Sri Lanka Ramayana Sites Tour Itinerary

DAY 1 
Airport – Colombo

Arrival at Bandaranayke International airport and welcome by a representative of Sri Holidays. Transfer to a hotel in Colombo.Visit KELANIYA. After King Ravana’s death, VIBEESHANA was coroneted as King of Lanka by Lakshmana at Kelaniya. There are murals enshrined outside the Buddhist temple depicting the crowning of Vibeeshana. The Kelani River is mentioned in the Valmiki Ramayana and Vibeeshana palace was said to be on the banks of this river. The reason Lakshmana crowned Vibeeshana, was Kelaniya because Rama had to return to India as he had to continue his self-exile of 14 years to honor the commitment to his father, King Dasarath of Ajodhya. King Vibeeshana was considered a fair king, as he supported Rama against his own brother’s injustice. Many devotees that visit king Vibeeshana’s shrine pray to him asking for his intervention to a fair recourse to their problems. Evening free walk around the COLOMBO GALLE FACE GREEN.
MIRAGE HOTEL 3*

DAY 2 
Colombo – Munneswaram – Kandy

After breakfast leave for Munneswaram. Visit MUNNESWARAM. It is believed that Munneswaram predates the Ramayana and a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva was located here. Munneswarammeans the first temple for Shiva (Munnu + Easwaran). A Shiva Lingam was already here when lord Rama visited the place. Lord Rama after his victorious battle left for Ayodhya with Sita in one of King Ravana’s vimanas. He felt he was being followed by Bramhaasthi dosham (a malevolent black shadow) as he had killed King Ravana who was a Brahmin. When the Vimana was passing over Munneswaram, he felt the vimana vibrating and realized the “Brahmaasthi Dosham” was not following him at this particular point. He stops the vimana at this juncture and asks God Shiva for a remedy. God Shiva blessed Lord Rama and advised installing and praying for four lingams at Manavari, Thiru Koneshwaram, Thiru Ketheshwaram, and Rameshwaram in India, as the only remedy to get rid of the dosham. Visit MANAVARI, Manavari is the first place where Lord Rama installed and prayed the Siva lingam after the end of the war with King Ravana. To date, this lingam is called Ramalinga Shivan. Rameshwaram is the only other lingam in the world named after Lord Rama. Late afternoon leave for Kandy.
QUEENS HOTEL 3*

DAY 3
Kandy – Nuwara Eliya

After breakfast leave for Nuwara Eliya. On the way visit SRI BAKTHA HANUMAN TEMPLE – RAMBODA. Ramboda is an area, where the forces of Rama gather to fight against King Ravana. The hills of Ramboda are also believed where Hanuman was searching for Sitadevi. The Chinmaya mission of Sri Lanka has built an Anjaneyar temple with Hanuman as the presiding deity. This temple is called Sri Baktha Hanuman temple and the image of lord Hanuman here is 16 Feet tall. In the afternoon visit GAYATHRI PEEDAM – NUWARA ELIYA , Gayathri peedam is believed to be the place from where King Ravana’s son Meghanath propitiated Lord Shiva with penance and pooja’s and in turn was granted super natural powers by Lord Shiva. The Gayathri Cathedral also known as Sri-Lanka Theeswarar Temple which he built is situated in an area where Swamiji is fondly remembered. Sri-Nagar which means the Metropolis of Prosperity, at Lady McCallum Drive Nuwar-Eliya is a Colonial township known as ‘Little England’ for its breezy atmosphere. Nuwara-Eliya is a mountainous town situated 7000 Ft. above Sea level in the central province of the island built around a chilly lake surrounded by lush tea gardens, abundant vegetable cultivation, stunning waterfalls, and Virgin woodland.
KINGS MIRAGE HOTEL 3*

