Ramayana Trail

DAMBULLA – TRINCOMALEE (Meals: B/L/D) After breakfast proceed to Trincomalee Lunch at a local restaurant In the evening visit, Place of interest   -  Thiru Koneshwaram Temple Legend   -   Thiru Koneshwaram was built by sage Agasthyar as per the instructions of Lord Shiva who was impressed by the devotion of King Ravana. This place has the uniqueness of the lord building a temple for his devotee as a reward for his devotion. Lord Rama also offered his prayers on his return to get himself rid of the Brahmaasthi Dosham. Place of interest - Vilundri, Legend - On his return Lord Rama stopped at this place to reach Thiru Koneshwaram. He rested his bow on the ground here. Bow meaning vil and Undri meaning resting, in Tamil gave this place Vilundri its name. Thereafter proceeds to Dambulla, Overnight stay at Pelvehera Village Hotel Dambulla  

DAMBULLA - MATALE- KANDY - NUWARA ELIYA -(Meals: B/L/D) After breakfast proceed to Matale - Lunch at a local restaurant Thereafter transfer to Nuwara Eliya Via Ramboda. Visit , Sri Baktha Hanuman temple Legend  - On these hills of Ramboda where Hanuman was searching for Sitadevi, Chinmaya mission of Sri Lanka built a temple with Hanuman as the presiding deity. Special mention  On every full moon day special pooja’s are conducted and witnessed by thousands of devotees. The image of Lord Hanuman here is 16 feet. Check in to the Hotel Overnight stay in Single Tree Mount Hotel Nuwara Eliya

NUWARA ELIYA  (Meals: B/L/D) Breakfast at the Hotel. In the morning visit Seetha Amman temple Legend                        -           A temple for Lord Rama, Sitadevi, Luxshmana, and Hanuman Special mention, There is a stream by the side of the temple. Sitadevi said to have bathed in this stream. It is interesting to note that foot prints akin to Lord Hanuman’s are found by this river and some are of small size and some are of large size, which tells us of the immense powers of hanuman transforming himself into any size. Gayathri peedam                                                                            Legend                                 -              Gayathri peedam is believed to be the place from where King Ravana’s son Meghanath propitiated Lord Shiva with penance and pooja’s and in turn was granted super natural powers by Lord Shiva. Lunch at Local restaurant, In the evening visit Divurumpola Location      -   It is situated 20 Kilometers from Seetha Eliya on  N"eliya Welimada road. Turn off near 96 Km post.  Legend       -   This is the place where Sita underwent “Agni” test. Sita reached her husband. Meeting him after such a long time, she was overcome by joyous emotion. But Rama seemed to be lost in thought. At length he spoke, “I have killed my enemy. I have done my duty as a true king. But you have lived for a year in the enemy’s abode. It is not proper that I should take you back now.” Sita was shocked. Is it my fault that the monster carried me off by force? All the time, my mind, my heart, and soul were fixed on you and you alone, my Lord!”. She turned to Kakshmana and said with tears streaming from her eyes, “ Prepare for me a fire, that is the only remedy for this sorrow of mind”. Lakshman in suppressed anger, looked at Rama’s face, but saw no sign of softening. He lighted a big fire. Sita reverently went round her husband and approached the blazing fire. Joining her palms in salutation, she said, “If I am pure, O fire, protect me”. With these words she jumped into the flames, to the horror of the monkeys who stood on all sides watching the tragic sight. Then arose from out of the flames Agni, the fire-god, whom she had invoked. He lifted Sita from the flames unharmed, and presented her to Rama. “Don’t I know that she is spotless and pure at heart?” cried Rama, standing up to receiver her. “It is for the sake of the worked that I made her go through this ordeal of fire, so that the truth may be known to all. Back in to the Hotel Overnight stay in Single Tree Mount Hotel Nuwara Eliya

COLOMBO - (Meals: B/L/D) Breakfast at the Hotel In the morning visit Panchamuga Anjaneyar Temple           Legend A temple dedicated to Anjaneyar temple in Sri Lanka. The only temple in the world to have a chariot for Anjaneyar. Thereafter visit *Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara Temple Legend    -  Kelaniya is the place where King Veebeshana ruled after being crowned by Lakshmana. As Lord Rama was in exile for 14 years, could not take part in any coronation ceremony, deputed his younger brother Prince Lakshmana to crown Veebeshana. Today in this very place a Buddhist shrine and a temple for king Veebeshana exist. There are murals enshrined outside the Buddhist temple depicting the crowning of King Veebeshana. Today temples for King Veebeshana are found through out Lanka and he is still considered as one of the 4 guardian deities of Sri Lanka. A painting of King Veebeshana adorns the walls of the new parliament. It is a fact that there is no temple for King Ravana where as many exist for King Veebeshana. This goes on to prove that his stand towards dharma and justice made him a god is Sri Lanka.

• In the evening visit Colombo Lotus Tower (Photo Stop)

Overnight stay at Fairway Hotel Colombo.

COLOMBO -AIRPORT-   (Meals: B//) Breakfast at the Hotel /Packed Breakfast. Transfer to the airport to connect to the departure flight.