Marawila 1N-Kandy 1N-Nuwara Eliya 2N-Ella 1N-Kataragama 1N-Colombo 1N
Day 1: Colombo airport-Chilaw-Marawila:
Transfer from Colombo airport to Chilaw.
Visit the Munneshwaram Temple.
Located in Chilaw, the Hindu Kovil is one of the oldest Hindu temples in Sri Lanka that bear close connections to Ramayana. The temple believed to be the place where King Rama prayed to Shiva asking for remedies after committing ‘Brahmahasti’ the biggest crime according to the Hindu Dharma.
Overnight at Marawila.
Day 2: Marawila-Kandy:
Kandy is a major city in Sri Lanka located in the Central Province. It was the last capital of the ancient kings’ era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is both an administrative and religious city and is also the capital of the Central Province. Kandy is the home of The Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa), one of the most sacred places of worship in the Buddhist world. It was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1988.
Visit the Gems Gallery, Peradeniya Botanical Garden, Kandy Lake, Kandy Cultural Dance Show and the Temple of Tooth Relic.
The golden-roofed Temple of the Sacred Tooth houses Sri Lanka’s most important Buddhist relic – a tooth of the Buddha. During puja (offerings or prayers), the heavily guarded room housing the tooth is open to devotees and tourists. However, you don’t actually see the tooth. It’s kept in a gold casket shaped like a dagoba (stupa), which contains a series of six dagoba caskets of diminishing size.
As well as the revered main temple, the complex includes a series of smaller temples, shrines and museums.
Overnight at Kandy.
Day 3: Kandy-Ramboda-Nuwara Eliya:
Transfer from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya via Ramboda. Visit the Ramboda water falls and Hanuman Temple.
According to the ancient stories, Ramboda is an area, where the forces of Rama’s gather to fight against King Ravana. This temple was built by the Chinmaya mission of Sri Lanka and dedicated to Hanuman. This temple houses for 16 feel height statue of Hanuman.
Proceed to Nuwara Eliya for overnight stay.
Day 4: Nuwara Eliya:
Visit tea gardens and tea factories.
Nuwara Eliya (City of Lights), blessed with salubrious climate, breathtaking views of valleys, meadows, mountains and greenery; surrounded by hills and tea plantations, the town of Nuwara Eliya enjoys spring-like weather throughout the year. It is also known as Little England which was the favorite hill station of the British who tried to create Nuwara Eliya into a typical English Village. The old brick Post office, country house like hill club with its hunting pictures, trophies and strict formal dinner attire; the 18-hole golf course, horse race course, etc., all remind you of England.
Visit the Victoria Park, Hakgala Botanical Garden and Gregory lake.
The legendary Indian folktale ‘Ramayana’ states that Sita, the wife of Rama, was abducted and imprisoned in this area by the Demon King Ravana who ruled Sri Lanka.
The Hakgala garden was supposed to have been a pleasure garden gifted to Sita by the Demon King in an attempt to lessen her sorrow. At the time it is supposed to have been called Ashok Vatika. Almost as if to prove the legend a reality, the surrounding area known as Sita Eliya with a Goddess Sita Temple on the site.
Lake Gregory is a reservoir in the heart of the tea country hill city, Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka. Lake Gregory was constructed during the period of British Governor Sir William Gregory in 1873 Golf course.
Then visit Seeta Amman Temple. Sri Seethai Amman temple is a unique temple it has been made at the place where Seeta Mata spent her days in the prison of Ravana approx. 5000 years ago. It is also unique in a way that it is one of the very few temples dedicated to Seeta.
Overnight at Nuwara Eliya.
Day 5: Nuwara Eliya-Ella:
Transfer from Nuwara Eliya to Ella. Visit the Nine Arch Bridge, Ravana Caves and Ravana falls.
Ravana Cave. History says that the cave is used by King Ravana to hide the Princess Sita. Located about 2 km from the Ella town. The cave lies on the foundation of a cliff, and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Sri Lanka with a historical value.
Ravana falls – According to legend, it is said that Ravana (who was the king of Sri Lanka at the time) had kidnapped princess Sita, and had hidden her in the caves behind this waterfall, now simply known as the Ravana Ella Cave. At the time, the cave was surrounded with thick forests in the midst of wilderness.
Overnight at Ella.
Day 6: Ella-Kataragama:
Transfer from Ella to Kataragama. Visit the Kataragama Temple.
This is the temple of Lord Karthikeya Subramaniam at Kataragama. Lord Karthikeya was requested to go to the battlefield by Lord Indra on the last day of war. This was done to protect Lord Rama from the wrath of Brahmastra aimed by King Ravana which otherwise would have weakened Lord Rama. The benefit was one of the most powerful weapon brahma asthra aimed at Lord Rama for the second time was rendered useless by the presence of Lord Karthikeya.
Overnight at Kataragama.
Day 7: Kataragama-Colombo:
Transfer from Kataragama to Colombo. If time permits visit Galle face green, Vihara Mahadevi Park, Colombo museum and shopping.
Overnight at Colombo.
Day 8: Colombo-Kelaniya-Colombo airport:
Kelaniya is the closest site to Colombo connected to the Ramayana.
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.
There exists as Buddhist temple and shrine for King Vibeeshana. Vibeeshana is considered one of the four guardian deities of Sri Lanka, and temples for Vibeeshana are found throughout Sri Lanka. A painting of Kind Vibeeshana adorns the new Parliament of Sri Lanka. In fact, there are no temples dedicated for Ravana, but many exist for Vibeeshana; this goes to prove that his stand towards dharma & justice made people to revere him as a god in Sri Lanka. Kelaniya temple
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 his intervention to a fair recourse to their problems.
Transfer to Colombo airport.