Sacred Footsteps of the Ramayana – An 8-Day Spiritual Odyssey Across Sri Lanka

Day 01                                                                                                                                 

Meet greet and transfer from Airport to Chilaw.

Visit to Manavari Temple and Munneshwaram Temple

Manavari Temple

Manavari is the first place where Lord Rama installed the Siva Lingam and prayed after the end of the war with King Ravana. This Lingam is called Ramalingam because it was made by Lord Rama. Apart from this, the Lingam in Rameshwaram is the only Lingam in the world which is named after Lord Rama.

Note:  The annual festival takes place in July for 10 days

Munneshwaram Temple

The Munneshwaram Kovil close to Chilaw is one of the 5 major Shiva temples of Sri Lanka and Ra-meshwaram islands, 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 Munneshvaram because of his impression the Doshana sin was not following him at this place. So he ascended from the vimana and prayed to God Shiva asking for aremedy.Shiva advised Rama to install four lingams at Manavari, Trinco, Mannar and Rameshwaram for this purpose.

Temple is open 6.00 am to 8.00 pm. Two annual festivals take place in this temple in February and August. This temple was destroyed by the portuguess. It was reconstructed in 1753. Later temple was renovated and reconstructed by Kumaraswami Kurukkal in 1875. The construction of the Kopuramâ was completed in 1963

Transfer from Chilaw to Habarana.

Ritigala Sanjeewane Drops

Same as Rumassala Sanjeewane Drops above.

Checking to Hotel.

Dinner & Overnight stay at hotel

Day 02                                                                                                                                 

Breakfast at the Hotel.

Transfer from Habarana to Trincomalee.

Thirukoneshwaram Temple

Adjacent to Trincomalee’s famous Koneshvaram temple there is another shrine; it is small but of some significance for Hindu pilgrims. This Shankaridevi temple is a reconstruction at a new place. The original Shankaridevi 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 Shankaridevi temple.

Thiru koneshwaram was built by sage Agasthyar as per the instruction of Lord Shiva who was impressed by the devotion of King Ravana. This place has the uniqueness of the Lord building a temple for his devotee as a reward for his devotion. Lord Rama also offered his prayers on his return to get rid of the Brahmahasthi Dosham.

Checking to Hotel.

Dinner & Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 03                                                                                                                                 

Breakfast at the Hotel

After breakfast transfer from Trincomalee to Hasalaka

En route Visit Seetha Kotuwa.

Seetha Kotuwa

This is the place where the city of Lankapura once stood. The city had a beautiful palace for queen Mandothari surrounded by waterfalls, streams and varieties of flora and fauna. Seetha Devi was kept in this palace until she was moved to Ashoka Vatika. Seetha Kotuwa means Seetha's fort and got its name because of Seetha Devi's stay here.

Transfer from Hasalaka to Kandy.

Kandy – the hill capital is another “World Heritage Sites”. It was the last stronghold of the Sinhalese Kings during the Portuguese, Dutch and British rule and finally ceded to the British in 1815 after an agreement. To the Buddhist of Sri Lanka and the World, Kandy is one of the most sacred sites as it is the home of the “Dalada Maligawa” - Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha.

Close by are the remains of the Royal Palace (Maha Wasala), Palle Wasala- where the Queens stayed-now used for the National Museum, Meda Wasala where other close relatives lived, Audience Hall, Natha Devala and Vishnu Devala are situated. The Bathing Pavilion (Ulpenge) is by the Lake and in the Center of the lake is the Island called “Kiri samudraya” (Milk white ocean) used by the kings as the summerhouse.

Today it is the Center of Buddhism, Arts, Crafts, Dancing, Music and Culture.

Visit Royal botanical gardens

Evening witness the cultural Dance

Dinner & Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 04                                                                                                                                 

Breakfast at the Hotel.

Transfer from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya

En-route visit the Sri Baktha Hanuman Temple, Ramboda

Sri Baktha Hanuman Temple, Ramboda

The Sri Lanka branch of the Chinmaya mission, commited to promoting the Ramayana philosophy as well as Ramayana Trail pilgrimages, has built a temple with Hanuman as a presiding deity in Ramboda at the Kandy to Nuwara Eliya mainroad. There is a new five metres tall granite statue of Rama's devote supporter. Hanuman is believed to have started his searching for Sita in the Baroda hills. Hanuman traditionally was not as popular among Sri Lankan Tamil devotees as he indeed is in India, because he devastated parts of the island with his burning tail. But in recent times Hindu missionaries and local Tamil spiritual leaders began building shrines for worshipping Hanuman in Sri Lanka, too. The Tamil word for Ramboda, Rampadai, means "Rama's force", this is why Ramboda is believed the area where Rama collected his troops.

Check in at the hotel.

Dinner & Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 05                                                                                                                                 

Breakfast at the Hotel.

Ashoka Vatika

This area is known as Seetha Eliya,close to the resort city of Nuwara Eliya (1950 meter above the sea level).

