Experience the best that this beautiful island country has to offer from nature to culture during your stay. Witness an ancient dance concert, taste amazing food; visit the famous spice gardens and many other such experiences that have been carefully planned for you. Rejuvenate yourself with yoga class. Also, get an opportunity to participate in a community engagement program.
Amatra Indian School Group Sri Lanka Cultural Exchange
Kandy - Sri Lanka
Program
Living
Kandy
Sri Lanka
Program Description
In this program, you will familiarize yourself with Sri Lanka’s culture and customs. Enjoy a cultural show specially put up for you. Enrich your experience with some basic Sri Lankan language classes that would help you find your way around this enchanting country. Get a taste of its rich and varied cuisine. You would also be able to take some culinary classes so that you can yourself whip up a Sri Lankan feast when you are back home. A delicious lunch at a spice garden, a boat ride at Kandy Lake and a visit to The Temple of The Tooth are definitely going to be some of the once in a lifetime experiences for you. Later in the week, you will get to learn the importance of serving others after we introduce you to the community engagement programs that we run. Finally, relax your body and soul with a Meditation class. And don’t miss the souvenir shopping for the loved ones waiting for you back at home.
Note: Minimum Group Size: 15 participants; 1 free seat per 15 pax
Note: Airport pick-up and Airport drop-off are included in the package.
Aims & Objectives
- Get closer to the beauty and traditions of Sri Lanka
- Broaden your knowledge of the local customs and culture
- Learn you helpful phrases in the local language
- Familiarize yourself with the local surroundings
- Explore interesting and beautiful places
Schedule
Day 1: Sunday
- Pick up from the Airport
- Transfer to the accommodation in Kandy
- Get settled in your accommodation
- The evening is free time to relax or for group activities
Day 2: Monday
- Introduction to House Rules, Setting Expectations, Health and Safety Advice and handling of documents.
- Language lesson followed by Lunch
- Attend a cultural lesson and depart on a Kandy City Tour
- Cultural Show
Day 3: Tuesday
- Breakfast and departure (Excursion Day)
- Visit Spice and Ayurvedic Garden
- Lunch at the Spice Garden
- Visit the Gem Museum
- Boat Ride at Kandy Lake
Day 4: Wednesday
- Breakfast followed by Sri Lankan cooking lesson
- Introduction to service-learning and the programs: Renovation (Light), Informal teaching exchange, Community Engagement
- Meditation Class
Day 5: Thursday
- Participate in the community engagement program
- Free time to relax or for group activities designed by the group leader
Day 6: Friday
- Participate in the community engagement program
- Task completion ceremony/awarding of participation certificates
- Visit Temple of the Tooth
- Visit Kandy City Center, time for souvenir shopping
- Group Dinner
Day 7: Saturday
- Pack your bags
- Say your goodbyes to the local team
- Transfer to the airport
Note: This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.
Participant Criteria & Requirements
Standard Requirements
Minimum age: –
Maximum age: –
Minimum English level: Basic
CRB required: No
Passport copy required: On Signup
Resume copy required: No
Required qualification: None
Additional Requirements
There are no further requirements for this program.
Additional Equipment
Casual dress is appropriate during your time at the program. However, no-see-through clothes or low cut tops are permitted.
Location
Kandy, the last royal capital of Sri Lanka is a major tourist destination. About 115 km from Colombo at 465 meters above sea level. Famous for the Temple of the Tooth and many other temples the city could be called the cultural capital of the island. This bustling market town is rich in cultural diversity and has plenty to offer to the tourists from songs dances and handicrafts to ancient temples and adventure activities. Kandy was a royal capital and the last stronghold of the Kandyan kings against foreign powers, holding out against them for about 300 years. The two main Buddhist Chapters are based here and formed the last center of independent Buddhist thought during colonial times.
About the Accommodation
You will be accommodated in one of our centers which are located 2-4 kilometers away from Kandy center. Furthermore, there is a refrigerator which you are welcome to use to store food and beverages.
Food Arrangements
You will be provided with three meals a day on weekdays and two meals per day on weekends. The meals are a mix of Western and Sri Lankan food, consisting mainly of vegetarian dishes including rice and vegetables. You can also eat out at any of the local restaurants.
Facilities
Our house is located 2 kilometers away from the city center, where you can find anything you might need.
The nearest ATM and supermarket are a 15-minute walk away from our accommodation.
Mandatory Orientation Day
On the Monday of your first week at this location, you will join our orientation day, to familiarize you with the surroundings as well as local culture. Your program will continue as usual from Tuesday onward throughout the rest of the week.
Schedule
- Welcome, introduction to Sri Lanka and projects, House rules, Code of Conduct and handling of documents
- Sinhalese Language Lesson
- Cultural Lesson
- Kandy City Tour
Activities & Events
No scheduled activities outside the program.
