Srilanka Group Tour (6N/7D)

Arrive in Sri Lanka. You will be met by representatives and transferred to Chilaw. (Travel time approx: 01 & ½ hrs)

Proceed to *Munneshwaram Temple
The MunneshwaramKovil close to Chilaw, is one of the 5 major Shiva temples of Sri Lanka and Rameswaram islands. They are called Ishvarams. According to a Tamil legend, the temple is situated at a place where King Rama prayed to Shiva after committing the worst crime according to Hindu Dharma, namely Brahmahastthe killing of a priest, because Ravana who had to be killed by Rama in order to liberate Sita, was of Brahmin caste. Rama stopped the Vimana vehicle at Munneswaram because of his feeling that the Doshana sin was not following him at this place. So he ascended from the vimana and prayed to God Shiva asking for a remedy. Shiva advised Rama to install four lingams at Manavari, Trinco, Mannar and Rameswaram for this purpose.
*Manavari Temple Visit
Manavari, about 6 kms north of Chilaw, is the first place where Lord Rama installed a Lingam, as a remedy to Lord Shiva after committing Brahmincide by killing the King Ravana who was a Brahmin. This Shiva Lingam in Manavari is called Ramalingam because it was made by Lord Rama. There are only two Lingams in the world named after Lord Rama, the other is in Rameswaram in India.

Proceed to Dambulla(Travel time approx: 04 -05hrs)

Overnight stay at a Hotel, Dambulla

Breakfast at the Hotel

Proceed to Trincomalee(Travel time approx.: 02hrs)

Visit *ShakthiPeedam / *Thirukonneshwaram Temple
*Thirukonneshwaramis a wonderful temple located on a rock promontory of Trincomalee. It was built by Rishi Agastya on the instructions of Lord Shiva who was impressed by the devotion of King Ravana. This place is unique in this respect because the Lord built a temple for his devotee as a reward for his devotion. Lord Rama is believed to have offered his prayers here, too, in order to get rid of the malediction of killing Ravana who was a Brahmin, meaning BrahmahasthiDosham. The famous temple built here during the glorious era of the Tamil Pallava and Chola and Pandya empires, was destroyed by bigoted Portuguese Christians between 1622 and 1624.
*Sri Shankari Devi ShakthiPeedam- Adjacent to Trincomalee’s famous Koneswaram temple there is another shrine; it is small in size but of some significance for Hindu pilgrims. This Shankari Devi temple is a reconstruction at a new place. The original Shankari Devi temple, said to be built by Ravana, was the first in the list of AshtaDasha (18) Shakti Pitas written down by AdiShankara, but its whole cliff was destroyed by Portuguese cannon balls. Only a pillar for commemoration is placed on that spot now. And it is believed that the original idol of the Goddess has been preserved and replaced, being venerated now in this nearby new Shankari Devi temple.

*Kanniyai – The hot wells of Kanniyai or Kanniya are close to the main road to Anuradhapura only about 10 kms from Trincomalee town. Pilgrims believe in their healing power. There are many different versions of the myth on how these curative hot water wells came into existence; most of them are connected to Ravana. One legend about Kanniya’s origin has it, that this is the place where King Ravana carried out the last rites for his mother. When he was unable to find water to duly perform the rites, he in anger pierced his Trishula into the ground seven times. Water started gushing out immediately. The very hot water cooled down to the present degree when Ravana’s anger calmed down. The temperature of the water is different in all the seven wells.

Overnight stay at a Hotel, Trincomalee

Breakfast at the Hotel

Today morning you will be transferred to Kandy(Travel time approx: 04 – 05hrs)

Visit *Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic – ever since 4th Century A.D, when the Buddha’s Tooth was brought to Sri Lanka hidden from sacrilegious hands in an Orissan princess’ hair, the Relic has grown in repute and holiness in Sri Lanka and throughout the Buddhist world. It is considered Sri Lanka’s most prized possession.

**Gem Gallery visit – The world’s best gems are available in Sri Lanka such as Blue and Yellow Sapphire, Star Ruby and Star Sapphire, Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye, Alexandrite, Topaz, Amethyst, Quartz, Garnet, Aquamarine, Moonstone, Tourmaline When comparing with other countries you will be lucky to buy pure and valuable gems in Sri Lanka for a competitive price. You can get the education about gems, making jewelries and other requests with them. You can buy gold, white gold and silver jewelry at your choice. You can even get them Tailor Made as per your preference.
Evening witness the colorful Kandy Cultural Show

Overnight stay at a Hotel, Kandy

Breakfast at the Hotel
Proceed to NuwaraEliya(Travel time approx.: 02hrs)

NuwaraEliya – The ‘Little England’ of Sri Lanka, is set against beautiful backdrops of Mountains, Valleys, Waterfalls and Tea Plantations. It is supposed to be one of the coolest places in the Island, but it is really just like an English spring day, although the temperature does drop at night. All around NuwaraEliya you will see evidence of the British influence, houses like country cottages or Queen Ann style mansions. The Victoria Park, in the middle of the town, is a lovely place for a stroll or a picnic and is also good for Birding as you get some rare birds in this Park. Seasons may be absent elsewhere in Sri Lanka, but here you can read them by the flowers, which bloom in the spring (March to May) and the fall (August and September). These are the “seasons” when low-country folk flock to NuwaraEliya to escape the sea level heat and humidity. (The city tour will take approx: 1-2 hrs)