Ashoka Vatika was a garden in Lanka, the Kingdom of demon king, Ravana, as mentioned in the Vishnu Purana and Hindu epic.

It was the location, where Sita, the wife of Rama was held captive by Ravana, after her abduction, also because she refused to stay in Ravana's palace, and preferred to stay under the Ashoka tree, hence the name. It was here that Ravana's wife Mandodari came to meet her and also where Hanuman met her for the first time, and identified himself with the finger ring of Rama.

Sita stayed at Ashok Vatika, till the end of the epic battle between Rama and Ravana, which resulted in the destruction of Ravana himself and most of this clan. Much of the Ashoka Vatika was destroyed by Hanuman, when he first visited Lanka, searching for Sita. Also destroyed was the Pramda Van at the centre of the Ashok Vatika. 

Enjoy the City Tour In Nuwara Eliya.

Nuwara Eliya meaning "the city of dawn" is the town at the highest elevation (about 2000m above sea level) in Sri Lanka and its tallest peak, Piduruthalagala (2555m) could be seen from here. The city, established by the British in the nineteenth century, and known as "Little England" and is a popular holiday resort for Sri Lankans & tourists due to its cool climate and quaint colonial feel with its little bungalows surrounded by hedgerows. Nuwara Eliya is also the heart of the tea country and you can visit a plantation and a factory en route here and witness how the famous "Ceylon Tea" is brewed.

About 1.5km away is Seetha Amman Temple, said to be built at the spot where Rayna held Site captive, as related in the Ramayana. The small temple has a collection of statues, including a couple of Kali images.

Day 06                                                                                                                                 

Breakfast at the Hotel.

Transfer from Nuwara Eliya to Ella.

DIVRUMPOLA TEMPLE

Divurumpola is said to be the location where Sita underwent the famous fire ordeal Agni Pariksha, in order to prove her chastity. From the flames arose the fire god Agni who was invoked by Sita. He lifted her from the flames unharmed and presented her to Lord Rama who explained this test was only necessary to prove the truth of her purity and innocence to everybody. Divurumpola is said to have been the location of this episode, because the Sinhalese name means marketplace of oath. Today the temple is respected as a suitable place for oaths that can be helpful settling disputes between parties.

Transfer from Bandarawela to Ella.

Ravana Cave

These tunnels prove beyond doubt the architectural brilliance of King Ravana. These tunnels served as a quick means of transport through the hills and also as a secret passage. These tunnels networked all the important cities, airport and dairy farms. A close look at these tunnels indicates that they are palace and a tunnel existed. Existing tunnels mouths are situated Ishtripura at Walimada, Ravana cave at Bandarawela, Senapitiya at Halagala, Ramboda, Labokelle, Wariyapola, and Mataleand Sitakotuwa Hasalaka. In addition there are many more tunnels.

Ravana Water falls 

A breath-taking waterfall, 1080 feet high (cascades into several falls) close to the road from Ella to Wellawaya about 6 Km south from Ella. The stream, a tributary of Kirindi Oya plunges with a foaming spray over a series of ledges into the valley close to a bend in the road. The waters rise from Wewatenna highland above the rocks. In general the rocky underground of the waterfalls in Sri Lanka consists of hard gneiss or granite, but here the material is khondalite, a kind of limestone which undergoes decay faster. This has resulted in many caves being formed near the falls. King Ravana of Ramayana legend is said to have lived in one of the caves above the waterfalls.

Transfer to Ella

Dinner & Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 07                                                                                                                                 

Transfer from Ella to Colombo.

Panchamuga Anjaneyar Temple (Kalubowila)

Hanuman is often called Anjaneyar by Tamils, as his mother's name is Anjan. This kovil is the first Anjaneyar temple in Sri Lanka and the only one on the island dedicated to Lord Hanuman in his Panchamuga form, this means with five faces. And it is said to be the only temple in the world to have a chariot for Anjaneyar. Its chariot festival is held annually end of December or begin of January, it is one of the most popular processions in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo. Visitors are advised to wash hands and feet before entering temple and not to cross hands inside the temple.

Dinner & Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 08                                                                                                                                 

Breakfast at Hotel the Hotel.

Enjoy a city tour of Colombo which is the largest city and former administrative capital of Sri Lanka and is a busy and vibrant city with a mixture of modern life and remnants of a bygone colonial era. Due to its large harbour and its strategic position along the East-West sea trade routes, Colombo was known to ancient traders 2,000 years ago. However it was only made the Capital of the island when Sri Lanka was ceded to the British Empire in 1815. The main city is home to a majority of the Sri Lanka “s corporate offices, restaurants and entertainment venues. On this tour you will visit many of the historical, religious and commercial sites of Colombo including the historic and bustling Fort and Pettah, the elite residential Cinnamon Gardens, the Galle face Green, Viharamahadevi Park and much more.

Transfer from Colombo to Airport for the departure.