Sri Lanka

Arrival at Bandaranayake International Airport and welcomed by our airport
representative followed by the transfer to your hotel in Kandy. En-route visit
Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage.  In the evening you’ll be watching a cultural
performance by traditional Kandyan dancers and drummers.
Dinner & overnight stay in Kandy.
Pinnawala elephant orphanage
The foster – home of elephants (around 70) of different age and size feed, bathe,
play together. These great animals have been found injured or left abandoned in the
wilderness. Now they even breed in captivity.
Temple of the tooth relic
This temple, the most important one for The Sri Lankan Buddhists was built in the
16th Century A.D. solely for the purpose of housing the tooth relic. Observe the
magnificent Architecture of that period and experience the tranquility of the
atmosphere.
Traditional dancing show
The Dance was done during the king’s times as an entertaining show for the kings.
However its popularity reduced when the British took over, but now it’s revived and
taken on for the stage. The Kandyan Music & the Dresses all are a beauty to watch.

After breakfast travel to visit Seetha kotuwa. Dinner and overnight in Kandy.
Sita Kotuwa
Sita was kept at Queen Mandodari‘s Palace and later moved first to Sita Kotuwa
(translated “Sita’s Fort”) and finally to Ashoka Vatika. The ruins found here are the
remnants of later civilizations.

After breakfast travel to Nuwaraeliya. En-route visit Hanuman temple and Ramboda
waterfall. Then see a tea plantations and a tea factory. Dinner & overnight in
Nuwaraeliya.

Sri Bhakta Hanuman Temple
In the hills of Ramboda where Hanuman was searching for Sita, the Chinmaya
Mission of Sri Lanka built the Sri Bhakta Hanuman Temple which is visited by
thousands of devotees every year.
Nuwara Eliya
Drive through the little town of Nuwara Eliya observing the well-maintained
buildings of colonial Architecture. Visit the busy market where the tea plantation
workers rush in and out with their days provisions. Visit the lake Gregory built for
generating power during the British Colonial age but now a feature that adds beauty
to the city.

After breakfast visit Ramayana sites around Nuwaraeliya & Ella. Dinner & overnight
stay in Nuwaraeliya.
Sita Amman Temple
The Sita Amman Temple can be seen en route to the Hakgala Botanical Gardens.
The prominent temple architecture will not fail to attract your attention. Ancient
statues of Rama and Sita can be seen on one side of the temple. The temple today is
a modern building with its paintings, statues and pillars decorated with sculptures; all
depicting the tale of Rama and Sita.
Hakgala Botanical Gardens
The Hakgala Botanical Gardens was one of the pleasure gardens of King Ravana.
This garden was expanded during the British period and has a wide variety of flowers
including an excellent collection of orchids. This is the exotic pleasure garden where
King Ravana kept the depressed Sita, insisting that she marries him. It was here
where the heartwarming 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 saying it would be an insult to Rama’s honor if she did
so. Part of this majestic garden still exists. It is also said that Hanuman nearly
destroyed it in order to prove to Ravana of the forces against him.
Divurumpola Temple
Still revered by thousands, this holy haven was the place where Sita performed her
Agni Pariksha (proving her chastity) to her husband Rama. Continuing the practice for
thousands of years, villagers still pledge their fidelity or take oaths there and even in
certain courts, this agreement was binding. This place has been respected and
worshipped by people down the ages.
Ella
Ella is a small mountain village near Bandarawela and boasts three locations linked
to the Ramayana where local legend claims Ravana was hiding Sita. First there is the
Ravana Ella Cave, 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 which 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.

After breakfast we leave for Colombo. Colombo is the commercial capital of the
country. Attractions are Buddhist temples, Hindu temples, churches, the old
parliament building, the zoo, museums and art galleries. In evening visit Anjaneyar
Temple in Kalubowila. Dinner and overnight in Colombo.
Anjaneyar Temple
This is the first Anjaneyar Temple in Sri Lanka and also the only Panchamuga (five
faced) Anjaneyar Temple in Sri Lanka. Its the only temple in the world to have a
chariot for Ajanyear.

After breakfast we leave for the Munishwaram Temple & Manavari Temple in Chilaw.
Dinner and overnight in Negombo.
Munishwaram Temple
It is believed that Munishwaram predates the Ramayana and a temple dedicated to
Lord Shiva was located here. Munishwaram means the first temple for Shiva (Munnu
+ Easwaran). A Shiva Lingam was already here when Lord Rama visited this 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 a Bramhaasthi Dosham  (a
malevolent black shadow) as he had killed King Ravana who was a Brahmin.
Manavari Temple
When the Vimana was passing over Munishwaram, he felt the Vimana vibrating, and
realized the Brahmaasti Dosham was not following him at this particular point. He
stopped the Vimana at this juncture and asked god Lord Shiva for advice. Lord Shiva
blessed Lord Rama and advised installing and praying at four lingams located at
Manavari, Thiru Koneshwaram, Thiru Ketheshwaram and Rameshwaram in India as
the only remedy to get rid of the dosham. The first lingam was installed at Manavari
about 5km from here, near the banks of the Deduru Oya. At the Manavari Temple
Chilaw Manavari is the first lingam installed and prayed by Rama and till date this lingam is called as Ramalinga Shivan. Rameshwaram is the only other lingam in
world named after Lord Rama.

Travel to airport for your flight.