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The Grand Ramayana Tour combines both traditional Tamil places of worship in the north and east of the island and Ramayana Trail sites in the central highlands and the deep south. Furthermore, you can enjoy city tours in Kandy and Colombo and beach relaxation in Bentota. The two main foci are the Jaffna peninsula and the Nuwara Eliya tea area. A special feature of this journey is that all 4 Sri Lankan Ishvarams will be visited, Munneshvaram, Koneshvaram, Naguleshvaram and Ketheeshvaram. For this comprehensive journey to many different parts of the island you need two weeks time, with 12 overnight stays in Sri Lanka. But this period of time can be recommended for a Sri Lanka holiday anyway. So you will see much many more interesting Hindu and Ramyana places and tourist attractions than other visitors.
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Day 1: from the airport to Negombo beach
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On arrival at Colombo International Airport you will be warmly welcomed by your personal chauffeur or chauffeur guide or national guide lecturer. You will drive only 20 minutes to your hotel at Negombo beach. After check in the rest of the day will be free for relaxation at the beach. In case you arrive early enough, we can offer you a Negombo city tour free of charge or an opportunity (not included in the price) to enjoy a boat trip in the wetlands of Muthurajawela. Dinner and overnight stay in Negombo.
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Day 2: via Chilaw to Trincomalee
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After breakfast in the hotel proceed to the Chilaw, on the way have a break at the newly errected Punchi Kataragama temple in Madampe. In the suburbs of Chilar visit the Munneshvaram Kovil dedicated to Lord Shiva and connected to Lord Rama, too, and the temple at Manavari, where Lord Rama erected a Shiva-Lingam. After lunchtime in the Chilaw or Kurunegala area proceed 200 km to the north-east. On the way have a break at the Ramayana Trail site Vilundri. Check in at your hotel at Nilaveli Beach near Trincomalee. Dinner and overnight stay in Nilaveli.
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Day 3: from Trincomalee to Jaffna
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After breakfast take part in a city tour in Trincomalee, see the world-famous Koneshwaram temple and the nearby reconstruction of the Shankari Devi Shakti Pitam once destroyed by intolerant Portuguese invaders and vandals. After lunchtime proceed to the Jaffna peninsula, on the way along the north-east coast, which once was the civil war area, have a break at the Kannagi Amman Kovil in Vattapalai, a station of Sri Lanka’s traditonal Pada Yatra pilgrimage route. Check in at your hotel in Jaffna city for three nights. Dinner and overnight stay in Jaffna.
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Day 4: Jaffna peninsula full day round trip
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After breakfast in the hotel see the huge Nilawari well at Puttur, a Ramayana Trail site. Freshwater sources are rare on the Jaffna peninsula. Proceed to the temple of Selva Sannidhi, which is another place of Pada Yatra pilgrimage. Travel along the northern most coast of Sri Lanka (Point Pedro) to one of Sri Lanka’s tradtional four Tamil Ishvaram temples, the fifth one being India’s Rameshvaram in Tamil Nadu. Naguleshvaram in Keerimalai is the northernmost of the five Ishvarams. On the way back to Jaffna city have a break at Kandarodai, an excavation site of the most important ancient town on the Jaffna peninsula (Kanthiramalai). Dinner and second overnight stay in Jaffna.
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Day 5: Nainativu island and Jaffna city
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After breakfast cross the bridge to Velannai Island and take a boat to Naninativu Island. Visit Sri Lanka’s famous Tamil temple Nagapushani Amman Kovil. Have a look to the neighbouring Buddhist Nagadipa temple, too. Opportunity to take part in a boat trip to Delft Island. After lunchtime visit Jaffna city’s most significant sacred site, Nallur Kandaswamy temple. The rest of the afternoon is free for leisure or shopping in Jaffna city. Dinner and third overnight stay in Jaffna.
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Day 6: via Mannar to Sigiriya
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After breakfast travel along the north-west coast of Sri Lanka to Mannar. Visit the Ketheeshwaram Kovil and the Ramayana site Thalladi, which is the eastern end of the Rama Ketu. After lunchtime proceed to Sigiriya, on the way have a break in Anuradhapura. Check in at your hotel near Sigiriya. Dinner and overnight stay in the Sigiriya area.
