 Day 01- Colombo
Arrive at the Bandaranaike International airport, Katunayake. You will be met and assisted on arrival by our airport staff and transferred to Colombo, the commercial capital of the country (30 km -1 hour drive). On arrival in Colombo, check in at the hotel. Evening Visit the Panchamuga Anjaneyar Temple which is a temple dedicated to Anjaneyar.(Hanuman), the only temple in the world to have a chariot for Anjaneyar. This Chariot festival is held annually end December /beginning of January. After completing worship at the temple, leave for the hotel.
Overnight stay at a hotel in Colombo.
Day 02 – Colombo / Sigiriya / Dambulla
After an early breakfast at hotel leave for Sigiriya (173 km, approx. 4 hour drive) and climb the rock fortress a UNESCO World Heritage site, built by King Kassapa in the 05thcentury A.D. which was a Royal Citadel for more than 18 years. The Lion Rock is a citadel of unusual beauty, rising 200 meters from the scrub jungle. The base of the rock is ringed by a moat and rampart and extensive gardens including the renowned water gardens. The majestic Lion’s Paw picturesquely guards the stairway of the palace on the summit. See the famous frescoes of the “Heavenly maidens” of Sigiriya in a sheltered pocket of the rock and the 10 feet high Mirror Wall.
Afterwards leave for Dambulla ( 25 km, approx. ½ hour drive) which has been declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A sacred pilgrimage site for 22 centuries, this cave monastery, a vast isolated rock mass with its five caverns is the largest best preserved cave-temple complex in Sri Lanka. The Buddhist mural paintings (covering an area of 2,100 sq. meters) are of particular importance as are the 157 statues including a 47 foot long statue of the recumbent Buddha. The ceiling of one cavern is fully illustrated with paintings that follow the natural folds of the rock so closely that it appears to be made of cloth. The complex of caves is one of the most impressive Buddhist Temples in the world. On completion check in at the hotel.
Overnight stay at a hotel in Dambulla.
Day 03 – Dambulla / Trincomalee / Dambulla
After an early breakfast at hotel leave for Trincomalee (109 km, approx. 3 hour drive) and visit and worship the Thirukoneswaram temple. Thirukoneswaram is one of the five Eswaram-Sivan temples in Sri Lanka. This temple is situated on the topmost pinnacle of the Swami Rock and is known as the Southern Kailasam. It was built by sage Agastyar as per the instructions of Lord Shiva who was impressed by the devotion of King Rawana. 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 rid himself of the Brahmaasthi Dosham. On completion leave for Dambulla and check in at the hotel.
Overnight stay at a hotel in Dambulla.
Day 04 - Dambulla / Polonnaruwa / Kandy
After breakfast at hotel leave for Polonnaruwa. (67 km – approx. 1½ hour drive), the Capital of Sri Lanka from the 11th to 13th century, a well-planned medieval city defended by enclosing walls (around 5 km. which still remain),graced by palaces, shrines, monasteries, pavilions, parks, ponds and irrigation lakes. Polonnaruwa is strewn with ruins in a resplendent state of preservation. Of these the ‘Vatadage’ and the ‘Thuparama Image House’ are the most spectacular. The ‘Gal Vihara’ which consists of statues of the recumbent, standing and seated Buddha have been cut from a single granite wall and rank among the true masterpieces of Sri Lankan Art. Afterwards leave for Kandy. (140 km, approx. 3 hour drive).En route visit a Spice garden in Matale.
Kandy, the bustling hill country capital is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is famous for the pink painted Temple of the Tooth which houses the most sacred religious relic, the tooth of the Buddha, the Kandy Lake built in 1807 which is an attractive centerpiece to the town and the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens. Kandy is also popular because of the annual festival known as the Esala Perahera where the inner casket covering the tooth relic of the Buddha is taken in a grand procession through the streets of the city held annually in the month of July or August. On arrival in Kandy, check in at the hotel. Evening visit the sacred Temple of Tooth. Thereafter enjoy the Kandyan Cultural Show at the Kandyan Arts & Cultural Centre. The show features the graceful and rhythmic dancers and drummers culminating in an impressive fire walking display.
Overnight stay at a hotel in Kandy.
Day 05 - Kandy / Gurulupota / Sita Kotuwa / Weragantota
After an early breakfast at hotel, leave for Gurulupotha.( 60 km, approx. 2 hour drive).This was an aircraft repair center in the capital city. In Valmiki's depiction King Ravana's Vimana resembled a huge peacock. The Vimana in Sinhala language means Dhandu Monara which is known as ‘flying peacock’, and hence the name Gurulupotha, which means ‘parts of birds’. Next visit the Sita Kotuwa the jungles in which once stood the in the city of Lankapura. The city had a beautiful palace for Queen Mandothari, surrounded by waterfalls, streams and many varieties of flora and fauna. Sitadevi was kept in this palace until she was moved to Ashoka Vatika. Sita Kotuwa which means Sita’s Fort derives its name from Sita Devi’s presence here.
Afterwards visit Weragantota close to Mahiyangana town.(6 km, approx. 15 mins. drive). In the Sinhalese language, Weragantota means a place for aircraft to land. It is believed to be the place where Sitadevi was first brought into Lanka in King Ravana’s Vimana. On completion, return to Kandy and check in at the hotel.Overnight stay at a hotel in Kandy.
