Ramayana Tour – Sri Lanka

Day 1 Airport – Sigiriya

Meeting and Greeting at the Airport. Transfer from Airport to Hotel in   Sigiriya via Munneswaram

Munneswaram Temple

The Munneswaram Kovil close to Chilaw is one of the 5 major   Shiva temples of Sri Lanka and Rameswaram islands. They are called Ishvarams.   According to a Tamil legend, the temple is situated at a place where King   Rama prayed to Shiva after committing the worst crime according to Hindu Dharma,   namely Brahmahasti, the killing of a priest, because Ravana who had to be   killed by Rama in order to liberate Sita, was of Brahmin caste. Rama stopped   the Vimana vehicle at Munneswaram because of his feeling that the Doshana sin   was not following him at this place. So, he ascended from the vimana and   prayed to God Shiva asking for a remedy. Shiva advised Rama to install four   lingams at Manavari, Trinco, Mannar and Rameswaram for this purpose.

Manavari   Temple

Manavari, about 6 kms north of Chilaw, is the first place   where Lord Rama installed a Lingam, as a remedy to Lord Shiva after   committing Brahmincide by killing the King Ravana who was a Brahmin. This   Shiva Lingam in Manavari is called Ramalingam because it was made by Lord   Rama. There are only two Lingams in the world named after Lord Rama, the   other is in Rameswaram in India.

Dinner and Overnight stay at Hotel in   Sigiriya

Day 2 Sigiriya –   Trincomalee - Sigiriya

Breakfast at Hotel. Day Excursion to Trincomalee

Visit   Hot Spring wells

Visit Other Hindu Temples – Sri Lakshmi   Narana Perumal Temple

Visit   Shakthi Peedam (Koneswaram Temple)

Adjacent to Koneswaram temple there is another   small shrine; with some significance for Hindu pilgrims. The original   Shankari Devi temple, said to be built by Ravana, was the first in the list   of Ashta Dasha (18) Shakti Pitas written down by Adi Shankara, but its whole   cliff was destroyed by Portuguese cannon balls. Only a pillar for   commemoration is placed on that spot now. And it is believed that the   original idol of the Goddess has been preserved and replaced, being venerated   now in this nearby new Shankari Devi temple.

Visit   Sri Bhadrakali Hindu Temple

Return to Sigiriya. Dinner and Overnight stay at Hotel in Sigiriya

Day 3 Sigiriya -   Kandy

Breakfast at Hotel. Transfer from Sigiriya to Kandy. Visit Sigiriya

Sigiriya

Sigiriya is an amazing geological formation   in Sri Lanka that encompasses an important archaeological site. Sigiriya lies   22 km north-east of Dambulla in the North central province of Sri Lanka. The   tourist site of Sigiriya has been declared as a UNESCO world heritage site   since 1982 and is part of the seven world heritage sites of Sri Lanka.   Sigiriya is located in the middle of the tourism cultural triangle formed by   connecting the world heritage sites of Anuradhapura, Kandy and Polonnaruwa in   Sri Lanka.

Mathalai Muthumariamman Temple – Matale

Sri Muthumariamman Thevasthanam is a Hindu   temple located in Matale city that is known of the colorful chariots located   here. Its history goes back to the early 1800s. The location of the present   temple was used by the south Indian immigrants, who came to the island   looking for employments. Today, it is one of the biggest Hindu temples in the   island.

En –   Route Visit Spice Garden

Spice   Garden

Sri Lanka is world renowned for its valued spices and healing   herbs. Our lush spice and herbal gardens feature many important herbs such as   Sandalwood, Margosa, Cocoa, Citronella, Almond, Jasmine and Coconut. When   visiting us, make the most of the chance to experience first-hand how cloves,   pepper, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and saffron are grown in their natural   surroundings.

At Regent Spice and Herbal Garden, you can learn of their   medicinal healing properties and how to use them in your day-to-day needs. Used   worldwide in many medicines, the healing powers of spices have been respected   from the time of the Pharaohs and Chinese Dynasties, while our herbs are used   in Ayurveda concoctions.

Cultural   show at Kandy

Dinner and Overnight stay at Hotel in   Kandy

Day 4 Kandy – Nuwara   Eliya

Breakfast at Hotel. Visit Temple of Tooth relic

Temple of Tooth Relic

Located in Kandy, long a centre of the   Buddhist faith, the stunning 17th-century Temple of the Tooth (Sri   Dalada Maligawa) is believed to house the left upper canine tooth of the Lord   Buddha himself. This precious relic attracts white-clad pilgrims, bearing   lotus blossoms and frangipani, every day.

According to legend, the tooth was   taken from the Buddha as he lay on his funeral pyre. It was smuggled to Sri   Lanka in 313 AD, hidden in the hair of Princess Hemamali who fled the Hindu   armies besieging her father's kingdom in India.

