SUNGATE LANKA TOURS has produced an itinerary for a gem tour of Sri Lanka in order that this tour will help you to obtain an in-depth analysis of gems and the value gems bring which are aligned to fame and fortune. Sri Lanka has the mantle of being regarded as the largest producer of gems in the world. Sri Lanka’s gem industry has a very long and colorful history. Sri Lanka was affectionately known as Ratna-Dweepa which means Gem Island. The name is a reflection of its natural wealth. Marco Polo wrote that the island had the best sapphires, topazes, amethysts, and other gems in the world.
Gemstones are very precious and powerful stones, worn to ward off evil. They have healing and medicinal powers, which protect us against the bad effect of planets. They are known to boost the spiritual power of our body, keeping us happy and healthy.
Day 1 Beruwala
Upon arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport, a SUNGATE LANKA TOURS representative will greet you and driver down to Beruwela which is approximately around a 3 hour drive.
Overnight stay at a hotel in Beruwela
Day 2 Galle
On day 2, after breakfast, you will begin your excursion to Galle – which is an hour’s drive from Beruwala.
Galle is rich in history with several colonial influences – the Portuguese being the most prominent. The remnant of the Dutch Fort (built in the 17th century) is a remarkable site to visit in Galle. On your return to Beruwala, you could stop at Ambalangoda to have a look at the famous traditional masks in Sri Lanka and also visit to the Kosgoda turtle hatchery.
Overnight stay at hotel in Beruwela
Day 3 & 4 Ratnapura
On the 3rd day you will visit a gem school in Beruwela during which you would have the opportunity of interacting with the students and obtain firsthand knowledge and a lesson on gems and the history of gems in Sri Lanka. .
After lunch, you will begin a 3 hour journey to Ratnapura – the heart of the gem industry.
Overnight stay at an hotel ion Ratnaura (Name the hotel)
On Day 4 of your Sri Lanka gems tour, visit to a precious stone mine in Ratnapura, then to a gem market and also to visit the gemological museum.
Overnight stay at hotel in Ratnapura
Day 5 Udawalawe
The next day, you will drive two hours to the Centauria Wild for an exciting stay amidst the jungle. After checking in and relaxing in the hotel, a jeep will take you to the Udawalawe National Park for a safari. This national park is renowned for its elephant and bird population, and other wild life species.
Overnight stay at Centauria Wild
Day 6 Buttala
Prior to leaving the Centauria Wild you will visit the Elephant Tranist Home, the place of abode for baby elephants. Thereafter, proceed to Buttala on route visiting the Buduruwagala Temple for an amazing view of the historic Buddha carvings on the rock.
During your stay at Buttala you would be accommodated at the Tree Tops Jungle Lodge hotel. The lodge is located alongside Menik River, which means ‘river of gems’ in Sinhalese.
Overnight stay Tree Tops Jungle Lodge
Day 7 & 8 Ella
On day 7 you will visit the Okkampitiya gemstone mine. At this mine you would be able to witness the process and discover stone extraction methods such as sieving and separating the stone gravel from earthy sands. After the mine visit, an hour’s drive away is the beautiful town of Ella in Sri Lanka’s hill country. Admire the lovely cascading Ravana Falls on the way.
On day 8, you will visit the neighboring town of Bandarawela. Here you will be taken through a ride amidst the gorgeous landscapes and luscious tea plantations. Stop at Lipton’s Seat for a snack with a stunning view. Sir Thomas Lipton is the genius of tea in Sri Lanka and this is where he liked to sit and sip on his tea.
Overnight stay at Ella
Day 9 & 10 Kandy (via train ride to Nanu Oya
The next morning, head on to the Ella Railway Station for an absolutely breathtaking train ride amidst beautiful mountains, valleys, tea plantations and villages – to the small town of Nanu Oya. Your SUNGATE LANKA TOURS representative will meet you at the Nanu Oya Station and drive you to Kandy. On the way, you can stop at the scenic view of the Kotmale reservoir and also to see the Ramboda Waterfall.
You will reach Kandy by evening so you have time for a visit to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic before you check in to Kandy House for the night.
Overnight stay at Kandy
Day 10
You can tour the Royal Botanical Garden in Peradeniya. Located alongside the Mahaweli River, this massive garden includes flora such as orchids, cannonball trees, royal palms and lovely colorful flower beds.
