Ramayana tour
Tour Information
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Day 1
Airport/Negombo
On arrival in Sri Lanka, you will be warmly greeted by your very own chauffeur who will transfer you to the historically important fishing village, Negombo. Spend the day at leisure relaxing at the hotel or do some sightseeing in Negombo. You may visit a fish market and the Dutch canal.
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Day 2
Negombo - Pinnawala - Kandy
After breakfast proceed to Chilaw to the Muneeshwaram Temple. (Approximately 90 Minutes Drive) After his victorious battle, Lord Rama left for Ayodhya, in one of King Ravanas vimana (carriages).He felt he was being followed by bramhaasthi dosham as he had killed King Ravana who was a Brahmin. Legend has it that when he came to this place he felt bramhaasthi dosham was not following him and he stopped the vimana and asked God Shiva for a remedy. Lord Shiva blessed Lord Rama and advised him to install four lingams there and pray to get rid of the dosham. Since then many Hindu devotees flock to the Temple. Having visited the above temple, proceed to Mannavari Temple. (Approximately 20 Minutes Drive) Manavari is the first lingam installed and prayed to by Lord Rama and this lingam is also called Ramalinga Shivan. Thereafter this culturally rich tour in Sri Lanka will proceed to Kandy. You may visit the Pinnawala elephant orphanage. Spend the rest of the day at leisure in the hotel.
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Day 3
Kandy - Nuwara Eliya
After breakfast you will be taken to Nuwara Eliya. On the way there, visit the Sri Baktha Hanuman Temple, Ramboda (Approximately 1 ½ Hrs Drive) On these hills of Ramboda where Hanuman was searching for Sitadevi, the Chinmaya mission of Sri Lanka built a temple with Hanuman as the presiding deity. On every full moon day special poojas are conducted and witnessed by thousands of devotees. Afterwards, check into the hotel and spend some time at leisure. In the evening visit the Gayathri Pe(e)dam in Nuwara Eliya. It is believed to be the place from where King Ravanas son Meghanath propitiated Lord Shiva with penance and poojas and in turn was granted super natural powers by lord Shiva.
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Day 4
Nuwara Eliya - Bandarawela
After breakfast set off to Bandarawela, en route, visiting Seetha Amman Temple -Seetha Eliya. (Approximately 20 Minutes Drive) The stream that runs from the hill, catered to the needs of Sitadevi during her stay at Ashoka Vatika. She is said to have bathed in this stream. Now there is a temple erected for Lord Rama, Sitadevi, Luxshmana and Hanuman by the side of this stream. It is interesting to note that foot prints akin to Lord Hamunams are found by this river -some small and some large.Thereafter proceed to Divurumpola situated in Nuwara Eliya Welimada road. Approximately 1 Hrs Drive) Divurmpola means a place where one takes an oath. Sitadevi, after being liberated from King Ravana was subjected to a test to prove here chastity by offering herself to the fire. However she came unscathed and proved her holiness during this ritual at this place.On arrival in Bandarawela check into the hotel and spend some time at leisure there.
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Day 5
Bandarawela/Kataragama
After a mouth watering breakfast proceed to Ella to see Ravana Ella & Ravana Cave. (Approximately 40 Minutes Drive)Ravana Ella Falls is a breathtaking waterfall, 1080 feet high (cascades into several falls). 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.The Ravana Cave 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 man-made and not natural formations.
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Day 6
Kataragama - Colombo
After breakfast, visit the Kataragama shrine, dedicated to God Skanda (Murugan) the God of Love and War. It is believed that this Devala was started in the 2nd Century B.C. by King Dutugemunu (167 -137 B.C.).
Today Kataragama is a place of worship for Buddhists, Hindus and some Muslims. This is a very popular place of pilgrimage for south Indian Hindus as it is said that God Kataragama came from India, married a Jungle Girl from Sri Lanka and lived here. When his Indian wife came in search of him he refused to go back. The legend has it that all of them lived here happily thereafter. There are separate shrines for the two wives, Tevani Amman Kovil for the Indian wife and Valli Amman Kovil for the Sri Lankan wife. During the month of July a 10-day festival is held here with the Perahera (procession), Fire walking, hanging on hooks and other acts of penance being performed by the devotees. The best time to be in the Devala is at the time of the Pooja (Offerings) to see the rituals and the Virgin Dancing girls offering light and dancing in the Devala.Thereafter visit Ussanggoda. (Approximately 2 Hrs Drive) According to Ramayana, after meeting Sitadevi, Lord Hunuman decided to test the strength of the mighty King Ravana and his army of Rakshasas. During the events that unfolded Lord Hanumans tail was set on fire by the Rakshasas, and Lord Hanuman in turn went on to torch some parts of King Ravanas empire. Ussanggoda is on the torched areas, which is said to have been an airport used by King Ravana. There after you will be taken to Colombo, en route visiting the Rumasela in Galle. (Approximately 3 ½ Hrs Drive) At various times during the war, both Lords Rama and Lakshmana were hit by powerful arrows, and had fallen unconscious. At these times, Lord Hanuman had been instructed to fetch the life saving herbs from the jungles of Himalaya to bring them back to life. Mighty Hanuman had gone to the Himalayan hills and lifted the whole hill and brought it back, as he was unable to identify the life saving herbs by himself. Parts of the hill is said to0 have fallen in five places in Sri Lanka, namely, Rumasala in Galle, Dolukanda near Heripitiya, Ritigala near Habarana, Thalladi in Mannar and Kachchativu in the north. Afterwards, visit the Seenigama Temple in Hikkaduwa. The southern most part of Sri Lanka is called Dondra and further up towards the west you arrive at Seenigama Hikkaduwa. This is said to be the place from where Sugreeva, king of the Vanaras (monkeys) started his onslaught on King Ravanas forces. In Colombo, visit the Panchamuga Anjaneyar Temple. (Approximately 4 Hrs Drive), which is a temple dedicated to Anjaneyar in Sri Lanka. This is the only temple in the world to have a chariot of Anjaneyar. -
Day 7
Colombo/Air Port Drive:
After breakfast proceed to Panchamuga Anjaneyar Temple, which is a temple dedicated to Anjaneyar in Sri Lanka. This is the only temple in the world to have a chariot of Anjaneyar.You can spend the rest of the day enjoying some sightseeing in Colombo along with some shopping before transferring to the hotel to catch the flight to onward destinations.