Heritage SriLanka Ramayan Tour (4N - 5D)

Meet and greet at the airport by our travel representative and transfer to hotel for check in. Travel to Negombo and Chilaw to visit Munneswaram & Manavari Temple respectively, if time permits. Munneswaram Temple - It is believed that Munneswaram predates the Ramayana and a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva was located here. Munneswaram means the first temple for Shiva (Munnu + Easwaran). A Shiva Lingam was already here when Lord Rama visited this place. Lord Rama after his victorious battle left for Ayodhya with Sita in one of King Ravana’s Vimanas. He felt he was being followed by a Bramhaasthi Dosham (a malevolent black shadow) as he had killed King Ravana who was a brahmin. Manavari Temple - When the Vimana was passing over Munneswaram, he felt the Vimana vibrating, and realized the Bramhaasti Dosham was not following him at this particular point. He stopped the Vimana at this juncture and asked god Lord Shiva for advice. Lord Shiva blessed Lord Rama and advised installing and praying at four lingams located at Manavari, Thiru Koneshwaram, Thiru Ketheshwaram and Rameshwaram in India as the only remedy to get rid of the Dosham. The first lingam was installed at Manavari about 5km from here, near the banks of the Deduru Oya. At the Manavari Temple at Chilaw, Manavari is the first lingam installed and prayed by Rama and till date this lingam is called as Ramalinga Shivan. Rameshwaram is the only other lingam in world named after Lord Rama. Rest of the day leisure at the hotel. Overnight in Colombo.
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer from Colombo to Kandy via Mawanella. Spice Garden - Sri Lanka is world renowned for its valued spices and healing herbs. Our lush spice and herbal gardens feature many important herbs such as Sandalwood, Margosa, Cocoa, Citronella, Almond, Jasmine and Coconut. When visiting us, make the most of the chance to experience first-hand how cloves, pepper, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and saffron are grown in their natural surroundings. At Regent Spice and Herbal Garden you can learn of their medicinal healing properties and how to use them in your day to day needs. Used worldwide in many medicines, the healing powers of spices have been respected from the time of the Pharaohs and Chinese Dynasties, while our herbs are used in Ayurvedic concoctions. Transfer from Mawanella to Kandy. Upon arrival to Kandy, visit temple of tooth relics. Dalada Maligawa: Temple of Tooth - Located in Kandy, long a center of the Buddhist faith, the stunning 17th-century Temple of the Tooth (Śrī Dalada Maligawa) is believed to house the left upper canine tooth of the Lord Buddha himself. This precious relic attracts white-clad pilgrims, bearing lotus blossoms and frangipani, every day. According to legend, the tooth was taken from the Buddha as he lay on his funeral pyre. It was smuggled to Sri Lanka in 313 AD, hidden in the hair of Princess Hemamali who fled the Hindu armies besieging her father's kingdom in India.It immediately became an object of great reverence and was enshrined in a series of nested jeweled reliquaries. The tooth was brought out for special occasions and paraded on the backs of elephants, which are sacred to the Buddha. Where it survived numerous attempts to capture and destroy it. When the capital was moved to Kandy, the tooth was taken to the new city and placed in temples built to honor it. The temple was originally built under Kandyan kings between 1687 and 1707. Overnight in Kandy.
Breakfast at Kandy and proceed to Nuwara Eliya. En-route visit the Hanuman Temple & Ramboda Waterfalls. Hanuman Temple - Visit Sri 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 hill 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. The service times at the Sri Baktha Hanuman Temple is between 7:00 am to 12:00 noon and again 3:30pm to 6.30pm. Then visit to Ramboda Falls. Upon arrival to Nuwara Eliya, proceed to visit Seetha Amman Temple & Hakgala Botanical garden (Ashok Vatika) Seetha Amman Temple - The Seetha 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 (Ashok Vatika) - 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 honor 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. Gayathri Peedam - 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. The Gayathri Cathedral also known as Sri-Lanka Theeswarar Temple which he built is situated in an area fondly identified as Sri-Nagar which means the Metropolis of Prosperity. Overnight in Nuwara Eliya.
Breakfast at Nuwara Eliya. Transfer from Nuwara Eliya to Colombo. Visit Kelaniya Vibhishana Temple & Panchamuga Anjaneyar temple. Kelaniya Temple - After King Ravana's death, Vibeeshana was coroneted as King of Lanka by Lakshmana at Kelaniya. There are murals enshrined outside the Buddhist temple depicting the crowning of Vibeeshana. 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 December/ beginning of January. Continue with the Colombo city tour - While on your city tour in Colombo you may visit famous places including Galle Face Green, the Viharamahadevi Park, National Museum, Twin World Trade Center towers, Old Parliament Building, Fort district, Independence Hall at Independence Square, and prominent Buddhist, Hindu, Islam and Christian places of worship. (Entrance fees to sites not included). For shopping, you may visit Odel, House of Fashion, Beverly Street, Majestic City, Noritake, etc. Overnight in Colombo.
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Bandaranaike International Airport for return flight back home.

book this journey