Later that day, you can drive to the neighboring Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage for another interactive evening with the elephants.
A Kandyan cultural dance show takes place every evening at 5.00pm. If time permits, you can enjoy this show before you return to your hotel for the night.
Overnight stay in Kandy
Day 11 & 12 Sigiriya
On day 11 proceed to Sigiriya, on route visit a batik factory to see for yourself the art of traditional batik printing. Also visit a nearby Herbal and Spice Garden which has amazing remedies to treat persons with various ailments using ayuruvedic medications which historically in Sri Lanka has proved successful and continues to successfully treat patients who have not been able to obtain their desired success using western medications.
Later that day, you can visit the Dambulla Cave Temple Complex which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Five Buddhist caves are perched on rocky hills and inside these caves are exclusive wall paintings, Buddha Statues and Stupas.
Overnight stay at Water Garden Hotel
Day 12 Day 12 is an excursion to the ancient city of Polonnaruwa. During the ancient era, Polonnaruwa was the capital city of Sri Lanka after Anuradhapura for centuries. You will find ruins of Temples, Palaces, Buddhist Stupas and Statues.
Overnight stay at Water Garden Hotel
Day 13 & 14 Colombo
Early next morning on Day 13, head towards the Lion’s Rock in Sigiriya. Our guide will help you with the climb and take you to the right places where you can discover beautiful paintings and frescoes engraved into the rock. At the top of the rock are remnants of a Fortress built by King Kashyapa during the 10th century. Explore these at the summit and enjoy a tremendous view of the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka. Also classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Lion’s Rock is one of the most popular tour attractions in Sri Lanka.
Thereafter, proceed to Colombo. Overnight stay at a hotel in Colombo
On the last day of your Gem Tour Sri Lanka culminating with a city tour of Colombo. One hour from Colombo is the Bandaranaike International Airport.
This is where your Gem Tour in Sri Lanka comes to an end. Sincerely hoping that you found this itinerary attractive; we are waiting to hear from you. Please note that we are very flexible with changes to the itinerary so if you have any special requirements, kindly get in touch with us.
History of Gems in Sri Lanka
• GEMSTONES FOUND IN SRI LANKA
Sri Lanka is one of the top gem bearing countries in the world with the highest density of gems in the world and is a global sourcing destination for over 75 varieties of precious and semi-precious gemstones.
- Ruby
- Spinel
- Amethyst
- Sapphire
- Garnet
- Rose Quartz
- Aquamarine
- Tourmaline
- Agate
- Cymophane
- Topaz
- Citrine
- Alexandrite
- Zircon
- Moonstone
GEM DEPOSITS IN SRI LANKA
A large majority of gem deposits found in Sri Lanka are sedimentary in nature. More than 90% of the island is made up of Precambrian metamorphic rocks and can be divided into four major divisions:
- Highland Group
- Southwest Group
- Eastern Vijayan Complex
- Western Vijayan Complex
Over the past few million years, intense weather and rapid erosion have given rise to thick and extensive accumulations of sediments in the flood plains of rivers, in lakes, and in now-buried river channels in the Highland complex. It is within these weathering products that significant secondary-alluvial-gem deposits are collected. Except for a few alluvial occurrences in the Eastern Vijayan Complex, virtually all Sri Lankan gem deposits have been found within the Highland and to a lesser extent Southwest Groups.
Today large expanses of alluvial deposits have been extensively mined in the main Ratnapura and Elahera gem fields in Sri Lanka, where a majority of coloured gemstones are found.
GEMSTONES FROM SRI LANKA
While there are 200 types of mineral found across the world, Sri Lanka is home to nearly 75 varieties of colored and colorless gemstones belonging to ten main species.
CORUNDUM
The corundum family of gemstones consist of some of the most valuable and popular gemstones including ruby and sapphire. Compact, dense, and lacking gemstone cleavage corundums are also the second hardest natural mineral after diamond. These factors make both varieties of corundum some of the most highly desired jewellery stones. Ruby is the red variety of corundum. All other colors of corundum, including colorless corundum, are called sapphires. Gems belonging to corundum species can display asterism and chatoyancy due to the presence of oriented mineral inclusions, and in some cases, a change of color when viewed under different light sources.