Sights & Surroundings
The places to visit during your weekends or on your project holidays are the Royal Botanical Gardens, Knuckles mountain range, Udawatta Kele sanctuary, Hortons plains national park and the railway museum.
Transportation
From this location we do not provide free transport to other locations.
Quick Facts
Name: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Population: 20 million
Capital: Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte and Colombo
Language: Sinhalese, Tamil
Currency: Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR)
Time zone: UTC +5:30
Country Information
Sri Lanka’s over 2000 years of history and culture can still be seen in every corner of its cities and the details of its ever-beautiful ancient temples. With eight UNESCO World Heritage sites and its short distances between the main sights, Sri Lanka is a country that, despite often being overlooked in itineraries, has left travelers filled with awe.
Visit the sacred home of the world’s oldest living tree in Anuradhapura, wander around the colonial architecture of Colombo, get sun-kissed at the untouched beaches that enclose the territory, snorkel in the crystal-clear waters, head to the hills for a cooler temperature and get surrounded by lush natural vegetation, visit two thousand year-old temples or get overawed at the sight of hundreds of elephants in Minneriya.
While traveling through Sri Lanka you will experience adventures from the highest and chilliest mountains like the famous Adam’s Peak – a stairway mountain considered sacred in three different religions, through the elephant shelters, to the most peaceful beaches up north near Trincomalee and their tiny- one floor- hostels facing the calm sea.
Climate
Sri Lanka is one of the best destinations to visit year-round as the rainy seasons hit the island in opposite locations at different times of the year. That being said, Sri Lanka is a country that can be visited if you know where to go in search for the best weather.
Southwest
The southwest monsoon hits between May and September and the dry season occurs from December to March.
North and coastal regions
The monsoon season happens between October and January while the dry seasons takes places between May and September.
Culture
Sri Lanka is known for its distinct cuisine, indigenous holistic medicines, cricket practices and prestigious export of tea, cinnamon and gemstones. Moreover, the country boasts of a rich artistic tradition which includes music, dance and the visual arts.
Sri Lanka has been shaped by many aspects. The first and most obvious being the heritage of Theravada Buddhism passed on from India. Furthermore, the colonial period left a big mark in the country’s traditions and culture, with British elements being featured in every corner as well as Dutch and Portuguese elements.
Sri Lanka, better known as the “nation of smiling people”, is a paradisiac island that Napoleon described as a world-like biodiversity in a tiny piece of land on the Indian ocean. Multicultural, multi-religious and multi-coloured country, formerly named Ceylon, is known for its delicious black tea, it’s heartwarming inhabitants and its history-filled corners.
The festival of Duruthu celebrates the Buddha’s first visit to Sri Lanka. During Duruthu, thousands of people attend colorful parades, which consist of three processions on the nights before the full moon. The processions consist of fireball performers, drummers, dancers, decorated elephants and the most important – a gigantic tusker treading a white carpet.
On April 13th or 14th Avurudda celebrates the Sinhalese New Year. According to Sinhalese astrology, the new year begins when the sun changes from Meena Rashi (Pisces) to Mesha Rashi (Aries).
During June the Poson Festival takes place on the full moon day of June and celebrates the arrival of Buddhism, which occurred when Arahat Mahinda, the son of the emperor of India, converted King Devanampiyatissa to Buddhism.
During October or November, Diwali the Festival of Lights is celebrated. Diwali is an ancient Hindu festival that signifies the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, hope over despair, and good over evil. It is celebrated with millions of lights shining over houses, temples, and buildings. Diwali is celebrated between mid-October and mid-November, on the darkest, new moon night of Karitika.
In Sri Lanka, it is tradition to take an oil bath in the morning, wear new clothes, exchange presents and sweets and visit the Koil, a Hindu Temple. In the evenings, oil lamps are lit to invite the blessings from the goddess of wealth.
Transportation
Plane
Flying between major locations in Sri Lanka such as Galle, Colombo, Nuwara Eliya and others is possible with Aero Lanka and Srilankan Airlines. Moreover, Srilankan Airlines runs small seaplanes, which give you a great aerial view of the island.
Bus
Buses are a option to get around Sri Lanka, albeit quite uncomfortable. For instance, for less than a Euro you can get almost halfway around the island in a bus without air conditioning. Luxury buses with air conditioning also exist at a higher price which are still very inexpensive.
Train
Sri Lanka boasts of an extensive railway system that will get you almost anywhere around the country. Moreover, Sri Lanka is known for its picturesque scenery that can be best viewed in a train journey. In fact, there are observation carts in most trains for tourists that will allow you to better take in the beauty of your surroundings.
In most cases, getting around by train is the cheapest option. There are three classes: 1st, 2nd and 3rd class. In most Intercity and Express trains, however, only 1st and 2nd are offered. Do keep in mind that trains from one popular destination to another (i.e. Colombo – Kandy or Galle – Colombo) often get overbooked, so it is best to reserve a seat much in advance.
