Ramayana Tour

Munneswaram temple is an important regional Hindu temple complex in Sri Lanka, predominantly Buddhist country. It has been in existence at least since 1000 CE, although myths surrounding the temple associate it with the popular Indian epic Ramayana, and its legendary hero-king Rama. The temple is one of five ancient temples (Ishwarams) dedicated to Shiva in the region.

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

City tour of Trincomalee including visit

Tiru Koneswaram Temple

Thiru Koneswaram is a wonderful temple located on a rock promontory of Trincomalee. It was built by Rishi Agastya on the instructions of Lord Shiva who was impressed by the devotion of King Ravana. This place is unique in this respect because the Lord built a temple for his devotee as a reward for his devotion. Lord Rama is believed to have offered his prayers here, too, in order to get rid of the malediction of killing Ravana who was a Brahmin, meaning Brahmahasthi Dosham. The famous temple built here during the glorious era of the Tamil Pallava and Chola and Pandya empires, was destroyed by bigoted Portuguese Christians between 1622 and 1624.

 

After breakfast visit hot water well spring. The hot wells of Kanniyai or Kanniya are close to the main road to Anuradhapura, in Trincomalee town. Pilgrims believe in the healing powers of the warm water. There are many different versions of the myth on how these curative hot water wells came into existence. Most of them are connected to Ravana. One legend about Kanniya's origin has it, that this is the place where King Ravana carried out the last rites for his mother. When he was unable to find water to duly perform the rites, he in anger pierced his Trishula into the ground seven times. Water started gushing out immediately. The very first hot water cooled down to the present degree when Ravana's anger calmed down. The temperature of the water is different in all the seven springs.

And thereafter visit some other temple such as Sri Shankari Devi Shakthi Pitam, Vattapalai, Vilundri etc

Visit some places such as Amarnthakali Legend Amarnthakali is believed to be the place where Lord Rama, Seethadevi and Lakshmana had their first meal after the ravages of the war. There is also a lake at this place known as Hanuman Lake or the old lake, which served to extinguish the fire set on lord hanuman's tail. Today there exists a temple for Kali Amman, Lord Shiva and Lord Ganesha. The Sitthandi Murugan Temple (Also spelled Cittanti Murukan Temple) is one of the many shrines in the Eastern province dedicated to the veneration of Vel. This holy spear, instead of a sculpture, is and an iconic symbol of Lord Murugan, the manifestation of Skanda worshipped in Tamil areas. Temples for Vel are called Tiruppatai Kovils, they were initially sanctuaries of the Vedda people, Sri Lanka's hunter-gatherer tribes. But according to one myth the temple was founded by a Siddha. In Tamil tradition a Siddha, also spelled Siddhar or Cittar, is an ascetic on the path to perfection using secret Rasayana methods to prolong meditation and life. The temple founder was a so-called Anti, too, a wayfarer without permanent residence. This is why his temple gets its Siddha-Anti Kokkaddicholai The temple in Kokkaddicholai is a socalled Tamil "Thanrhondrishwarar". This means a Shiva-Lingam "sprung up by itself". It is therefore a "Swayambhu-Lingam". Hindus believe this Shiva-Lingam to be more than 10,000 years old. Kokkaddicholai likes to be counted as the 5th Ishwaram temple of Sri Lanka. But the real 5th Ishvaram temple was located at the southern shores of the island and destroyed by the Portuguese.

Kandy A lovely city, the Hill Capital and last stronghold of the Sinhala Kings retains an aura of grandeur, which time has not affected. Encircled by hills, with a tranquil lake in its center, it is the site of the renowned "Temple of the Tooth" and the Royal Botanical gardens home to one of the best collections of Orchids. Kandy and its satellite villages are the center of the islands handicraft industry and its traditional dances are the most spectacular in the country. En route visit the major Ramayana sites Dunuwila & Laggala, Yahanagala, Weragantota, Sita kotuwa, Gurulupota Lankapura. Dunuvila & Laggala Dunuvila (the site where Ravana died) and Laggala (where Ravana prayed to Lord Shankara). The cartels behind the Dunuvila Lake are called Laggala. Laggala is derived from the Sinhala term Ilakka Gala, which when translated into English gives us the meaning “Target Rock”. Laggala served as an entry point to King Ravana’s army and it was from this rock the first Glimpse of Lord Rama’s army was sighted. This hill is geographically the highest part of the northern region and on a clear day Thiru Koneshwaran and Talai Mannar can been seen. King Ravana is believed to have meditated on this rock and prayed at Thiru Koneshwaran to Lord Shiva. It is here that King Ravana was killed by Lord Rama’s Brahmaastharam. The top of Laggala is flat and believed to have been hit by the Brahmaastharam. Yahangla Yahangala means bedrock. The Ramayana Trail legend interprets this name in the following way: King Ravana's dead body was kept upon this rock for his fellow countrymen to allow them to pay their last respects to their departed highly respected king. There is another local legend giving an alternative version of the meaning of Yahangala stating that Ravana did not really die but only became unconscious. His body remains hidden in the rock Weragantota Weragantota was the capital city of King Ravana and means “a place of flying chariot (aircraft) landing” in Sinhala language. It is believed to be the first place where Sita was brought into Sri Lanka in King Ravana’s Vimana. These jungles are the place where the city of Lankapura once stood. The city had a beautiful palace for Queen Mandodari surrounded by waterfalls, streams and varieties of flora and fauna. Sita Kotuwa Sita was kept at Queen Mandodari‘s Palace and later moved first to Sita Kotuwa (translated “Sita’s Fort”) and finally to Ashoka Vatika. The ruins found here are the remnants of later civilizations. Gurulupotha Lankapura Here was a flying chariot (aircraft) repair center known as Gurulupotha. In Valmiki’s depiction King Ravana’s Vimana resembled a huge peacock. The Vimana in Sinhala language means Dhandu Monara which is known as “flying peacock”; hence the name Gurulupotha, which means “parts of birds Temple".

Gadaladeniya The Gadaladeniya temple is one of the 3 Western Shrines in the surroundings of Kandy, dating from the Gampola period in the 14th century. Of those shrines Gadaladeniya is the one showing the closest relation to Indian architecture. Its outline of an Indian Shikhara-temple in a smaller size, and many details prove cultural influence from the South Indian Vijayanagara Empire. In Sri Lanka, Gadaladeniya is famous for its paintings, especially those at the wooden doors, for example the flower maiden. Though Gadaladeniya's main shrine is originally and until the present day a Buddhist sanctuary its extension are dedicated to Hindu gods. The integration of Hindu elements into the Buddhist religion is a characteristic feature of the Gampola period and even influenced the Kandyan art which became a pride of the Sinhalese Buddhist culture.

After Breakfast transfer to Nuwara Eliya. En route visit Chariot Path and Sita Tear Pond. The summit of the mountain next to the mountain range overlooking Frotoft Estate in Pussallawa is the place where Hanuman first set his foot on mainland Lanka. This mountain known as Pawala Malai is visible from this mountain range. These hills stand tall in-between King Ravana’s capital city and Ashoka Vatika. The barren land atop the mountain range is believed to be the route in which King Ravana took Sitadevi from his capital city Lankapura to Ashoka Vatika, which was a paradise on earth. Till date no vegetation grows on this passage except grass. King Ravana is believed to have taken this passage on top of these hills to show Sitadevi the beauty of his kingdom. The Sita tear pond is found en route by the chariot route, is believed to have been formed by the tears of Sitadevi and has not dried up since, even during severe droughts when the adjoining rivers dry up.