Today morning, before leaving to the cultural triangle, make a visit to the Gangarama Temple with your kids. Buy some fresh lotus and incense sticks for a cheap price as kids would love to walk up to the sacred Boo Tree to offer the same. Fill a small brass pot with water and pour it to the tree while walking around the tree to get the blessings of Buddha. The chief incumbent of the temple will offer you a pirith chanted thread to be wrapped on your wrist and it will keep you safe and sound throughout the tour.

With the blessings obtained, start your family adventure! Continue driving to Matale-Dambulla where a lot of magic and authenticity is waiting.

Stop at Kajugama to buy the crunchy cashews freshly roasted for your delight! Kids will surely want more to take home as well.

Next stop at Millennium Elephant foundation en route and take up a walk with the gentle giants. Both kids and adults will love the elephants who are residents there. Walk leisurely along the village paths with them and bathe them in the river.

Get yourselves treated with an authentic Sri Lankan meal. Sri Lankan rice and curry meal with a creamy curd and treacle for dessert – what more would you want? The spice levels of all meals can be moderated as per your kids’ taste buds.

As you reach Sigiriya, it will be afternoon which is the best time to climb. Sigiriya Lion’s Rock is one of the country’s most mind-blowing sites – most children, even younger ones, manage to climb to the top generally.

Enjoy the climb up to the fortress with the antics of the local monkeys to amuse you and the art and architecture on every level to reward your climb. It is exciting, adventurous and of course a safe climb. The top, remains of a royal palace, is a panoramic viewpoint across the patchwork of farms and jungle below. End the day by experiencing an amazing sunset atop the Sigiriya Lions Rock.

Once you come down, the kids will enjoy a drink of a fresh king coconut and a slice of pineapple from a local vendor!

You will be staying at Jim’s Farm Villa specially chosen for the kids and for the excellent spa. A working farm, there’s plenty of space here to roam and run around. Kids will love the coconut-tree-fringed pool too. Further, sightings of elephants, deer and monkeys are common here.

The spacious room and natural setting will make this an ideal and memorable family place.

Take the morning garden walk to learn the spices and veggies and also try your hand at activities as diverse as milking a cow and yoga.

The kids can plant a tree in the garden and it will be named after them! A gift to the Mother Nature, a great example for the kids and they will be remembered in Sri Lanka for many years to come….

Then make a trip to Polonnaruwa to learn the ancient history of Sri Lanka.

The roads are very scenic, shaded with trees and you can stop for some snacks – perhaps some coconut flat cakes and hot tea cup from a small shop on the way.

As you reach Polonnaruwa, the well preserved ruin city, take up a bicycle tour to explore as a family. Teach your kids the irrigation advancements in age old times, rich culture, amazing architecture and landscaping. Spend time learning and admiring the beautiful Buddhist statues, relics and temples. Some of the sites are now “ruled” by monkeys and kids will love these sightings. If they wish, you can even visit the Monkey Kingdom in Polonnaruwa which the famous Disney movie ‘The Monkey Kingdom’ was filmed!

Tip– Do not feed them your food as they will follow you all throughout.