Day 1: Colombo (Arrival) – Kandy ( by surface) ( duration 2hr 30 min)
Arrival at Colombo International Airport., after clearing the immigration met by our representative and transfer to Kandy. Check in at the hotel. In the evening, watch a cultural show of traditional Sri Lankan performing arts, featuring a series of ritual dances and fire walking. Return back to the hotel and rest of the day free at leisure. Overnight stay at the hotel in Kandy.
Day 2: Kandy – Pussellawa( duration 45 min) – Nuwara Eliya( duration 35 min) (by surface)
After breakfast check out from the hotel.and proceed for sightseeing tour of Kandy (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). The Kandyan kingdom, the last bastion of the Sri Lankan political power against the colonial forces, is the home for the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and the site of one of the world’s most impressive annual festivals – the Esala Perahera. The Temple contains the most sacred relic of the Buddhists today and the most precious of Sinhalese pride. The upper storey houses the sacred relic and a library containing 800 year old palm leaf religious manuscripts. The Pooja (ceremonies of veneration) are held at dawn and dusk daily and these are moments when the Temple comes to life with pilgrims making offerings of flowers amidst clouds of incense and the beating of traditional ritual drums. The city is visually rich with its narrow streets lined with characterful old buildings. The market has a good display of traditional arts and craft, textiles and gems & jewellery. The lake built by the last Sinhala King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe in 1798 is still a focal attraction.
Proceed to Pussellawa. Visit the Anjaneear Temple in Pussellawa housing a 16 feet image of Lord Hanuman. The Sri Baktha Hanuman Temple was built with Hanuman as the presiding deity on this hill of Ramboda, where Hanuman was believed to be searching for Sita Devi.
Proceed to Nuwara Eliya on route witnessing the Ramboda waterfalls and visiting a tea plantation and atea factory. There will be the opportunity to observe all about the process of manufacturing and grading tea and taste a cup of fresh Ceylon Tea in the factory itself. Check in at the hotel and rest of the day free at leisure.Overnight stay at the hotel in Nuwara Eliya.
Day 3: Nuwara Eliya – Welimada (duration 30 min) – Bandarawela(duration 30 min) (by surface)
After Breakfast check out from the hotel. and proceed for the to tour of Sita Amman Temple. According to legend, the temple is believed to mark the spot where Sita was held captive by King Rawana. Ancient statues of Rama and Sita can be seen with paintings, pillars decorated with sculptures, all depicting the tale of Rama and Sita. The rear of the temple overlooks a stream, while from its front Hakgala peaks can be viewed.
Thereafter, visit the Hakgala Botanic Gardens. This Botanic Garden was one of the pleasure gardens of King Ravana of the epic Ramayanaya. According to the epic, this was here where the heart-warming meeting took place between Sita and Hanuman, who brought her Rama’s ring.
Thereafter visit Isthripura. This exotic cave still boasts the picturesque cascading waterfall that was in existence 2000 years ago. It was within this cave that Sita was held with over 1500 women to attend to her every need.
Thereafter proceed to Welimada and visit the Divurumpola Temple. It is believed that this Temple has been been since the time of Rama, Rawana. Still revered by thousands, this was believed to be the place where Sita performed her Agni Pariksha (proving her chastity) to her husband Rama. Since that time this place has been respected and worshiped by people. It is said that this place was given the name ‘Divurumpola’ (the place of making a wow) not only in legends, but it has been inscribed in the moonstone guarding the Devale in the premises.
Thereafter, proceed Bandarawela. In the afternoon visit Ella, which has 3 locations linked to the Ramayana as the local legend states. There is ‘Ravana Ella Cave’, situated in the massive Ella Rock and the Ravana Ella Falls with a nearby natural pool bored out of the rock by the gushing waters where Sita is said to have bathed. Check in at the hotel and rest of the day free at leisure. Overnight stay at Hotel in Bandarawela.
Day 4: Bandarawela – Ratnapura (duration 1hr 35 min) – Colombo (duration 2 hr)(by surface)
After breakfast check out from the hotel and proceed to Ratnapura. Ratnapura is the fabled city of gems. Its name remains unchanged over the years and means “city of gems”. In Ratnapura prospecting and mining goes on every day. Witness a gem mine and a museum. Sitawaka, situated near Avissawella on a tributary of the Kelani River, derives its name from Sita, who is supposed to have been imprisoned by Ravana in a grove in this neighbourhood.
Proceed to Colombo. Check in at the hotel. Do a sightseeing tour of Colombo. Colombo is the commercial capital and the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is a busy and a vibrant city with a mixture of modern and colonial forms. Due to its large harbour and its strategic position along the East-West sea trade routes, Colombo was known to ancient traders since thousands of years ago. It has been the capital of the island since the British colonial time. The city is home to a majority of Sri Lanka’s corporate offices, shopping and entertainment venues. Famous landmarks in Colombo include the Galle Face Green, the twin tower World Trade Centre, British time buildings in Colombo Fort, the Town Hall, Vihara Maha Devi Park, Gangarama Temple, the Independence Square, Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall. The modern shopping malls and specialty stores carry high quality goods at very affordable prices. Return back to the hotel and rest of the day free at leisure. Overnight stay at the hotel in Colombo.
Day 5: Colombo – Chilaw(duration 1 hr 35min) – Negombo (duration 50min) (by surface)
After Breakfast check out from hotel and proceed to visit the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya, which was a Buddhist Temple built in the 3rd century B.C. Kelaniya was one of the three places visited by the Lord Buddha. Within the Kelaniya Temple there is a special shrine dedicated to Vibushana, king Ravana’s brother, who allied with Rama in the struggle to rescue Sita. During the Ravana regime Vibushana was in charge of Kelaniya.
Proceed to Chilaw. Visit the Munneshwaram Temple dedicated to God Shiva. The legend says this was the place where Lord Rama on his way back to India, prayed to God Shiva seeking advice on how to get rid of ‘Brahmaasthi Dosham’, the curse for killing Ravana.
Also, visit the Manavari Temple, which was the first place where Lord Rama installed and prayed the Shiva lingam on the advice of God Shiva. To date this lingam is called ‘The Ramalingam Shivan’. Rameshwaram is the only other lingam in the world named after Lord Rama.
Proceed to Negombo. Check in at the hotel and rest of the day free at leisure. Overnight stay at the hotel in Negombo.
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Day 6: Negombo – Colombo / Departure (by surface) (duration 50min)
After breakfast check out from the hotel and get transfer to Colombo Airport for the departure.
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