DAY 4
Nuwara Eliya – Ella – Kataragama

After breakfast leave for Ella. Visit HAKGALA BOTANICAL GARDEN. Hakgala garden is the exotic pleasure garden where king Ravana kept the depressed Sita, insisting that she marry him. It was here where the heart-warming meeting took place between her and Hanuman, who brought her Rama’s ring with the news that Rama was looking for her. He offered to carry her back but she refused to say it would be an insult to Rama’s honor if he did so. Part of this majestic garden still exists. It is also said that Hanuman nearly destroyed it in order to prove to Ravana the forces against him. Visit SEETHA AMMAN TEMPLE. The stream that runs from the hill, catered to the needs of Sitadevi during her stay at Ashok Vatika. She is said to have bathed in this stream. About a century ago three idols were discovered in the stream, one of which was that of Sita. It is believed that the idols have been worshipped at this spot for centuries. Now there is a temple for Lord Rama, Sitadevi, Lakshmana, and Hanuman by the side of this stream. It is interesting to note that footprints akin to Lord Hanuman’s are found by this river some are of small size and some are of large size, which tells us of the immense powers of hanuman transforming himself into any size. Afternoon visit the DIVURUMPOLA TEMPLE. Divurumpola means a ‘place of oath’. This is the place where Sita underwent the “Agni” test. She came unscathed and proved her innocence and purity. The message of Rama’s victory over Ravana was sent to Sita. After a bath and adorned with jewels she was taken on a palanquin before Rama. Meeting her husband after such a long time she was overcome with emotion, but Rama seemed lost in thought. At length he spoke, “I have killed my enemy. I have done my duty as a true king. But you have lived for a year in the enemy’s abode. It is not proper I take you back now.” Sita was shocked. “You have broken my heart” she said, “only the uncultured speak like this”. Have you forgotten the noble family I come from? Is it my fault Ravana carried me off by force? All the time, my mind, my heart, and soul were fixed on you alone, my lord! She turned to Lakshmana and said with tears streaming from her eyes, “prepare for me a fire. That is the only remedy for this sorrow of mine.” Lakshmana in suppressed anger, looked at Rama’s face, but there was no softening, he lighted a big fire. Sita reverently went around her husband and approached the blazing fire. Joining her palms in salutation, she said, “if I am pure, of fire, protect me.” With these words, she jumped into the flames. Then arose from out of the flames Agni, the fire god, whom she had invoked. He lifted Sita from the flames unharmed and presented her to Rama. “Don’t I know that she is spotless and pure at heart? Cried Rama, standing up to receive her. It’s for the sake of the world that I made her go through this ordeal of fire, so that the truth may be known to all.” Today the temple is revered for the oath taken by Sitadevi and even the legal system permits and accepts the swearing done at this temple while settling disputes between parties. Visit RAWANA ELLA CAVES & RAWANA FALLS. Rawana Ella Cave is where Ravana was hiding Sita. Ravana Ella Cave is located at the massive Ella Falls; a breathtaking 1080 feet high waterfall that cascades into several falls. The rocky undergoes of the waterfall is Khondalite, a kind of limestone that undergoes faster decay as hard gneiss or granite. This has resulted in many caves being formed near the falls. King Ravana is said to have lived in one of the caves above the waterfall. A nearby pool bored out of the rock by the gushing waters is where Sita is said to have bathed Ravana.
HIBISCUS GARDEN HOTEL 3* 

DAY 5
Kataragama – Unawatuna – Beruwela

After breakfast visit the temple of Lord Karthikeya Subramaniam at Kataragama. Lord Karthikeya was requested to go to the battlefield by Lord lndra on the last day of the war. This was done to protect Lord Rama from the wrath of Brahma ashram shot by King Ravana which otherwise would have weakened Lord Rama. Brahmaasthram aimed at Lord Rama for the second time was rendered useless by the presence of Lord Karthikeya.
Leave for Beruwala. En–route visit USSANGODA – Legend: According to Ramayana, after meeting Seetha Devi Lord Hanuman decided to test the strength of the mighty King Ravana and his army of Rakshasas. In the event that unfolded Lord Hanuman’s tail was set on fire by the Rakshasas, who in turn went on to torch some parts of King Ravana’s empire. Ussangoda is one of the torched areas, which is said to have been an airport used by King Ravana. In the afternoon Visit RUMASSALA, known to colonialists as Buona Vista, which is the subject of many legends. It features in the Ramayana, as the home of the beautiful queen Sita, hidden in the jungle nearby. Hanuman who was sent to fetch a medicinal plant for a wounded soldier was unable to find it and brought the Himalayan mountains on which it was said to grow. He dropped a chunk at Unawatuna (‘here it fell’) to form the present mountain, where many medicinal plants still grow. The Portuguese had a dreadful reputation in Sri Lanka as looters and pirates, and are said to have given false light signals from Rumassala to lure unsuspecting Arab trading ships onto the rocks.
EARL’S REEF 3*

DAY 6
Beruwela – Airport

Transfer to the airport for departure from Sri Lanka.

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