Ramayana Trail – 7 Days of Divine Discovery in Lanka

Arrival to Sri Lanka You will be met by Journeyline Travel Representative on arrival at the airport and procced to Habarana /Sigiriya /Dambulla. En route visit Muneeshwaram Temple and Mannavari Temple in Chilaw, for religious observances.

Munneswaram Temple /Manavari Temple The Munneswaram temple is one of the five major Shiva temples of Sri Lanka, the biggest and central temple which has been dedicated to Shiva. The Manavari Temple, a historically significant place for Ramayana Tour. The temple is also known as ‘Ramalinga Shivan’. This is where Rama installed the first Shiva Lingam as a remedy to Lord Shiva after he killed King Ravana. There is a belief that Rama stopped his Vimana vehicle at Munneswaram as he felt that Brahmahasthi Dosham was not following him at this place. According to Hindu dharma, Ravana who was a Brahmin casted person had to be killed by Rama to liberate Sitha. he ascended from vimana and prayed to God Shiva asking for a remedy to get rid from his dosham.

Dambulla Cave Temple – Known as a Golden Temple of Dambulla and it is a World Heritage Site (1991) in SriLanka, situated in the central part of the country. It is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in SriLanka. The rock towers 160 m over the surrounding plains. There are more than 80 documented caves in the surrounding area. Major attractions are spread over five caves, which contain statues and paintings. These paintings and statues are related to Gautama Buddha and his life. There are total of 153 Buddha statues, three statues of Sri Lankan kings and four statues of Gods and Goddesses. The latter include Vishnu and the Ganesha. The murals cover an area of 2,100 square meters (23,000 sq. Ft.). Depictions on the walls of the caves include the temptation by the demon Mara and Buddha's first sermon.

Check in at the Hotel and rest of the day at leisure

Dinner & overnight stay at – Habarana /Sigiriya /Dambulla

After Breakfast Day excursion to major Ramayana sites Sita Kotuwa and Weragantota,

Sita Kotuwa /Sita Matha's Court – Gurulupotha – It is believed that Sita Kotuwa is one of the places where princess seetha was kept by King Ravana. The city had a beautiful palace for queen Mandothari surrounded by waterfalls, streams and varieties of flora and fauna. this was the place where Sita devi was first kept until she was moved to Ashok Vatika. Sita Kotuwa means “Sita’s fortress” because of Sita Devi’s stayed. Gurulupotha is on the Kandy – Mahiyangana, road at the 63 km post.

Weragantota – Was the capital of King Ravana. And it is the first location King Ravana brought Sita in his ‘Vimana’ (his flying chariot). The reason Weragantota translates to ‘place of aircraft landing’. According to the legend it was a magnificent palace that Queen Mandodari lived. And was surrounded by streams, waterfalls and different types of flora and fauna.

Dinner & overnight stay at – Kandy

After Breakfast proceed to Kataragama. En route visit Ramayana legend sites, Seetha Amman Temple, Hakgala Botanical Garden, Divurumpola Temple and Ravana Caves /Ravana Falls.

Seetha Amman Temple – Dedicated to Sitadevi, the wife of Lord Rama is the Sita Amman Temple. This temple is special and significant in relevance to the story behind its origin – it was where Sitadevi had been imprisoned by King Ravana because she had refused to stay in his palace, she was transferred to Ashok Vatika or Ashokavanam where she lived under Ashoka trees. It was here that Ravana's wife Mandodari visited her and that Hanuman met her for the first time, identifying himself with the ring (finger) of Rama. Sita is said to have bathed in the nearby stream. There are remarkable holes in the rocks at the river bank believed to be footprints of Lord Hanuman.

Hakgala Botanical Gardens – 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. It is also said that Hanuman nearly destroyed it in order to prove to Ravana of the forces against him.

Divurumpola Temple – This is the place where Seetha Devi underwent “Agni Pariksha” (test). It is a popular place of worship among locals in this area. Divurumpola means place of oath in Sinhala. The legal system permits and accepts the swearing done at this temple while settling disputes between parties. Ravana Caves /Ravana Falls– Kidnapped princess Sita had hidden in the caves behind this waterfall, known as the Ravana Ella Cave. At the time, the cave was surrounded with thick forests in the midst of wilderness. It is also believed that Rama’s queen bathed in a pool that accumulated the water falling from this waterfall.

Ishtripura Caves – This was one of the places to which King Ravana shifted Seetha Devi as a precautionary measure, which he was forced to take by Lord Hanuman’s advent. Seetha Devi took a bath in the stream close by and had dried her hair sitting on the rock and put clips to her hair, hence this rock is known as ‘Konda Kattu Gala’.

Thereafter proceed to Kataragama. Evening attends the Pooja ceremony at Kataragama Temple.

Kataragamam Temple – is a Hindu and Buddhist temple complex dedicated to Skanda-Murukan also known as Kataragama deviyo. (Kataragama or Murugan).

Dinner & overnight stay at – Kataragama