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Nilagama
The Nilagama affair focuses on rural life, the livelihoods of the village-folk, traditional...
Peoples
Max Capacity
Private car
Transport
Half Board
Meal Plan
The Nilagama affair focuses on rural life, the livelihoods of the village-folk, traditional agriculture, and the island’s religious heritage. We start off at Nilagama, a quaint village in central Sri Lanka. We take in its sights and sounds as well as the surrounding area, while seated in a local tuk tuk. A unique mode of transport is up next. A bullock cart, still used for transportation here, takes us through the village community. This traditional ride adds greatly to what is an already authentic village experience.
We’ll meet an immensely skilled traditional blacksmith next. Preserving and playing his ancient trade, he’ll show you the age-old techniques used to sharpen and carve iron in crafting hand-made tools. Try your hand at it, closely guided by him, in creating your own knife or tool in the traditional way. The encounter also involves meeting a traditional Sri Lankan goldsmith at his workshop. Witness first-hand how precious metals such as Gold and Silver are carefully transformed into custom jewellery pieces.
We head to a local farm thereafter. Nilagama Farm is spread across an area of 30 acres and provides high-quality natural fruits and vegetables to the local community. You’ll get a rare chance to engage with farmers, assist them with their daily activities, and spend some quality time with them. Dig into a traditional farmer’s lunch featuring a variety of fresh organic produce, in a traditional mud house. This simple setting is unlike any you’ve seen elsewhere, and it will enhance your meal greatly.
Next up, an ancient tradition that is most rare. Toddy tapping is common here, and you’ll witness the toddy tappers ascending palm trees to retrieve the earthen pots that hang from them. The pots collect the palm sap which is then fermented in creating toddy. The village toddy tappers will explain the process to you, as you sip on some fresh toddy.
We set off on a catamaran ride along scenic Bat Lake, thereafter. From man-made Bat Lake, leisurely take in village life unfolding as well as the diversity of wildlife in the surrounding area.
In ending this experience, we visit Sri Nilagiri Purana Rajamaha Temple. An ancient temple, it is located in a village that is inhabited by the ‘Siththara’ or the temple mural artists. These families have preserved this special artistic tradition for thousands of years. Their work adorns the inner walls of the temple. Covered in murals depicting the life of the Buddha, these walls will leave you overwhelmed with their historic and religious weight.
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What to Know Before you trvel
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Knowledge and expertise can make your holiday more canker free and fun filled.
Sri Lanka is a tropical island. Therefore, breathable cotton clothing would be ideal. White is considered a clean, pure colour especially when visiting religious sites. Ideally a pair of sturdy sneakers for treks would do whilst a pair of comfy flip flops would do for excursions and sandals would be perfect for the beach or for a casual walk.
Get permission from the proper people before visiting a sacred place. This might be a caretaker, holy person, elder, or the governing agency affiliated with the site. Be aware that even after attaining permission from a governing agency you may be offending indigenous people who may not have jurisdiction over their own sacred sites.
Exchange rates fluctuate constantly throughout the week as currencies are actively traded. This pushes the price up and down, similar to other assets such as gold or stocks. The market price of a currency – how many U.S. dollars it takes to buy a Canadian dollar for example – is different than the rate you will receive from your bank when you exchange currency. Here's how exchange rates work, and how to figure out if you are getting a good deal. For the more advanced investor, you might want to check out
01.A person may bring any sum of money in foreign currencies into Sri Lanka. This sum could be in TCs, Bank drafts or currency notes. However, if the total of such sum exceeds US$ 15,000, such sum should be declared to the Sri Lanka Customs.
02. If a person wishes to take out from Sri Lanka any sum in exceeds of US$ 5000 in currency notes out of the sum brought in as per (1) above, such person should declare the entirety of the sum brought in, even if it is less than US$ 15,000.
Contact Us
It is with great delight that we inform you that Experience Sri Lanka has commenced operations once more!
In the past two months, we’re certain you would have faced immense difficulty in being unable to conduct your business and family lives as normal. We hope this finds you safe and sound.
As the entire globe slowly emerges from the current health crisis, it is heartening to see the measures that have been taken by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) as well as the country’s major travel companies. We’ve described in detail how Experience Sri Lanka ensures safe tours during this period, in a shared link “ Health and Safety Procedures & Guidelines “ We would appreciate it if you can go through the brief procedures and guidelines and get back to us if there are any clarifications required.
A lot of effort has been put in country-wide, from the airports, transportation facilities, hotels, tourist sites, police and forces, medical personnel, sites and attractions, to tour operators and travel agencies, to ensure the country can be opened to the outside world in a safe manner, to display the island’s distinct charm once more. Travel has tremendous potential to heal lives, as it can revive the livelihoods of our country’s people while lifting the spirits of all our guests to the island. Therefore, we’re taking our responsibility even more seriously.
We look forward in delivering a healthy & safe travel plans and tours!
KEY POINTS TO NOTE
No minimum number of days is required for a stay.
All facilities of the hotel would be made available to the guests.
No restrictive quarantine required.
Tourists may visit up to 14 approved tourist sites under the safety of a bio-bubble.
Tourists must stay at a certified ‘Safe and Secure’ Level 1 hotel for upto 14 days of their stay.
Pay for PCR Tests ( 40 USD per PCR test depending on the number of days of the stay) when applying for visa online and for insurance (12 USD) with one month cover of 50,000 USD.
Currently no exceptions would be made for vaccinations taken; all safety protocols should be adhered to regardless.