2013 斯里兰卡朝圣团

Sri Lanka Pilgrimage Trip in 2013
Date 日期：25/11/2013 –  01/12/2013
Age 年龄：公开 Open to All

全程旅费 Charges: RM. 3898 /=
定金 Deposit: RM 2000 /=
截止日期 Deadline: 16-06-2013
欲知详情，請联络  For details, please contact:
慧者法师 Dr. Bhante Pannasami (04 - 6554 913 / 017 - 6833 442  Penang)
Email: pannasami@hotmail.com
OR

Sis. Sundara (016 - 2511 265  Kuala Lumpur)

此朝圣团将由专业领导者 慧者博士法师 带领，讲解每个圣地的点点滴滴以及每日路途车上随缘佛法开示。席位有限，无保留权。先报名先得。

This pilgrimage trip is led by the expert Dr. Bhante Pannasami who will explain the details of all Buddhist places and give Dhamma Talks wherever necessary on the way daily in the bus. No reservation is available. It is on the basis of first come first serve.

斯里兰卡朝圣旅程表
[此朝圣旅程表只是暂定的，随时会有变动无预先通知]：

Tentative Itinerary is subject to change without prior notice:

Day 1: Arrive at Sri Lanka International Airport and you will be met by representatives and transfer to Dambulla.

After Lunch at a restaurant and proceed to visit ‘Dambulla Cave Temple’ – is a vast isolated rock mass 500 feet high and a mile around the base. Here is found the famous Rock Temple dating to the First Century B.C. The caves of Dambulla sheltered King Walagamba during his 14 years of exile from Anuradhapura. When he regained the throne he built the most magnificent of Rock Temples to be found in the Island. In the first Cave is a recumbent image of the Buddha 47ft long cut of the Rock. Dinner and Overnight stay at A Hotel.

Day 2: After breakfast excursion to Anuradhapura.

Sightseeing of ‘Anuradhapura’ – the capital of Sri Lanka from the 05^th Century B.C. to the end of the 10^th Century A.D. was the most celebrated of Sri Lanka’s ancient cities. The city’s greatest treasures are its Dagobas constructed of bricks and hemispherical in shape. The most notable of these Dagobas are the Ruvanveliseya which dates back to the 2^nd Century B.C. and is 300 feet in diameter, the Jetawanarama is 370 feet and the Thuparama Dagoba enshrines the collarbone of the Buddha. The city’s most renowned relic is the sacred Bo Tree, which is said to have grown from a branch of the tree under which the Buddha gained Enlightenment. It was planted 2250 years ago and is the oldest historically authenticated tree in the world.

After Lunch at a Restaurant, proceed to visit ‘Mihintale’ – is 140 miles from Colombo, 8 miles from Anuradhapura. Mihintale is called the ‘Cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka’. It was here that the Buddhist doctrines was first preached in here by the monk ‘Mahinda’, son of Asoka, Emperor of India, to King Devanampiyatissa more than 2000 years ago. Mihintale – ‘the hill of Mahinda’ is approached by a magnificent, wide, ancient stone stairway of 1,840 steps. This is the World’s first declared sanctuary from 247 B.C. and continues to be one up to this day. Dinner and Overnight stay at A Hotel.

Day 3: After breakfast excursion to Polonnaruwa.

Sightseeing ‘Polonnaruwa’, which was the 2^nd capital city of Sri Lanka, built in the 11^th and 12^th centuries A.D., and which is a world heritage site. Here we can see the ruins of the Royal Palace, the Gal Viharaya – where 4 splendid statues of the Buddha in ‘Upright’, ‘Sedentary’ and ‘Recumbent’ postures carved out of rock, the Audience Hall, the Lotus Bath, King Parakramabahu’s statue, and the Parakrama Samudraya lake built by King Parakramabahu the Great. There are also monuments of famous places of worship such as the Shiva Temple, the Lankathilake, the Watadage, the Galpotha, the Kiri Vehera and the remains of a former Temple of the Tooth Relic.

