Overview
9 days, 9 places, one vehicle and one guide
Sri Lanka holds more than fifty sites linked to the Ramayana, scattered from Chilaw on the west coast to the hills above Ella. This nine day trail follows them in narrative order rather than driving order, so the story unfolds as you travel. Your guide is a practising Hindu who has led this route for over a decade and can read the Sanskrit inscriptions aloud where they survive.
Tour highlights
What you will actually do
- Munneswaram and Manavari temples, said to be founded by Rama himself
- Seetha Amman Temple at Ashok Vatika, where Sita was held captive
- Ravana Falls and the Ravana Ella cave above Ella
- Divurumpola, site of Sita's trial by fire
- Ussangoda, the scorched plateau linked to Hanuman's landing
- Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara and Anjaneyar Temple in Colombo
- Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy
Route map
The road you will take
Day by day
Itinerary
Day 01 · Arrive Colombo - Anjaneyar Temple
Airport welcome and transfer to Colombo. Evening darshan at the Anjaneyar Temple, one of the few Hanuman temples in the world with a five-faced deity.
Overnight — Colombo
Day 02 · Chilaw - Munneswaram and Manavari
North to Chilaw for the Munneswaram Shiva temple where Rama is said to have prayed after the war, and Manavari, the first lingam he installed.
Overnight — Anuradhapura
Day 03 · Anuradhapura and the sacred city
Sri Maha Bodhi, Ruwanwelisaya and the Thanthirimale temple. Afternoon drive to Sigiriya, identified in some traditions with Ravana’s aerial city.
Overnight — Sigiriya
Day 04 · Sigiriya and Dambulla
Climb Sigiriya at opening, then the Dambulla cave temples. Optional Minneriya elephant safari in the afternoon.
Overnight — Sigiriya
Day 05 · Matale and Kandy
Sri Muthumariamman Temple in Matale and a spice garden, then Kandy for the evening puja at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.
Overnight — Kandy
Day 06 · Kandy to Nuwara Eliya - Ashok Vatika
Peradeniya gardens, Ramboda Hanuman temple, then Seetha Amman Temple at Ashok Vatika beside the stream where Sita is said to have bathed.
Overnight — Nuwara Eliya
Day 07 · Divurumpola and Ravana's hills
Divurumpola, where Sita undertook the agni pariksha, then Ravana Falls and the Ravana Ella cave in the escarpment above Ella.
Overnight — Ella
Day 08 · Kataragama and Ussangoda
South to the Kataragama shrine complex, sacred to Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims alike, then the red plateau of Ussangoda on the coast.
Overnight — South coast
Day 09 · Kelaniya and departure
Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara, associated with Vibhishana, before your airport transfer.
Overnight — Departure
Inclusions
- 8 nights accommodation with breakfast and dinner
- Private vehicle with chauffeur throughout
- Hindu guide familiar with the Ramayana narrative
- All temple donations and pooja arrangements
- Vegetarian meal plan on request at no extra cost
- Airport transfers and 24/7 support line
Exclusions
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International flights and ETA visa - Lunches
- Entrance fees at archaeological sites
- Special pooja offerings beyond the standard arrangement
- Travel insurance, tips and personal expenses
Accommodation
Comfortable three and four-star hotels selected for proximity to temple sites and for kitchens that handle pure vegetarian and Jain requirements confidently. Rooms are twin or double; triple rooms are available for families.
Transportation
Private air-conditioned vehicle sized to your group, from a saloon car for couples to a 33-seat coach for temple societies and extended families. Groups of twelve or more travel with both a driver and a separate guide.
Questions
About this tour
Is the guide able to explain the religious significance?
Yes. Our Ramayana guides are practising Hindus with SLTDA national guide licences, and several have led pilgrimage groups from Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and the UK for more than ten years.
Can you arrange pure vegetarian or Jain meals?
Yes, at no additional charge. We brief every kitchen in advance. Jain requirements, including no root vegetables, are arranged where you are staying two nights or more.
How much walking is involved?
Most temple visits involve short walks on flat ground, though several require removing footwear on hot stone, bring socks. Sigiriya is optional and can be replaced with a garden visit.
Can this be combined with beach days?
Often. Three or four nights on the south or west coast add naturally to the end of the trail. Tell us and we will quote the extended version.
