Ramayana Tour No 1

Negombo situated by the shores of a lagoon by the same name once has been a trading port for Portuguese and Dutch and is a ideal place for those who want quick access to and from the airport. Attractions in the city are the old Dutch fort gate built in 1672 now a part of the prison, the Dutch Canal which was then a supply route to the Dutch administration, old churches and fishing villagers. The 100km long canal running through the town is still being used and is an attraction for those who want to see the country from a different perspective.

Muneeshwaram Temple – After his victorious battle, Lord Rama left for Ayodhya, in one of King Ravana’s Vimana (carriages). He felt he was being followed by Bramhaasthi Dosham as he had killed King Ravana who was a Brahmin. Legend has it that when he came to this place, he felt Bramhaasthi Dosham was not following him and he stopped the vimana and asked God Shiva for a remedy. Lord Shiva blessed Lord Rama and advised him to install four lingams there and pray to get rid of the dosham. Since then, many Hindu devotees flock to the Temple.

Manaweri Temple – Manavari is the first lingam installed and prayed to by Lord Rama and this lingam is also called Ramalinga Shivan.

Kandy is an ancient hill capital and the last stronghold of the Sinhala Kings before the island was finally ceded to the British in 1815. It bears strong influence of the influence of Buddhism in the country and is revered by Buddhists as a sacred city because of the ‘Dalada Maligawa” – Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. Kandy is the venue of the annual glittering pageant each August where the Buddha’s Tooth Relic in a golden casket is paraded on a majestic elephant accompanied by over 100 elephants, fire dancers, and ceremonial whip crackers, dancers and drummers.

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.

Baktha Hanuman Temple Ramboda – The Ramboda area is believed to be an area where Rama’s forces were gathered against Ravana. RamPadai means Rama’s Force. The hills of Ramboda is also believed where Hanuman was searching for Sitadevi. The Chinmaya mission of Sri Lanka has built an Anjaneyar temple with Hanuman as the presiding deity. This temple is called Sri Baktha Hanuman temple and the image of lord Hanuman here is 16 Feet tall.

Mani Kattuther – Mani Kattuther- This is a rock in the Labukalle estate. Lord Hanuman met Sitadevi and on his way to announce this happy information to Lord Rama, rested on this hill top. The hill where Lord Hanuman is believed to have rested after meeting Sitadevi is known as Mani kattuther. Today an open temple with statues of Lord Rama, Sitadevi, Lakshmana and Lord hanuman stands on top of it . Locals visit the temple often.

After breakfast proceed to Kataragama. En route visit Seetha Amman Temple Seetha Eliya, Hakggala Botanical Garden & Ravana Ella. In the Evening visit Kataragama Temple Complex.

Thereafter proceed to Divurumpola situated in Nuwara Eliya Welimada road. Divurmpola means a place where one takes an oath. Sitadevi, after being liberated from King Ravana was subjected to a test to prove here chastity by offering herself to the fire. However, she came unscathed and proved her holiness during this ritual at this place.

Sita Amman Kovil – According to legend the temple is believed to mark the spot where Sita, was held captive by her abductor, King Ravana. Though an average visitor might feel that the location and its surrounded green land has nothing much to offer, archeologists have discovered giant footsteps – believed to be of “Hanuman” and more ruins to look around. There is also a shrine for ‘Hanuman’ the ‘Monkey God’ within it’s own premises.

This temple/kovil is dedicated to “Seetha” the captive princess for her love, believe, faith, determination, honesty and loyalty towards Prince “Rama”. A believer, can still hear the silent mourns of Prince Seetha with a closer eavesdrop to the free flow of the water stream which flows next to the temple.

The epic continues with an undiscovered tale of an underground tunnel network even below water levels of this area. The area provides partial evidence on this great epic which is the higher density of the ‘Ashok Trees” in the temple area

Hakgala Botanical Garden – was one of the pleasure gardens of King Ravana of the well-known epic Ramayanaya. 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 marry him. It was here where the heart-warming 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 it in order to if he did so. Part of this majestic garden still exists. It is also said that Hanuman nearly destroyed prove to Ravana of the forces against him.

Ravana Ella – A small mountain near Bandarawela, boasts three locations linked to the Ramayana were, local legend dictates, Ravana hid Sita. First there is Ravana Ella Cave, situated in the massive Ella Rock. Then there is Ravana Ella Falls and a nearby pool bored out of the rock by the gushing waters where Sita is said to have bathed

Kataragama temple is a Hindu and Buddhist temple complex dedicated to Skanda-Murukan also known as Kataragamadevio. It is one of the few religious sites in Sri Lanka that is venerated by the majority Sinhala Buddhists, minority Hindu Tamils, Muslims and the indigenous Vedda people. It is a collection of modest shrines, of which the one dedicated to Skanda-Murukan also known as Kataragamadevio is the most important. For most of the past millennia, it was a jungle shrine very difficult to access, but currently is accessible by an all-weather road.

According to Ramayana, after meeting Sitadevi, Lord Hunuman decided to test the strength of the mighty King Ravana and his army of Rakshasas. During the events that unfolded Lord Hanuman’s tail was set on fire by the rakshasa’s, and Lord Hanuman in turn went on to torch some parts of King Ravana’s empire.Ussanggoda is on the torched areas, which is said to have been an airport used by King Ravana.)

Seenigama Temple – This temple is set on a small island off the coast in Seenigama. The Devalaya (temple) is dedicated to a local deity by the name of “Devoldevi,” who is the guardian spirit of the village of Hikkaduwa and its people. Devotees request the deity to impart punishment on those who cause injustice to them. Chili is ground on a grinding stone at the temple and this is the way they ask for their boons. The locals consider the temple to be over 1300 years old, however historic records and structural evidence point out that it is about 300 years or so old. It is known as the Devils temple and the local fisherman have great piety towards this shrine as they believe it safeguards their lives and wealth. It is accessible via boat and the local fisherman and boaters are ever ready to take visitors there when the seas are calm. One can travel via motorboat or catamaran. There is also a roadside temple set up on the main road that leads to Galle, a few kilometers up, which can be accessed easily.

Panchamuga 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. The chariot festival is held annually end Dec/ beginning of January. Hanuman’s mother is Anjan. Hanuman is known as Anjan + Aiyar = Anjaneyar in South India (Hamuman in North India)

Colombo derived from Sinhalese name Kola-amba-thota which means “mango harbour”, altered by the Portuguese to honor Christopher Columbus, population 737,396 Colombo, is the largest city and commercial center of Sri Lanka. Colombo was probably known to Roman, Arab, and Chinese traders more than 2,000 years ago. Muslims settled there in the 8th century and controlled much of the trade between Sinhalese kingdoms and the outside world. The Portuguese arrived in the 16th century and built a fort to protect their spice trade. The Dutch captured the city in the 17th century. The British made the city the capital of their crown colony of Ceylon in 1802.