Ramboda Falls & Ramboda Anjaneyar Temple
The Sri Lankan branch of the Chinmaya mission, committed to promoting the Ramayana philosophy as well as Ramayana Trail pilgrimages, has built a temple with Hanuman as a presiding deity in Ramboda on the Kandy to NuwaraEliyamainroad. There is a new five metres tall granite statue of Rama’s devote supporter. Hanuman is believed to have started his search for Sita in the Baroda hills. Hanuman traditionally was not as popular among Sri Lankan Tamil devotees as he indeed is in India, because he devastated parts of the island with his burning tail. But in recent times Hindu missionaries and local Tamil spiritual leaders began building shrines for worshipping Hanuman in Sri Lanka, too. The Tamil word for Ramboda, Rampadai, means “Rama’s force”, this is why Ramboda is believed to be the area where Rama collected his troops.

Overnight stay at a Hotel, NuwaraEliya

Breakfast at the Hotel

Visit *-Seetha Amman Temple / AshokaVatika
The Sita Amman Temple, located halfway between the highland village SitaEliya and the Hakgala Botanical Gardens, has become the most venerated of all Ramayana Trail sites in Sri Lanka, because it is believed to be the place where Sita lived most of the time of her captivity on the island of Lanka. After she refused to stay in Ravana’s magnificent palace she was transferred to Ashok Vatika or Ashokavanam where she lived under Ashoka trees. It was here that Ravana’s wife Mandodari visited her and that Hanuman met her for the first time, identifying himself with the finger ring of Rama. Sita is said to have bathed in the nearby stream. There are remarkable holes in the rocks at the river bank believed to be footprints of Lord Hamunan

Proceed to *Ella(Travel time approx.: 02hrs)

Visit *Ravana Falls / *Ravana Caves / *Divurumpola
*Ravana Ella – The Ravana Ella Falls and the Rawana Ella Cave are located close to the Wellawayamainroad in the famous valley called Ella gap, only about 6 kms away from the town of Ella well known for its splendid views to the Ella gap. The cascading waterfall measures about 25 metres. It is believed that Sita bathed in a pool that accumulated the water falling from this waterfall. The nearby Rawana Ella cave is quite small, only 50 metres long. As in the case of Ishthripura Cave in Welimada, legend has it that it was used by King Rawana to hide princess Sita. It is believed to belong to a network of tunnels also connecting it to the Dova temple and to all the palaces and airports and dairy farms of King Ravana. Archaeologicalfindings in the Rawana Cave include a human skull dating back to 20,000 BC.

*Ravana Cave – Ella -These 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 where a palace and a tunnel existed. Existing tunnels mouths are situated in Ishtripura at Welimada, Ravana cave at Bandarawela, Senapitiya at Halagala, Ramboda, Labookellie, Wariyapola, Matale and SitakotuwaHasalaka. In addition there are many more tunnels.

*Divurumpola – Divurumpola is said to be the location where Sita underwent the famous fire ordeal Agni Pariksha, in order to prove her chastity. From the flames arose the fire god Agni who was invoked by Sita. He lifted her from the flames unharmed and presented her to Lord Rama who explained this test was only necessary to prove the truth of her purity and innocence to everybody. Divurumpola is said to have been the location of this episode, because the Sinhalese name means a ‘marketplace of oath’. Today the temple is respected as a suitable place for oaths that can be helpful in settling disputes between parties

Back to NuwaraEliya

Overnight stay at a Hotel, NuwaraEliya

Breakfast at the Hotel

Proceed to Colombo (Travel time approx.: 06hrs)

En-route visit *Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage – App. 55 miles from Colombo, off the Colombo – Kandy road is Pinnawela, where an orphanage was started in 1975 to house the abandoned and the wounded elephants. The number of elephants has increased to more than 65 now; including Baby Elephants brought from various parts, as well as the 23 babies born, as a result of the captive breeding programme. The best time to visit is the feeding time from 0930-1000 hrs and 1330-1400 hrs and the bathing time from 1000-1030 hrs and 1400-1430 hrs when all the elephants are taken to the river close by.

Visit PanchamugaAnjaneyer Temple in Colombo – Hanuman is often called Anjaneyar by Tamils, as his mother’s name is Anjan. This Kovil is the first Anjaneyar temple in Sri Lanka and the only one on the island dedicated to Lord Hanuman in his Panchamuga form; meaning five faces. And it is said to be the only temple in the world to have a chariot for Anjaneyar. Its chariot festival is held annually at the end of December or in the beginning of January. It is one of the most popular processions in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo. Visitors are advised to wash hands and feet before entering the temple and not to cross hands inside the temple.

Overnight stay at a Hotel, Colombo

Breakfast at the Hotel

* Colombo – a drive through the city would take you to the busy commercial areas as well as the tree-lined residential, Cinnamon Gardens. Visit Fort, the former British administrative center and military garrison, Sea Street – the Goldsmith’s quarters in the heart of Pettah, the Bazaar area, where is also a Hindu temple with elaborate stone carvings, and the DutchChurch of Wolfendhal dating back to 1749. Also, visit the BMICH, see the replica of Avukana Buddha & the Independence Square.

Visit Gangaramaya Temple / Shopping at Barefoot, Odel, House of Fashion and Cotton Collection

Upon completion, you will be transferred to the airport for your departure flight back to India.