Ramayana Trail

The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic (500 BCE - 100 BCE) which narrates Prince Rama's attempts to rescue his beloved wife Sita from the clutches of Ravana. The Ramayana, the great Hindu epic plays a key role in the celebrations of Diwali (festival of lights) as well, symbolising the triumph of good over evil. In this epic story King Ravana makes Sri Lanka his home while in exile  prompting Rama’s army to build a bridge across the sea to cross over to Sri Lanka. The story ends depicting Rama defeating Ravana to take his wife Sita home. 
​During this Ramayana tour you will visit the Munneswaram Hindu Temple, Vishnu Kovil in Halawatha, Sita Kotuwa, Bhaktha Hanuman Temple in Ramboda, Sita's Tea Pond and Chariot Path in Pusswellawa, Sita Amman Kovil in Nuwara Eliya, Asoka Vatika in Nuwara Eliya, Agni Pareeksha place in Divurumpola in Welimada, Sthreepura Cave Galigamuwa, Ravana Waterfall, Ravana Cave and Kelaniya Temple in Colombo.
Picture
Ganesh - Anke Sundermeier pixabay
VIEW FULL ITINERARY
DAY 01: ARRIVAL/NEGOMBO
Program for the day
  • Meet up with our representative at arrival lounge
  • Pick up from airport & drop off at hotel
  • Check-in to your hotel
  • Relax for the day
  • Meals: Breakfast
ACCOMMODATION CHOICE
Budget: Avenra Gardens/Goldi Sands
Standard: Pledge Scape/Club Dolphin
Luxury: Heritance/Jetwing Beach
MEALS: BREAKFAST
Please note: A range of hotels from Budget(3 star), Standard (4 star) & Luxury (5 star) are included in the itinerary. Prices will defer according to the selection that suits your budget. Please consult with your travel advisor before booking, Thank you.
DAY 02: ANURADHAPURA
Program Overnight Accommodation
Budget:Miridiya Lake/Alakamanda
Standard:Heritage/Forest Rock
Luxury:
Meals: Breakfast/lunch/dinner
Munneswaram Hindu Kovil.  Munneswaram Hindu Temple has gained prominence in the Ramayana legend. This temple has its origins dating back to 1000 CE, Munneswaram Kovil is one of five ancient temples dedicated to Shiva. This temple is located in the district of Chilaw, on the Wariyapola road.  ​​​
Manavari Hindu temple is also located in Chilaw.  This hindu temple too has a  direct link to the Ramayana epic where lord Rama installed the Shiva lingam and prayed after defeating king Ravana and liberating Sita. The  Ramayana epic describes Rama as an incarnation of Vishnu and the Lingam is a representation of Shiva. Ramalingam is considered an object of worship in Hinduism. There are only two lingams in the whole world named after Lord Rama. The Ramalingam is at the Manavari Temple and Rameswaram is in Tamil Nadu. Both lingams are considered sacred.
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Anuradhapura is the most renowned of Sri Lanka’s ancient ruined cities. This historic City's dome shaped dagabas constructed of small sun-dried bricks are still reminiscent of its past glory. The Ruvanveli dagaba which dates back to the 2nd Century BC is 300ft in diameter is the most prominent. The Jetawanarama is 370ft and the Thuparama enshrines the collarbone of the Buddha. The city’s most revered relic is the sacred Bo-Tree which is said to have grown from a branch of the tree under which the Buddha gained enlightenment. This Bo-tree is the oldest historic tree in the world dating back 2500 years.
Overnight stay and dinner at hotel in Anuradhapura.
DAY 03: SIGIRIYA
Program
  • Early Breakfast
  • Proceed to Sigiriya
  • Climb Sigiriya Rock Fortress
  • Lunch at a local restaurant
  • Check into your hotel and relax​
Overnight Accommodation
Budget: Sigiriya Village/Saunter Paradise
Standard: Amaya Lake/Habarana Village
Luxury: Heritance Kandalama/Jetwing Lake
Meals: Breakfast/lunch/dinner
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Sigiriya - The 5th century rock fortress is a world heritage listed site, built by King Kashyapa in (477-495 AD). The 'Lion Rock' as it is called, is a citadel of great beauty rising 200 meters from amidst the scrubs. Sigiriya was once a 70-hectare established town. A moat, rampart, and extensive gardens including the renowned water gardens surround the base of this rock. You will see the world-renowned frescoes of the Heavenly Maidens' of Sigiriya, sheltered along the rock wall which is approachable via a spiral stairway. These frescoes are believed to be painted in earth pigments plastered on the wall. After descent from the fortress, continue your journey to Polonnaruwa.
