Ramayana Tour No 2

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.

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 its 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.