Day 06 - Kandy / Pinnawala / Hanuman Kovil / Ramboda
After an early breakfast at the hotel leave for Pinnawala ( 50 km, approx. 2 hour drive). Visit the Elephant Orphanage. This orphanage was set up by the government to take care of baby elephants lost or abandoned in the wild. Witness the feeding of the elephants. The baby elephants being bottle fed with milk is a heartwarming sight. Thereafter observe them as they take their daily bath in the river nearby, which affords marvelous photo opportunities. Bath time is enjoyed by all elephants, young and old alike and it is a good time to closely observe their tightly knit family structure. The young elephants are protected and cared for, by the older ones in the group and the leader of the group is respected by all. (Open from 8.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Daily feeding times- 9.15 a.m.,1.15 p.m. 5.00 p.m. Bathing times – 10.00 a.m., 2.00 p.m., 4.00 p.m.). On completion leave for Ramboda. (54 km, approx. 1 ½ hour drive). Visit the Sri Baktha Hanuman temple. On these hills of Ramboda where Hanuman was searching for Sitadevi, 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. The image of Lord Hanuman here is 16 feet. On completion check in at the hotel.
Overnight stay at a hotel in Ramboda.
Day 07 - Ramboda / Sita’s tear pond / Chariot path / Manikattuteru
After an early breakfast at hotel, walk through the tea estate and climb up to where Sita’s tear pond is located, believed to have been formed by the tears of Sitadevi and has not dried up since, even during severe droughts when the adjoining rivers dry up. The barren land here in this jungle on the top of Ramboda Hill between King Ravana’s capital city and Ashoka Vatika is believed to be the route taken by King Ravana when he took Sitadevi from his capital city Lankapura to Ashoka Vatika, which was the paradise on earth. To date no vegetation grows on this path except grass. King Ravana is believed to have taken this path on top of these hills to show Sitadevi the beauty of his kingdom.
On completion leave for Labukelle Estate (12 km, approx. ½ hour drive) and visit Manikattutheru. This is a rock in the Labookelle estate. Lord Hanuman met Sitadevi and on his way to announce this happy information to Lord Rama, rested on this hill top. The hilltop where Lord Hanuman is believed to have rested after meeting Sitadevi is known as Mani Kattuther. Today an open temple with statues of Lord Rama, Sitadevi, Lakshmana and Lord Hanuman stands on top of it. Locals visit the temple often. Overnight stay at a hotel in Nuwara Eliya.
Day 08 - Nuwara Eliya / Gawagala / Seeta Amman Kovil / Divrumpola / Istreepura
After an early breakfast at hotel leave for Gavagala (Ghoshala).(20 km, approx. 1 hour drive). King Ravana had his dairy farm here. Milk was air lifted to the capital Lankapura from here using Vimana’s. The stone pillars here have the worn out marks cast by constant use of tying ropes on them.
Thereafter leave for Seeta Amman Kovil “A Temple for Lord Rama, Sita Devi, Luxshmana, and Hanuman.(27 km, approx. 1 hour drive). There is a stream by the side of the temple where Sitadevi is said to have bathed. It is interesting to note that foot prints akin to Lord Hanuman’s are found by this river, some of which are of small size and some large size. This demonstrates the immense power of Hanuman who was able to transforming himself to any size.
On completion leave for Divrumpola Temple.(20 km, approx. ½ hour drive). Although this temple is said to be established in the 6th A.D. (Polonnaruwa period) it is thought that it has been started during the time of Rama, Ravana and Sita. Still revered by thousands, this holy haven was the place where Sita performed her ‘Agni Parishka’ (proving her chastity) to her husband Rama. It is said that this placed was given the name Divurumpola which means a place for making a vow. This name is seen inscribed in the moonstone guarding the Devale.
Later proceed to Istripura which in the Sinhalese language means, an area of women.(30 km, approx. ½ hour drive). This was one of the locations to which King Ravana shifted Sitadevi. This was a precautionary measure which he was forced to take due to the advent of Lord Hanuman. On completion leave for Ella (35 km, approx. 1 ½ hour drive) and check in at the hotel.
Overnight stay at a hotel in Ella.
Day 09 - Ella / Ravana cave
After breakfast at the hotel visit the Ravana cave in Ella. Ella, a small mountain near Bandarawela, boasts three locations linked to the Ramayana where, local legend dictates, Ravana hid Sita. First there is the Ravana Ella Cave situated in the massive Ella Rock. Then there is Ravana Ella Falls and a nearby pool bored out of the rock by the gushing waters where Sita is said to have bathed. The tunnels in the Ravana cave 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, airports and dairy farms. A close look at these tunnels indicates that they are man-made and not natural formations. On completion, leave for Colombo (205 km, approx. 6 hour drive).
Overnight stay at a hotel in Colombo.
Day 10 - Colombo / Munneshwaram / Manawari
After breakfast at hotel leave for Munneswaram.(131 km, approx. 3 hour drive). It is believed that Munneswaram predates the Ramayana and a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva was located here. Munneswaram means 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 Ayodya with Sita in one of King Ravana’s Vimana’s, 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 Viand was passing over Munneswaram he felt the Vimana vibrating and realized that the Dosham was not following him at this particular point. He stopped the Vimana at this juncture asked God Shiva for a remedy. God Shiva blessed Lord Rama and advised installing and praying for four lingams at Manavari, Thiru Koneswaran, Thiru Ketheswaram and Rameshwaram in India as the only remedy to get rid of the dosham.
Thereafter leave for Manawari Temple. (20 km, approx. ½ hour drive) Manaweri is the first lingam installed and prayed by Lord Rama and to date this lingam is called Ramalinga Shivan.On completion leave for Negombo (96 km, approx. 1 ½ hour drive) and check in at the hotel.Overnight stay at a hotel in Negombo.
Day 11 -Departure
After breakfast at hotel, leave to the airport for the departure flight (8 km, approx. 15 min. drive).
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