Matale Highlands and Cooking Experience from Sigiriya (Private Day Tour)

Matale Highlands and Cooking Experience from Sigiriya (Private Day Tour)

This tour takes you to three lesser knowns, but amazing, locations in the area of Matale. You will first view the beautiful, historic and completely mysterious Nalanda Gedige. Then you will have a fun-filled visit in the form of the Euphoria Spice and Herbal Gardens in Matale, where you learn more about spices and watch a traditional cooking demo that puts them to good use. You will then move onto a serious note with the secretive and ancient rock temple Aluvihara. Finally, you will visit the spectacular Sembuwatta Lake at sunset, making for some amazing views

SKU: LK60061400

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Nalanda Gedige, Matale 21152 Sri Lanka

Begin the day at 8:30 am when your vehicle picks you up from your hotel in Sigiriya. Breakfast is not included in your tour package so bring your own along or have it before leaving. It will take 2-hours to reach your first destination, Nalanda Gedige in Matale.

Nalanda Gedige is an old Dravidian (Pallava era) structure believed to have been built between the 8th to 10th century. At first view, it’s an obviously Hindu temple from the detailed wall and roof architecture, to the little windowless main shrine. However, the site’s erotic tantric sculptures, along with its plain moonstone, point to a more Buddhist origin. After viewing this structure and discussing it with your tour guide, you will leave for Euphoria Spice and Herbal Gardens at 11:30am.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Regent Spice and Herbal Garden - Matale, No:06, Kirigalpoththa, Palapathwela, Matale Sri Lanka

Arrive at Euphoria Spice and Herbal Gardens by 11:45 am. Start your visit with a 1 to 1.5-hour tour of the spice and herbal gardens. During the tour, you will learn more about the gardens’ different spices and herbs, as well as how they are grown and harvested and watch a traditional cooking demo that puts them to good use. 

You will leave the spice gardens at 2:00 pm. It will take 20-minutes to transfer to Aluvihara,

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Aluvihara Rock Cave Temple, Matale, Aluvihara Aluvihara Junction, Matale Rd, Matale 21000 Sri Lanka

a religious complex that is believed to mean ‘light temple’ or ‘cave with light’ based on two different beliefs. Aluvihara is most famous as the place of creation of the Buddhist religious script ‘Triptaka’. The stupa is literally built on top of a large rock. Meanwhile, the rock itself is riddled with a cave system. So far 13 caves have been found, with much more buried under old cave-ins. You will have to climb up and through the rock to see the historic and interesting insides of these caves and learn more about the history within.

Leave Aluvihara at 3:30 pm.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Sembuwatta Reach, No. 145 Elkaduwa Wattegama Road, Elkaduwa 21012 Sri Lanka

You can return to Kandy at this time, or opt for a sunset visit to Sembuwatta Lake located in the Elkaduwa area. You will get there by 4:30 pm. Sembuwatta is an artificial lake made from a natural spring in the area. It’s famed for its amazing views and natural swimming pool. You will be spending a relaxing hour here, allowing you to take some spectacular photos with the setting sun. Leave the lake at 5:30 pm and return to Sigiriya by 7:00 pm.

Duration: 1 hour