Cultural Circuit, Sri Lanka
Highlights
- Temple visits
- Elephant Orphanage Visit
- Wildlife Safari
- Visit Galle
- Sri Lanka
Experience Overview
Ramayana tour is mainly focus on important Ramayana historical places, according to the great Indian epic Ramayana in Lanka. There are many living witnesses / places associated with Ramayana in Sri Lanka.
Sample Itinerary
DAY 1
Airport / Negombo
Upon arrival at the Colombo Bandaranayake International Airport, you will be received warmly by our representative. You will then be escorted to your vehicle to begin your holiday in Sri Lanka.
Your first destination will be Negombo. En route you will visit Chilaw.
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 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 dosham. 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 till date this lingam is called as Ramalinga Shivan. Rameshwaram is the only other lingam in world named after Lord Rama.
Negombo
Negombo is the well-known fishing Village in Sri Lanka. It is a charming town set in the midst of green groves of coconut palms, warmth of golden sand and spirit of the sea. You will be able to taste the best of sea food to your hearts’ desire. Apart from beaches and sea-food Negombo has a unique charm of its own with narrow streets, small boutiques and Catholic Churches dotting the landscape.
Negombo City Tour
During the city tour you will explore the old Dutch fort gate built in 1672 now part of the prison, the Dutch Canal which was then a supply route to the Dutch administration, old churches and fishing villages. 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. The stretch of road towards Kotchchikade comes to life at dusk (most shops are open at daytime too) with many handicrafts and curio shops, gem shops, restaurants and internet cafes catering for tourists.
Dinner and overnight stay at your hotel in Anuradhapura.
DAY 2
Anuradhapura / Jaffna
Breakfast at the hotel and later visit Anuradhapura Ancient City – Anuradhapura is the first capital of Sri Lanka located in north central province of Sri Lanka. It is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka which was the center of Theravada Buddhism for many centuries. Due to its ruins of an ancient Sri Lankan civilization UNESCO named it as a UNESCO world heritage site in 1982 under the name of Sacred City of Anuradhapura.
Continue your drive to Jaffna
Jaffna is one of the best places to learn about Sri Lankan Tamil culture. It is rising in popularity as a tourist destination in recent years. There are plenty of interesting places to see in Jaffna including the Jaffna Fort of which largely ruins remain was one of the greatest fort built by the Dutch in Asia. The famous Nallur Kandasamy Kovil, Naga Pooshani Amabal Kovil, Kadurugoda temple are some of the historically known places in Jaffna.
Check in and free time.
Dinner & overnight stay in Jaffna
DAY 3
In Jaffna
Breakfast at hotel and transfer to visit Nagadeepa Temple by Boat.
A veritable Buddhist pilgrimage in the northern part of the country, Nagadeepa Island is connected to a popular legend. It is said that Buddha came here to prevent a war between a Naga King and his nephew, over a gem studded throne. He offered a solution to give it to a temple instead. Now, both the throne and the temple are missing but a monument stands in its place.
Return back to mainland and later if you are lucky you can taste some Toddy (Palm wine) which is popular in Jaffna.
Visits around in Jaffna and evening spent at leisure.
Overnight at the hotel
DAY 4
Jaffna / Trincomalee
Breakfast at the Hotel.
And then you will proceed to Trincomalee.
Trincomalee City tour
You will be able to visit the famous Konesvaram temple which attracts many pilgrims from all parts of India. It is also known as the Temple of a Thousand Columns. There are several Buddhist historical sites around the Trincomalee. These include the famous Seruwila Mangala Raja Maha Vihara (Seruwila Temple) which is under consideration to be declared a UNESCO world heritage site dating back to 2nd century B.C. the Sri Gajaba Len Vihara (Sri Gajaba Cave Temple), Tiriyay temple and the Welgam temple. The entrance to the roadway leading to Koneswaram is actually the entrance to what used to be Fort Fredrick. The fort was built in 1623 by the Portuguese.The city has the largest Dutch fort in Sri Lanka.
Dinner and overnight stay at your hotel in Trincomalee.
DAY 5
Trincomalee/ Dambulla
After breakfast you will proceed to Dambulla.
Dambulla
Dambulla is one of the ancient cities of Sri Lanka. The city also boasts to have the largest rose quartz mountain range in South Asia, and the Iron wood forest. Ibbankatuwa prehistoric burial site near Dambulla cave temple complexes is the latest archaeological site found in Dambulla.
Join this 3 hour tour for lifetime opportunity to be emerged in the nature and culture of real Sri Lanka Village and drive by a Safari jeep to hiriwadunna village, a beautiful rural area in Habarana city. Tour start with a Bullock cart ride near to the village pond & at there you will experience a boat ride to the next side of the rural village. After short walk within the paddy fields & vegetable cultivation you can reach village house. At the village house you can relax & taste a delicious Sri Lankan Lunch. Then take a Tuk Tuk ride to tour start location. After finish tour you will be take back to your hotel by a safari jeep.
Tropical Village prides itself in organic production of food. Walk on the bunds of the paddy fields that feed much of Sri Lanka with rice harvests.
Dinner and overnight stay at your hotel.
DAY 6
Dambulla/Kandy
After an early breakfast head to Dambulla Wholesale Market.
Walk through the hustle and bustle of one of the country’s busiest food markets. Merchants gather here to buy produce at wholesale rates for distribution to retails outlets throughout Sri Lanka,
And then you will proceed to Kandy.
Spicy Garden at Matale
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.
Dinner and overnight stay at your hotel in Kandy.
DAY 7
In Kandy
Breakfast at the Hotel.
Later will visit Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage.
Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage
Enroute to your destination, you can visit one of the most important tourist attraction in Sri Lanka, the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage. Volunteers and caretakers provide shelter and take care of orphaned, abandoned and injured elephants within the park. You can watch caretakers feed, bathe and help these gentle giants. You want walk with the herd to the nearby river to watch the elephants bathe and play around in water.
And then you will proceed to Kandy.
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 as one of the seven UNESCO declared World Heritage sites in the country. With its luxuriant prairie, picturesque lake, longest river of the country and misty mountains, Kandy successfully mesmerizes every visitor unsurprisingly.
Kandy City Tour
While on your city tour you will visit one of the world heritages as well as a sacred place for the Buddhists all over the world; namely the Temple of tooth Relic known to the Sri Lankans as Dalada Maligawa. Your next visit will be to the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens which is a paradise for nature lovers. This beautiful flower Eden is restored with over 300 different varieties of orchids, other spices, medicinal plants and Palm trees. Every year more than 1.2 million people are enchanted by the beauty of these 147 acre flower gardens. The real evidence of the richness will be affirmed by your visit to the Gem Museum. Sri Lanka produces the finest quality of gems in the world. Semi-precious gems, the sapphires of Sri Lanka, which are very exclusive and comes in shades of blue, red, green, white etc. In the evening you will witness a traditional cultural dance show.
Dinner and overnight stay at your hotel in Kandy.
DAY 8
Kandy / Nuwara Eliya
Breakfast at the hotel and drive towards Nuwara Eliya enroute visiting Sri Bhaktha Hanuman Temple – story believed that Hanuman was searching for Sita Devi from a place called “Ravana Goda” close to this Bhakta Hanuman Temple.
Continue your drive towards Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya (City of Lights), blessed with salubrious climate, 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 favorite hill station of the British who tried to create Nuwara Eliya into a typical English Village. The old brick Post office, country house like hill club with its hunting pictures, trophies and strict formal dinner attire; the 18 whole golf courses, horse race course, etc., all remind you of “England”.
Dinner & overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya
DAY 9
In Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya 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 which was mentioned in the famous epic Ramayana. Haggala is a temperate hill-country garden where languid low-country lotus and water lily float in their serene loveliness. (Entrance fees to sites not included)
Visit Ashoke Vatika and Ramboda Hanuman Temple.
Dinner and overnight stay at your hotel in Nuwara Eliya.
DAY 10
Nuwara Eliya / Kataragama / Yala
Breakfast at the Hotel.
And then you will proceed to Kataragama.
Kataragama
Kataragama a popular pilgrimage destination frequented by all three religious groups Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims in Sri Lanka. The main shrine devoted to Skanda popularly described in eulogies as God having six faces and twelve arms whose assistance is sought for worldly gain. The history of the shrine dates back to 2 century BC. The annual procession held in July or August is the main event of the shrine with fire walkers and Kawadi dancers. It is close to the beach areas of Hambantota and the jungles of Yala National Park.
Kataragama City tour:
Your exploration will commence with a trip to the Yala National Park which affords the greatest opportunities to sight the Sri Lanka’s broad variety of wildlife – Colorful painted stork in troops are seen perched at the shores of lagoon where the crocodiles have chosen to doze off; lovely fantailed peacocks in their resplendent blues and greens parade about amidst the woods where monkeys hang, leap and chatter; in the bush jungle are the Elephants; crossing the tracks and wandering off into the thorny scrub jungle is the star attraction of the park: the leopard. Later you can visit the famous Kathirgamam Murugan temple. (Entrance fees to sites not included)
And then you will proceed to Yala.
Yala
Yala is among the oldest and best known of Sri Lanka’s National Parks. Yala covers about 1297 sqkm or 129,700 ha. And it is the largest agglomeration of protected areas in the country. The multifarious ecosystems ranging from Moist Monsoon Forest , to Dry Monsoon Forests, Semi Deciduous Forests, Thorn forests, Grasslands, fresh water & marine wetlands, and sandy beaches, possesses a large number of important plant species and smaller animals.
Block one is the most visited area since it contains the highest density of leopards. It is possible to take full day jeep safaris or to split your day into morning and afternoon drives. Your best chance to see a leopard is generally early in the morning and then again at dusk. There is also a substantial elephant population along with spotted deer, Sambar, Wild buffalo, Sloth bear, Jackal, Mongoose, Pangolins and Crocodiles. The bird life comprises over 120 species, and ranges from Lesser Flamingos to Paradise Flycatchers, Crested Hawk Eagles, and Black Bitterns. Outside of the park are several other fascinating birding locations, including the ancient hermitage of Sithulpahuwa, Debarawewa wetland and Palatupana saltpans. The coastline forms a major nesting ground for marine turtles
Dinner and overnight stay at your hotel in Yala.
DAY 11
Yala / Galle / Colombo
Breakfast at the Hotel
Visit Ussangoda National Park is one of the torched areas, It is believed that Ussangoda during the time of Ramayana, King Ravana used this flat hard land to travel on his Pushpaka Vimana.
And then you will proceed to Galle .
This is the most ancient and important harbour of the country, until the Colombo Harbour was established. Galle is identified as the ‘Tarshis’ of the Bible. This was captured by the Portuguese in 1587 A.D, Dutch in 1640 A.D, and British in 1796 A.D.
Most of the existing buildings dates to Dutch Period. The Bastians are still using Dutch names such as Zwart, Akesloot, Aeloes etc. Famous for lace making, Ebony carving, Gem cutting & polishing, out on shooting chanced on Numara Elisa plains, and Sir Edward Barnes investigated on it
Continue your drive to Colombo
Sri Lanka’s commercial heart, Colombo (approximately 2.5 hours). The city is a cosmopolitan mix of vibrant street markets, colonial buildings, interesting museums, fine restaurants and great shopping opportunities.
Intime transfer to the airport for your flight back home.
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