After Lunch at Thidasarana Restaurant, proceed to climb ‘Sigiriya Rock Fortress’ - is home to the 5^th Century ‘Fortress in the Sky’ which is perhaps the most fantastic single wonder of the Island. It is also known as Lion Rock because of the huge lion that used to stand at the entrance to the fortress. Within its triple-moated defence the huge rock rises almost to a sheer height of 500 ft. On its summit are the foundations of what was once a great and sumptuous palace and gardens complete with swimming pool. On one of the stairways the only known ancient work of Sinhala secular painting survived in the form of frescoes of life sized damsels in all the freshness and delicacy of their original color. Sigiriya was never conquered by any of the invading forces that had such an effect on the Island of Sri Lanka. It was however ceded to the British during the colonial rule without force. Dinner and Overnight stay at A Hotel.

Day 4: After breakfast proceed to Kandy, En route visit ‘Spice Garden in Matale’.

Visit ‘Aluvihara Temple’ that is situated just North of Matale, about 18 miles from Kandy. Here, in 2^nd century B.C., the Buddhist scriptures (the Tripitaka) were first committed to writing in ‘Ola Leaves’, a chore that required the devout attention of about 500 senior monks 2000 years ago. The Rock Caves were formed long ago by boulders tumbling down a nearby mountain. They contain various icons and frescoes. One cavern graphically depicts sinners’ hell.

After Lunch at a restaurant, proceed to have City tour of Kandy, including Upper Lake Drive, Market Square, Gem Museum. Kandy – the hill capital, venue of the annual Perahera. The last stronghold of the Sinhala Kings was finally ceded to the British in 1815. Kandy is an example of the Buddhism’s influence in Sri Lanka today. Temple’s shrines and monasteries keeping alive Buddhist traditions are everywhere. Witness a Cultural Show featuring various dance groups of Sri Lanka. Dinner and Overnight stay at A Hotel.

Day 5: Early morning visit ‘Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic’ – ever since 4^th Century A.D., when the Buddha’s Tooth was brought to Sri Lanka hidden from sacrilegious hands in an Orissan princess’ hair, the Relic has grown in repute and holiness in Sri Lanka and throughout the Buddhist world.

Breakfast at Hotel. Excursion to ‘Mahiyangana’ – one of the earliest Buddhist sites, sanctified by the visit of the Buddha to settle a dispute among two clans of people living here. It is mentioned that he had levitated at once terrifying the people and he had expelled the Yakshas of one clan to a site called Nagadeepa-identified at Nainativu Island in Jaffna and settled the disputes. A Dagoba was erected at the site enshrining the Sacred locks of the Buddha’s hair. This Dagoba was conserved recently and the Archaeologists who excavated the ruined monument opened up the Relic Chamber inside and found fallen plaster containing paintings and were able to get 4 paintings after fixing the pieces together. They are now in the Kandy museum.

After Lunch at a Restaurant, return back to Kandy. Dinner and Overnight stay at A Hotel.

Day 6: After breakfast proceed to Colombo. En route visit ‘Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara Temple’ – one of the earliest Buddhist Dagobas traditionally believed to be the site visited by the Buddha 2500 years ago. According to the Mahavamsa, the ‘paddy-heap’ shaped Dagoba at Kelaniya marks the spot where the Buddha, on the request of a Naga King, sat on a ‘gem-studded throne’ to preach the Dharma to his subjects and convert them. It is ascribed to King Yatala Tissa of the 3^rd Century B.C. An annual Perahera called ‘Duruthu Perahera’ will be held each year during the month of January for 3 days.

After Lunch at a Restaurant, commence city tour of Colombo – a drive through the city taking you to the busy commercial areas as well as the tree-lined residential, Cinnamon Gardens. Visit Fort, the former British administrative center and military garrison, Sea Street – the Goldsmith’s quarters in the heart of Pettah, the Bazaar area, where is also a Hindu Temple with elaborate stone carvings, and the Dutch Church of Wolfendhal dating back to 1749. Also visit the BMICH, see the replica of Avukana Buddha and Independence Square. Visit Gangaramaya Temple, Sri Maha Malakaya and ODEL Shopping Complex. After Dinner at a Restaurant and transfer to the Sri Lanka International Airport for the Flight back to Malaysia.

Day 7: Flight back to Malaysia at 01:00 am (Sri Lanka Time). End of Tour !