DAY 04: DAMBULLA/KANDY
Program
  • Early Breakfast
  • Visit Dambulla cave temple
  • Proceed to Kandy
  • Lunch at a local restaurant
  • Check into your hotel
  • Visit Temple of the tooth in the evening
  • Attend a cultural dance performance
Overnight Accommodation
Budget: Suisse Hotel/Royal Kandyan
Standard: Cinnamon Citadel/Earls Regent
Luxury: Golden Crown/Grand Kandyan
Meals: Breakfast/lunch/dinner
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Dambulla stands as an isolated rock mass 500ft high and a mile around the base. This rock temple dates back to the First Century BC. The caves of Dambulla sheltered King Walagamba during his 14 years of exile from Anuradhapura. When he regained the throne he built a magnificent rock temple at this site, which is now heritage listed. 
Proceed to Kandy to visit the historic sacred temple (Dalada Maligawa), which houses the tooth relic of the Buddha.
Kandy - Sri Lanka's hill capital. Once a stronghold of the Sinhala Kings, is a very beautiful and picturesque town. It is 488 meters above sea level and next to Colombo, is Sri Lanka's most visited city. The main attraction of this town is without doubt the golden roofed Sacred Temple where the Tooth Relic of the Buddha is enshrined. There are many shrines and temples in and around Kandy, showcasing rare paintings, frescoes, wood and stone carvings.
DAY 05: KANDY/GURULUPOTHA
Program
  • Early Breakfast
  • Visit Sita Kotuwa​ in Gurulupotha
  • Lunch at a local restaurant
  • ​Attend a cultural dance performance
  • ​Return to your hotel & relax​
Overnight Accommodation
Budget: Suisse Hotel/Royal Kandyan
Standard: Cinnamon Citadel/Earls Regent
Luxury: Golden Crown/Grand Kandyan
Meals: Breakfast/lunch/dinner
After breakfast travel to Hasalak, ( 2 ½ hours drive away) to where Seetha Kotuwa is situated. This place is appropriately named Sita Kotuwa as the legend describes Sita Kotuwa as the temporary abode for Sita, after King Ravana abducted her from India by plane. This is the place where a beautiful palace was built for queen Mandothari who lived here. It was known at the time as the city of Lankapura. This palace (Kotuwa) was surrounded by waterfalls, streams and many varieties of flora and fauna. Seetha Devi was kept in this palace until she was moved to Ashoka Vatika. Ashoka vatic is now the place where the Sita Amman Temple is located. You will see the gigantic footsteps of Hanuman nearby, after he destroyed the Ashoka Vatika temple. It was the location where Sita, the wife of Rama, while being held captive refused to stay in Ravana's palace and preferred to stay under the Ashoka tree.
DAY 06: NUWARA ELIYA
Program
  • Early breakfast
  • Proceed to Nuwara Eliya
  • Lunch at Labookellie Tea Factory
  • Visit Sri Bhaktha Hanuman Temple at Ramboda
  • Visit Sita's pond and chariot path (Tuk Tuk Ride)
  • Check into your hotel and relax​
Overnight Accommodation
Budget: Quantara/Queenswood
Standard: Araliya Red/Hill Club
Luxury: Heritance Tea/Golden Ridge
Meals: Breakfast/lunch/dinner
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Shri Bhaktha Hanuman Temple in Ramboda. According to the legend, this is the location where Hanuman searched for Sita in the jungles surrounding the temple. There is a stretch of barren land known as the 'Chariot Path" at Pussellawa. This is the route that Ravana used to take Sita to Ashoka Vatika (Beautiful Gardens) to impress her with the beauty of kingdom.  There is also a pond - the 'Sita Tear Pond' – believed to be formed from Sita's tear drops. The Chariot Pathway is situated in a remote location. A moderate 3 hour trek to this pathway reachable on a bumpy road by trishaw. (Tuk Tuk)). 
