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Elephants & Ancient Cities (The Gathering) in Sri Lanka

 Elephant image gallery
 Read Real Accounts of Gathering
 Wildlife Videos



The highest concentration of Asian Elephants occur during 'The Gathering' a seasonal event which takes place at Minneriya National Park during August and September. In other parks, elephant watching is good throughout the year. In Uda Walawe, elephants are guaranteed, a promise which no other park in Asia can make.

DAY 01 Arrival in Sri Lanka and transfer to Villa Talangama, Colombo for one night. If time of arrival permits make a sunset visit to the beautiful Talangama Lake. Birding highlights include black and yellow bitterns.

DAY 02 After breakfast leave for Vil Uyana Hotel, Sigiriya for three nights. Afternoon safari at Minneriya National Park, during August to October, over 300 elephants gather on the receding shores of the Minneriya Tank. ‘The Gathering’ of Elephants at Minneriya is one of those awesome spectacles, which should rank alongside better-known wildlife spectacles such as the migration of wildebeest in Africa.

DAY 03 Morning visit Polonnaruwa (A UNESCO World Heritage Site), the medieval capital of Sri Lanka. Visit the world famous rock-cut Buddha statues of Gal Vihara and the Parakrama Samudra (‘Sea of Parakrama’) a 2500-hectare man made reservoir built by King Parakramabahu I (1153 –1186 AD) with a capacity of 134 million cubic metres, you will encounter troops of Toque Macaques, who were famously featured in both the BBC’s ‘Temple Troop’ and David Attenborough’s ‘ Life of Mammals’. One will be intrigued by the power play between the Macaques and Hanuman Langur. Afternoon another visit to Minneriya National Park for Elephants. 

DAY 04 Morning visit Sigiriya Rock Fortress, which was the pleasure capital of a single king called Kashyapa in the 5 Th centuries A.D.Afternoon visit Minneriya National Park once more to witness The Gathering.

DAY 05 After breakfast leave for Hunas Falls Hotel, Kandy for one night. Afternoon walk in the hotel gardens.

DAY 06 Morning visit Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Kandy, which is an object of veneration to Buddhists and the most important sacred relic in the country. Also do a city tour. Afternoon leave for Blue Oceanic Hotel, Negombo for one night. 

DAY 07 After breakfast transfer to International Airport.