It immediately became an object of   great reverence and was enshrined in a series of nested jeweled reliquaries.   The tooth was brought out for special occasions and paraded on the backs of   elephants, which are sacred to the Buddha. Where it survived numerous   attempts to capture and destroy it.

When the capital was moved to Kandy,   the tooth was taken to the new city and placed in temples built to honour it.   The temple was originally built under Kandyan kings between 1687 and 1707

City Tour at Kandy (Lake Drive, Gem   Museum, Silk shop, Batik etc…..)

City Tour at Kandy (Lake Drive, Gem   Museum, Silk shop, Batik etc…..)

Transfer from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya

Visit Hanuman Temple

The Ramboda area is believed to   be where Rama's forces were gathered against Ravana. Rampadai means   Rama's Force. The hills of Ramboda are also believed to be where   Hanuman was searching for Sitadevi.  A Chinmaya   mission has built an Anjaneyar temple in Sri Lanka with   Hanuman as its presiding deity. The temple is called Sri   Baktha Hanuman temple and the image of Hanuman here is 16 Feet tall. The   service times at the Sri Baktha Hanuman Temple are between 7:00 am to 12:00   noon & again 30.30 to 6.30 pm

Visit Ramboda Falls

Ramboda Falls is 109 m (358 ft.)   high and 11th highest waterfall in Sri Lanka and 729th highest waterfall in   the world. It is situated in Pussellawa area, on the A5 highway at Ramboda   Pass. It formed by Panna Oya which is a tributary of Kothmale Oya. Altitude   of the falls is 945 m (3,100 ft.) above sea level.

Visit Tea Factory

Sri   Lanka is an island made for tea. The country produces tea throughout the year   and the total tea production is about 340 million kilograms per annum. Sri   Lanka’s tea-growing areas are mainly concentrated in the central highlands   and southern inland areas of the island.

At   present, a larger portion of the country’s tea is exported as Ceylon Black   Tea, while the country also produces Ceylon Green Tea, a type developed from   Assamese seedlings. Ceylon White Tea, namely silver and golden tips is   celebrated around the world for their finest flavour and is among the most   expensive tea varieties in the world.

Gregory Lake

Named   after Sir William Gregory in 1873, this is a prominent attraction used for   water sports and recreational activities. Lake Park, Boat Rides are   available. Travelers can be reached by sea plane which takes only 30 minutes   from Colombo. At the southern end of the town is Gregory Lake where the   holiday makers can enjoy a leisurely walk on the paved walk ways, with swan   shaped paddle boats for the more adventurous. There are pony rides round the   lake for the kids and even adults, with plenty of fast-food stalls located in   a separate area where one can enjoy a meal or a snack. Dinner and Overnight stay at Hotel in   Nuwara Eliya

Day 5 Nuwara Eliya -   Colombo

Breakfast at Hotel. Visit Gayathri Peedam

Gayathri Peedam

The Gayathri Cathedral also known as Sri- Lankatheeswarar   Temple is the very first temple dedicated for Goddess Gayathri. Gayathri   Siddhar chose this place because it was a spiritual revelation. It is   believed that the Tri Moortis – Siva, Brahma and Vishnu, appeared here when   prince Meganath also known as Indrajit, son of an ancient Sri Lankan King   Ravana Performed Siva Thapas and Nikumbala Yagna. Therefore, Gayathri Peedam   is one of important site of Ramayana Tour of Sri Lanka.

Visit Seetha Amman Temple

With reference to the Ramayana   Proof of Sri Lanka it is believed that the Seetha devi was kept captive   at this site by King Ravana. There is a stream by the side of the temple   where that runs from the hill, catered to the needs of Seetha Devi during her   stay at Ashok Vatika. She is also said to have bathed in this stream. About   centuries ago, of three idols were discovered in the stream.

Divurumpola Temple

Still revered by thousands, this holy   haven was the place where Sita performed her Agni Pariksha (proving her   chastity) to her husband Rama. Continuing the practice for thousands of   years, villagers still pledge their fidelity or take oaths there and even in   certain courts, this agreement was binding. This place has been respected and   worshipped by people down the ages.

Transfer from Nuwara Eliya to Colombo

Panchamuga   Anjaneyar Temple

Panchamuga   Anjaneyar Temple considered as the first Anjaneyar Temple in Sri Lanka.    Also, this Panchamuga Anjaneyar Temple in Sri Lanka which dedicated to   Lord Hanuman in his Panchamuga form, meaning five faces. This temple is   located Colombo Sri Lanka. It is believed that Swamy Chandrashekar built the   first hanuman temple in Sri Lanka known as Sri Panchamukha Ancheneyar temple.   Srimath Chandrasekara swamigal established First Temple in Sri Lanka and a   first chariot in the world for Sri Rama’s beloved devotee Anjaneyar.

Shopping and city tour at Colombo

Dinner and Overnight stay at Hotel in   Colombo

Day 6 Colombo –   Airport

Breakfast at the Hotel. Transfer from Colombo to Airport for   Departure flight