dambana indiginous people

Dambana

Meet the Vedda Tribe in Sri Lanka 

Spend a day in a Vedda village and discover the indigenous roots of Sri Lanka. One of the best things to do in/from Kandy.

 

SLDT/1702/Ex06

Why should you book this Sri Lanka Ecotourism experience ? 

  • This is a non-commercialized, once-in-a-lifetime experience to mingle with the only indigenous, tribal community of the country – “Veddas” – a fast dwindling community.
  • Access to the private home of the Chief of the tribe and an opportunity to have a dialogue.
  • The possibility to experience the way of life of Veddas in Sri Lanka , including the use of the bow and arrow.
  • Unique photo opportunities with the Vedda community. 
  • This highly rated one of the best things to do in Kandy experience could be  booked as an excursion from Kandy or on your way to / from Kandy. 
  • This is an excellent community-based , Sri Lanka ecotourism experience in which you will directly contribute to the welfare of the indigenous community of Veddas

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HOTLINE
+94 70 222 8222

EMAIL
fit@ecoteam.lk

 

TOUR CODE
SLDT/1702/Ex06 

STARTING TIME
9.00 A.M. to 4.00 P.M

 TOUR STARTS/ENDS AT 

Pre agreed location in Mahiyanganaya Town

 [ Transport could be provided from your location at an extra cost ] 

TOUR DURATION

3 TO 4 HOURS 

PRICE

PRICE FOR 1 PERSON: 150 USD
PRICE FOR 2 & Above: 90 USD 

LEAD TIME

6 HOURS

  

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dambana indiginus people dinner time

Dambana hunting

Dambana hunting

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Included in the price

  • Local guide’s services 
  • Charges for the team of Veddas for their services  
  • Donation for the Chief of the Addi Vaasi (Vedda community)
  • Bush lunch prepared having some tribal delicacies
  • Bottled water throughout the day
  • All Government taxes

 

Exclusions

  • Tips for staff
  • Anything that is not mentioned above

dambana chief

Dambana kiri koraha dance

dambana activities and experience with vaddha

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Tour in Brief

We will be meeting you at a pre-arranged meeting point in Dambana Vedda village. Alternatively we will provide you with transport from/to your hotel in Kandy or any other place.  

At the gathering, you will be welcomed by the members of the Vedda community.They will brief you on the day’s activities, including an introduction to the area –Dambana.

Then we move on to the one-on-one meeting with the Chief of the Vedda tribe – Wanniyalatto. A quick stopover at the museums will further enhance your experience.

After the meeting, you will explore the area with a trek through the forest with the veddas and our guide. During the trek, you will witness how the veddas find edible yams, the process of finding a bee hive and extracting honey, differentiating animal foot prints, making a “Habaka” –a small animal trap – and of course the use of a bow and arrow.

Around 12.30 p.m. you will arrive at the outdoor bush lunch area. You may rest and enjoy the lunch before departure.

Important

  1. Personal effects for warm, windy, rainy conditions should be carried by clients.
  2. Insect repellent, sunscreen etc. are recommended.
  3. Sandals or walking shoes are recommended.
  4. Please refrain from making casual donations to anyone. If you like to tip, please hand it over to the Team Leader at the camp. He will distribute it amongst the staff.
  5. Please do not buy any wildlife-related products from anyone as it is illegal and against our sustainable policies.

Dambana Vedda village and the “Veddas”; the indigenous people in Sri Lanka. A must do experience in the list of things to do in Kandy. 

Dambana is the home for the Vedda community. Their present situation is even more demanding and arduous. On one hand they are fighting to keep their members from getting commercialised and on the other hand, the authorities blame them for getting commercialised and keep away from looking into their grievances. They are fighting a losing battle. In one recent interview, the Chief Uruwarige Wanniyalatto said that his greatest fear was that he would not be able to stop the death of the Vedda way of life. Since their livelihood is now changed completely, they depend more and more on earning money to sustain them.

The Veddas ; indigenous people of Sri Lanka , preserve a direct line of descent from the island's original Neolithic community dating back from at least 18,000 BC.

Veddas were originally hunter-gatherers, with the women of the tribe staying at home to tend to the family. They used bows and arrows to hunt game, and also gathered wild plants and honey. But now they are being forced to do farming.

The original dwellings of the Veddas consisted of caves and rock shelters. Many elaborate cave paintings have been discovered in Sri Lanka, painted mainly by the womenfolk whilst waiting for their men to return from the hunt.

Joining the Veddas of Sri Lanka in their village gives visitors a unique opportunity to get a firsthand experience of the Vedda culture which remains relatively untarnished by modern technology and commercialization. The Veddas are devoted to their traditions and our guests get to meet with Uruwarige Wanniyalatto, Chief of the Veddas. According to tribe rules, visitors cannot participate in communal activities without his permission. Once it is granted, close observation of Vedda culture is possible, as is participation in some of their activities.

One of their traditional forms of invoking the blessings of the gods is a famous dance called "Kiri Koraha". There are a few other traditional activities that are a part of their lives. The main activity is hunting.

 

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Feedback 

thanks for arrnaging everything, it was really a great weekend and particularly the guide was excellent. He has so much knowledge and could explain everything very well. All went very smooth on time without any delay.

 Franz Gruener – Germany - JUL 16