Optional tours are available for those wanting to visit Sita' Tear pond and the Chariot path.
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DAY 07: KATARAGAMA
Program
  • Early breakfast
  • Visit Sita Amman Temple
  • Visit Ashoka Vatika (The Ashoka tree where Sita sat)
  • Lunch at a local restaurant
  • Proceed to Kataragama
  • Check into hotel & refresh
  • Visit Kataragama Temple​
  • Return to your hotel & relax
Overnight Accommodation
Budget: Elephant Reach/Oakray Lake
Standard: Chandrika/Kithala Resort
Luxury: Cinnamon Wild/Jetwing Yala
Meals: breakfast/lunch/dinner
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Before heading to Ella, visit Seetha Amman Temple of Nuwara Eliya, the place  where Sita was held captive by the demon-king Ravana in the Ashoka forests of this region. The temple trustees believe that Sita was imprisoned at this location.
Asoka Vatika, now known as Hakgala Botanical Gardens,is the place where King Ravana built Haggala as a pleasure garden for Sita  It is well noted that the Haggala Garden is mentioned in the Ramayana as Ashok Vatika. The area was also called "Sita Eliya" and  the "Sita Amman Temple" was built here in memory of the legend.
Because Rama doubted Sita's chastity, Sita undergoes a trial by fire (Agni Pariksha). Sita declaring that if she has been faithful to Rama  the fire not harm her; Sita comes out unscathed from the fire-god with Agni as proof of her chastity.
Ashok Vatica is the place where Sita was held captive for 10 months when Rama was exiled for 14 years. He spent 13 years with his brother Lakshman and wife in the forest at Panchavati. Ashok Vatika is now called Nuwara Eliya. You can explore the streepura cave and Ravana cave nearby.
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DAY 08: GALLE/COLOMBO
Program
  • Early breakfast
  • Proceed to Galle
  • Stop at Ussangoda, A torched area where King Rawana’s airport was constructed to land his big peacock shaped air craft.
  • Lunch at a local restaurant in Galle
  • Visit Galle Dutch Fort
  • Visit Rumasalla Mountain
  • Do a city tour of Colombo
  • Check into your hotel and relax​
Overnight Accommodation
Budget: Cinnamon Red/Steuarts by Citrus
Standard: Marino/Galadari
Luxury: Shangri-la/Hilton/Kingsbury
Meals: breakfast/lunch/dinner
​
Colombo, like many capital cities in developing countries is fast changing its face. Almost overnight, skyscrapers arise from where old buildings once stood. Yet in some parts, the old world charm is retained. For example, there is a 100-year-old clock tower and several British built colonial buildings.
DAY 09: DEPARTURE HOME
Program
  • Breakfast at the hotel
  • Do your own thing until it is time to get to the airport.
  • Check out time 11:00 am
  • Transfer to the airport.
  • ​Late night departures can request for a day room (Extra charges will apply)
WHAT' INCLUDED
  • Accommodation on FB basis ( Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner) as mentioned above.
  • Transportation with an English speaking chauffeur
  • 02 Pax – A/C Car 02 pax – 06 Pax – A/C Van
  • 07 Pax – 10 Pax – A/C Mini Coach with English Speaking National Guide
  • Entrance fees as mentioned in the itinerary
NOT INCLUDED
  • Tips and gratuities.
  • Expenses of personal nature (Telephone calls, Laundry etc.)
  • Any items specifically not mentioned in the itinerary.
  • Video and Camera permits.
  • Mineral water or other beverages.
  • Expenses of personal nature (Telephone calls, Laundry etc.).
  • Tips and gratuities.
  • Any items specifically not mentioned in the itinerary.
  • Video and Camera permits.​

Important!!!!!!
  • The above Star classification is based on local industry standard & it’s not based on the International standard 
  • Price is based on 01 Adult twin share basis.
  • Prices are net in USD/AUD/NZD and inclusive of applicable taxes as at date.
  • Rates may change without a notice if a significant currency fluctuation, Fuel Increase or Revision of taxes occurs.
  • Rooms will be on availability. If the reserved hotels are fully booked similar hotels will be provided in the same vicinity or nearest to the location.