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Day 7: from Sigiriya to Kandy
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After breakfast you have the opportunity (not included in the price) to visit the World Heritage Site Sigiriya and climb to the palace ruins on top of the rock. Otherwise we can show you smaller and more tranquil heritage sites in the surrounding. After lunchtime proceed southwards. On the way see the a Herbal and Spice Garden at Matale. Check in at your hotel in Kandy. In the evening take part in a puja ceremony at the Temple of the Holy Tooth Relic and a cultural and dance show close to the Kandy lake. Dinner and overnight stay in Kandy.
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Day 8: day excursion to Riverston and Knuckles Range
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After breakfast in the hotel proceed to the Matale, visit the Muthumariamman Kovil, a huge and colourful Tamil temple in the core of Sri Lanka. Afterwards cross the Riverston mountain area and see the tradtional Tamil Rama temple in Rattota as well as the newly identified Ramayana sites Lakgala and Yahangala. A walk along jungle paths will lead you to Sita’s first abode on the island, Sita Kotuwa, today it is a small excavated forest monastery and a waterfall near another Ramayana Trail site called Gurulupotha. On the way back to Kandy enjoy spectacular views in the northeastern part of the highlands called Knuckles Range, but be aware the Sinhalese call this area “misty valley”, often only fogs and clowds can be seen. Dinner and second overnight stay in Kandy.
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Day 9: from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya
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After breakfast take part in a small city tour, you will have time enough for shopping, too. After lunchtime proceed to Nuwara Eliya. On the way stop at Rangoda and enjoy the view to Rangoda Falls. Those who can walk uphill can visit the Hanuman temple erected by the Chinmaya mission. Others have the opportunity to reach it with threewheelers, but this would not be included in the price. Have a break at Labookellie tea plantation and a look to its Mani Katthuter rock. This second half of the mountain road to Nuwara Eliya is the “Sundara Kand” area, where Hanuman was in search for Sita. It is of extraordinary scenic beauty, too. Check in at your hotel in Nuwara Eliya, dinner an overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya.
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Day 10: from Nuwara Eliya to Kataragama
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After breakfast visit the Sita Amman temple in Sita Eliya, believed to be the place of Sita’s captivity called Ashoka Vatika. Afterwards see the Buddhist stupa at Divurumpola, according to the Ramayana Trail story it is the place of Sita’s fire ordeal Agni Pariksha. After lunch proceed to Ella which is famous for its perfect views. In the Ella Gap have a break at the Ravana Ella falls, another Ramayana Trail site. After arrival and check in at your hotel in Kataragama you have the opportunity to join an evening puja at the famous Kataragama shrine. Dinner and overnight stay in Kataragama.
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Day 11: from Kataragama to Bentota beach
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After breakfast enjoy the road along Sri Lanka’s south coast. On the way have a break at Ussangoda, a place related to Hanuman’s burning of Lanka. At the marvellous beach of Unuwatuna you can see the Rumassala rock and close to Galle the Seenigama island, two more Ramayana Trail sites. After lunch in or near Galle proceed to Bentota and Beruwela Beach, have a first look to Bentota beach and check in at your hotel at Beruwela, afterwards we can drop you back to the nearby Bentota beach, if you like. Dinner and overnight stay in Beruwela.
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Day 12: from Bentota to Colombo
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After breakfast in the hotel you have the morning hours free for further beach relaxation or fun activities at Bentota beach. After lunchtime proceed to Colombo and check in at your hotel. Take part in a Colombo city tour with lots of shopping opportunities and opportunity to join the Colombo nightlife. Dinner and overnight stay in Colombo.
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Day 13: return to the airport (or transfer to a holiday resort)
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Transfer to a booked beach resort between Negombo and Galle or back to the airport some hours in advance and check in for your return flight. We hope very much you enjoyed the beauty and hospitality of our motherland Sri Lanka and hope to welcome you again soon.
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In case your request
does not mention other specifications our quotation will list services and offer rates including: Double Rooms in 2- or 3-star accommodation, halfboard meal basis with pure veg. food, all transfers acc. to Rama Tours itinerary, entrance fees acc. itinerary, English speaking chauffeur (in case of more than 7 pax plus national guide lecturer) not included: flight ticket, personal insurances, lunch, drinks, tipps, personal costs |
