RAMAYANA’S TRAIL

Upon arrival at the Colombo Bandaranayake International Airport, a representative will warmly receive you. Your holiday of pure leisure has just begun. You will then be escorted to your vehicle and transferred to Negambo the starting point of an idyllic vacation. Check into the hotel. Transferred to Manawari temple & Munneshwaram temple.

Breakfast at the hotel. Enroute visit Pinnawala elephant orphanage. After check in to the hotel & leisure. Travel to Kandy – a World Heritage city. Traditions and culture remain undisturbed by European influence in the colonial era. The Royal Palace, now known as the “The Temple of the Tooth Relic’’ (of Lord Buddha), situated right beside the Kandy lake gives a magical beauty to the city. Kandy is also home to one of the largest botanical gardens in South East Asia. The Gardens dates back to the 14th century and boasts over 4000 species of plants and many trees with significant histories. Visitors from the UK will be particularly interested in the Cannonball Tree planted by King George V. The tree is bent with its fruits, which resemble cannonballs hence the name. Visit to the Kandy Temple Dinner & overnight stay at the hotel.

Travel to Nuwaraeliya, the emerald city of Sri Lanka, also known as ‘’little England’’ for its cool climate and colonial style architecture. It is located at an altitude of 1,868 m (6,128 ft) above sea level which enables the plantations to produce the finest tea in the world. Visit a Tea Plantation – and be amazed at how the mountains have been tamed into carpets of tea. Enroute visit Tea Factory, Hanuman temple & Ramboda falls. On completion check into the hotel & leisure. Dinner & overnight stay at hotel

Breakfast at the hotel. Proceed for various temple like-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. 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 honour 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. 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 honour 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. Gayathri Peedam The Gayathri Cathedral, also known as Sri-Lankatheeswarar Temple, is the very first temple dedicated to Goddess Gayathri. Gayathri Siddhar chose this place because it was a spiritual revelation. Overnight at Nuwara eliya.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Ella from Nuwara eliya. Visit to Ravana’s falls & cave. On completion visit to Nine arch bridge. On completion, transfer to hotel & check-in. Dinner & overnight stay at hotel in Ella. Ravana’s Cave According to Ramayana proofs of Sri Lanka, these tunnels served as a quick means of transport through the hills and as a secret passage. After careful analysis, it can easily understand that, these ttunnels are man-made and not natural formations. Existing tunnel mouths are situated in lsthripura at Welimada, Ravana cave at Bandarawela, Senapitiya at Halagala, Ramboda, Labookelle, Wariyapola / Matale and Sitakotuwa / Hasalaka. In addition, there are many more tunnel openings. This most prominent ramayana site can be accessed by turning off 3km from Ella on Wellawaya road. Then Go up 2km to Ravana Ella temple. Trek uphill about 2km

Today you will be transferred to Colombo – the official political and trade capital of Sri Lanka. All the famous shopping arcades are in and around the city, which allows one to have a tantalizing experience in Colombo as it has something to offer every visitor. As a hub of many ethnicities with people from all creeds working together, Colombo is indeed cosmopolitan. Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Colombo from Ella. Check into the hotel & visit to Anjaneyar temple. Anjaneyar Temple This is the first Anjaneyar Temple in Sri Lanka and also the only Panchamuga (five faced) Anjaneyar Temple in Sri Lanka. It’s the only temple in the world to have a chariot for Ajanyear. Overnight stay at a Hotel in Colombo

Breakfast at the hotel.As all the good things must come to end, our chauffeur guide will take you to the airport to catch the departure flight