Ramayan Trail – Standard

Day 1 – Airport Chilaw – Kandy

Arrive at Colombo International Airport. Here, you will be met by an airport representative and designated guide from Esna Holidays. After the formalities at the airport, you will be escorted to your air-conditioned vehicle and then proceed to Kandy.
En-route visit Chilaw Munishwaram Temple & Manavari Temple
Munishwaram Temple
It is believed that Munishwaram predates the Ramayana and a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva was located here. Munishwaram 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 Munishwaram, he felt the Vimana vibrating and realized the Brahmaasti 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 doshas.
The first lingam was installed at Manavari about 5km from here, near the banks of the Deduru Oya. At the Manavari Temple, Chilaw Manavari is the first lingam installed and prayed by Rama and to date, this lingam is called Ramalinga Shivan. Rameshwaram is the only other lingam in the world named after Lord Rama.
Kandy
Lying amidst the hills, Kandy is the last capital of the ancient kings of Sri Lanka. While being the second-largest city in Sri Lanka it is also famous for its immense beauty and is named one of the seven UNESCO-declared World Heritage sites in the country. With its luxuriant prairie, picturesque lake, the longest river in the country and misty mountains, Kandy successfully mesmerizes every visitor unsurprisingly.
Experience the Kandy Cultural Show. – Optional – Subject to availability.
The Kandy Cultural Show allows experience some of the traditions of Sri Lanka. Enjoy this hour-long extravaganza as some of the most popular art forms of the island take to the stage. Be wowed by fire dancers and sword dancers. Watch the colourful Kandyan dancers take to the air to the thrumming primal beat of the drums.
Check in to the hotel and relax. Overnight stay at your hotel in Kandy.

Day 2 – Kandy-Nuwara Eliya

Enjoy a delicious breakfast at your hotel. Today you will visit Nuwara Eliya.
City Tour: While on your city tour, you wilb Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya (City of Lights), is blessed with a salubrious climate, and breathtaking views of valleys, meadows, mountains and greenery; Surrounded by hills and tea plantations, the town of Nuwara Eliya enjoys spring-like weather throughout the year. It is also known as “Little England”, which was the favourite hill station of the British who tried to create Nuwara Eliya into a typical English Village. The old brick Post office, country houses like hill clubs with their hunting pictures, trophies and strict formal dinner attire; the 18-hole golf course, horse race course, etc., all remind you of “England”.
City tour: During the city tour in Nuwara Eliya you will visit the main attractions of the town which include the golf course, trout streams, Victoria Park, and boating or fishing on Lake Gregory. You can also visit a working tea factory where the slow-growing tea bushes of this highland region produce some of the world’s finest Orange Pekoe tea. You can also add Seetha Eliya and Haggala Gardens. Seetha Eliya is a temple that was mentioned in the famous epic Ramayana. Haggala is a temperate hill-country garden where languid low-country lotus and water lilies float in their serene loveliness. (Entrance fees to sites not included)
Check in to the hotel and relax. Overnight stay at your hotel in Nuwara Eliya.

Day 3 – Nuwara Eliya Ella Nuwara Eliya

Enjoy a delicious breakfast at your hotel. Today you will visit Ella.
Gayathri Pedam
It is believed to be the place from where King Ravana”s son Meghanath propitiated Lord Shiva with penance and poojas and in turn, was granted supernatural powers by lord Shiva.

Seetha Amman Temple, Seetha Eliya.
Seetha Amman temple the stream that runs from the hill catered to the needs of Sitadevi during her stay at Ashok Vatika. She is said to have bathed in this stream. About a century ago three idols were discovered in the stream, one of which was that of Sita. It is believed that the idols have been worshipped at this spot for centuries. Now there is a temple for Lord Rama, Sitadevi, Luxshmana, and Hanuman by the side of this stream. It is interesting to note that footprints akin to Lord Hanuman’s are found by this river 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.
Divurumpola Temple
Still revered by thousands, this holy haven was the place where Sita performed her Agni Pariksha (proving her chastity) to her husband Rama. Continuing the practice for thousands of years, villagers still pledge their fidelity or take oaths there and even in certain courts, this agreement was binding. This place has been respected and worshipped by people down the ages.
Transfer to Ella
Ella is a small mountain village near Bandarawela and boasts three locations linked to the Ramayana where local legend claims Ravana was hiding Sita. First, there is the Ravana Ella Cave, located at the massive Ella Falls; a breathtaking 1080 feet high waterfall that cascades into several falls. The rocky undergoes of the waterfall is Khondalite, a kind of limestone that undergoes faster decay as hard gneiss or granite. This has resulted in many caves being formed near the falls. King Ravana is said to have lived in one of the caves above the waterfall. A nearby pool bored out of the rock by the gushing waters is where Sita is said to have bathed Ravana.
Return to the hotel and relax Overnight stay at your hotel in Nuwara Eliya.

Day 4 – Nuwara Eliya – Colombo

Enjoy a delicious breakfast at your hotel. Today you will visit Colombo.
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.
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city and commercial capital of Sri Lanka. Located on the west coast, it is a busy and vibrant city with a mixture of modern and colonial impressions. Colombo has a wildly varying architecture that spans centuries and depicts various styles. Many colonial buildings influenced by the Portuguese, Dutch and British exist alongside structures built in Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic, Indian and Contemporary architectural styles. No other place is this more evident in the heart of the city the Fort area. Colombo also boasts many shopping malls and department stores that offer brand-name clothing at highly discounted prices. Therefore, it has become an important shopping destination among tourists.
Visit Panchamuga Anjaneyar temple in Dehiwala
City Tour: While on your city tour in Colombo, you may visit famous places including Galle Face Green, the Viharamahadevi Park, the National Museum, the Twin World Trade Center towers, the Old Parliament Building, the 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.
Check into the hotel and relax Overnight stay at your hotel in Colombo.

Day 5 – Depart Colombo

Breakfast at the hotel.
Proceed to the Airport for your departure flight back home with all the memories you had on this beautiful island.