the Buddhist Cultural Tours.

History of Buddhism in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is the oldest continually Buddhist country in the world, Buddhism being the major religion in the island since its introduction was first introduced into Sri Lanka in the 2nd century BC by Venerable Mahinda the son of the Emperor Asoka during the reign of Sri Lanka's King Devanampiya Tissa. During this time, a sampling of the Boghi Tree was brought to Sri Lanka and the first monasteries were established under the sponsorship of the Sri Lankan king.

Buddha’s Visits to Sri Lanka

First Visit

The Buddha’s first visit was in the ninth month after Buddhahood (1 B.E. or 528 B.C.) That was to Mahiyangana where the Yaksa clan of the entire island was meeting in the Mahanaga garden. On this visit, the Buddha not only won the Yaksas/Raksas to Buddhism but also succeeded in getting the Naga clan King Maniakkhika of Kelaniya, who came to Mahiyangana to meet the Buddha, to embrace Buddhism. It is after this visit that a Stupa with some hair of the Buddha was enshrined. This Stupa, after the Parinibbana or passing away of the Buddha was transformed to be the Mahiyangana Cetiya after a collar bone of the Buddha was enshrined in it.

Second Visit

The second visit was in the fifth year of Buddhahood (5 B.E. or 523 B.C.). The Buddha on seeing an imminent war between two Naga Kings, over a Jeweled Throne, visited Nagadipa (Jaffna), settled the dispute and handed over the custody of the Jeweled Throne to Naga King Maniakkika of Kelaniya.

Third Visit

The Buddha visited Sri Lanka for the third time (His Last time) at the invitation of King Maniakkhika, first arriving in Kelaniya, in 9 B.E. (519/520 B.C.) with 500 of his followers.

It was on this third visit that the Buddha placed an imprint of his left foot on top of Samanala Kanda (Adams Peak).

For More Information on this tour package contact - visitserendib@gmail.com , +94778882227 (Gihan)

Wild/Eco 7Days/6 Nights

Visit Serendib (PVT) Ltd is a Tour/Holiday management company based in Sri Lanka (one of the top travel destinations in 2012). This is the official blog operation of the company to specialize in low budget tours.


The listed package above can also be customized according to the requirements of our customers. The number of dates, locations and even the activities can all be adjusted to suit your needs


For Further information contact - info@visitserendib.lk, +94778882227

Battle of Gannoruwa

Date: 28^th March 1638

The Portuguese had attempted three times without success to capture the Kingdom of Kandy, in order to bring the entire country under their rule. In 1635, King Rajasinghe II became the king of Kandy and started negotiations with the Dutch to obtain their help in driving out the Portuguese from the island. The Portuguese hastened their efforts to take Kandy because of this, and Diogo de Melo de Castro, the Portuguese Captain General, tried to provoke the King of Kandy on several occasions.

Melo seized an elephant presented to a merchant by the king, to which the king responded by seizing two of Melo's own horses. Following this incident, on March 19^th 1638, Melo assembled a large army and set out for Kandy to destroy the Kingdom.

Rajasinghe sent a letter to Melo through a Portuguese friar seeking negotiations, but this call was rejected by Melo, who replied, saying "The little black is frightened. We shall drag him by the ears".

Instead of facing the Portuguese army head on directly, King Rajasinghe II and his generals planned a trap.  The entire city was evacuated and everything of value was taken to the jungles.

The Portuguese force advanced through Atapitiya to Balana, a fort and observation post of the king's army.

When the Portuguese army finally reached Kandy, they found the city deserted. They sacked and burned the city, including the royal palace and temples, and then having thought they won this battle easily, started to withdraw back to Colombo.

 As they were returning their path was blocked by huge trees and suddenly without any warning they were attacked by the Kandyan army who were hiding deep in the thick jungles.

The object of the Portuguese was to entrench themselves on the slopes of Kiriwaththalawa (present day Kiribathkumbura), but before they reached high ground they found themselves surrounded by the Kandyan forces. The King's army in full force awaited the return of the Portuguese at Gannoruwa. 

When they reached Gannoruwa they found that crossing the river was made impossible by the Kandyans as they had cut down trees and obstructed the Portuguese path. The road back to Kandy was also blocked and all escape routes were effectively cut off.

Since there was no way of crossing the river or heading back to the city , the Portuguese army camped on top of a hill for the night.

Having had an exhausting day, the Portuguese army was tired and thirsty. Since the Kandyan army took guard of the River there was no way of drinking water without risking being killed by the skilled shooters camped at the base of the hill.

To make matters worse, the gun powder of the Portuguese were targeted by the King's army from a nearby mountain. It is said that "balls of fire" were hurled at the hill where the Portuguese army had camped, and throughout the night the Portuguese gun powder got burnt.

On the following day, the Portuguese force tried to resume their retreat but the Kandyan army at once attacked the Portuguese army and numbers of the Portuguese force were rapidly reduced as the Kandyan army charged up the hill and attacked them. 

With the Portuguese force suffering heavy damages, Melo requested an armistice. Rajasinghe did not reply to this, but ordered his drummers to proclaim that all Sinhalese that were with the Portuguese force were to leave them. They were told that those who remained would be put to the sword the next day.

 

The entire Portuguese army was resolutely crushed and annihilated, and their heads were gathered to a ghastly pile like coconuts at the feet of the warrior King, who skilfully led his powerful armies to a thrilling triumph and saved the Sinhalese Kingdom from the subjugation to a alien European Power.

The main reason why the colonial forces couldn't fight with the Kandyans was their guerrilla warfare battle tactics.

 Unlike the Portuguese, the Kandyans were familiar with leeches, monsoon rain and the terrain. They knew the land and the secret footpaths and successfully engaged in guerrilla warfare. They set up road blocks on the narrow winding paths; usually at a bend. They placed their guns between rocks and trees and launched surprise attacks. They regularly ambushed the Portuguese as they climbed the hills. They dropped felled trees and boulders on them and attacked the trapped soldiers.

The Portuguese did not make any other attempts to take Kandy after this.The Battle of Gannoruwa was the last battle fought between the Portuguese and the Kandyans. Rajasinghe eventually made an agreement with the Dutch and eventually the Portuguese were driven out of the country in 1658.