Chilaw & Anuradhapura

Manavari Kovil | மானாவரி கோவில் - Rama built a lingam here after killing Ravana.
The history of the Manavari Hindu Temple traces back to ancient times, enshrining stories that resonate with spirituality. According to Hindu mythology, this temple is believed to be the first among the 5 Pancha Ishwarams (the five abodes of Lord Shiva) in Sri Lanka. Legend has it that after Lord Rama defeated the demon king Ravana and returned to India, he sought forgiveness for the sins committed during the battle. To absolve himself, Lord Rama instructed Lord Shiva to bless the land, and thus the temple was established. It is said that the temple was constructed by Lord Rama himself and dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Munneshwaram Hindu temple - Munneswaram Temple - Lord Rama prayed here after committing Brahmahasti.
Munneswaram temple is an important regional Hindu temple complex in Sri Lanka. 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 dedicated to Shiva in the region.

The main festivals celebrated at the temple include Navarathri and Sivarathri. The former is a nine-day long festival in honour of the presiding Goddess, while the latter is an overnight observation in honour of Lord Shiva. In addition to these two Hindu festivals, the temple has a festival of its own, the Munneswaram Annual Festival, a four-week long event attended pilgrims from all parts of Sri Lanka including Hindus, Buddhists etc.

Anuradhapura - visit Buddhist temples.

The sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi tree in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, is believed to be the oldest authenticated tree in the world and was grown from a cutting brought from Bodhgaya in India. It has been tended by guardians for over 2000 years and is a pilgrimage site for Buddhist worshippers and followers. The tree is said to be where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment and is planted about six meters above the ground with its roots protected by walls.

Visit to Trincomalee

Trincomalee - Visit trincomalee.
Trincomalee was made into a fortified port town following the Portuguese conquest of the Jaffna kingdom, changing hands between the Danish in 1620, the Dutch, the French following a battle of the American Revolutionary War and the British in 1795, being absorbed into the British Ceylon state in 1815. The city’s architecture shows some of the best examples of interaction between native and European styles. Attacked by the Japanese as part of the Indian Ocean raid during World War II in 1942, the city and district were affected after Sri Lanka gained independence in 1948, when the political relationship between Tamil and Sinhalese people deteriorated, erupting into civil war. It is home to major naval and air force bases at the Trincomalee Garrison. The city also has the largest Dutch fort on the island.

Kanniya Hot Springs - Kanniya hot water spring well.
Religious Hindu rituals dedicated to lost loved ones are observed by the Sri Lankan Tamils at this site, believed in folklore to have been started by Ravana, antagonist of the epic Ramayana.This site is connected with the antagonist Ravana of the Hindu epic, Ramayana. Ravana and his mother worshipped Hindu God Shiva at the Koneswaram temple and the Hot springs of Kanniya. Ravana wanted to remove the temple of Koneswaram when his mother was in ailing health. As Ravana was heaving the rock, Lord Shiva made him drop his sword. When Ravana’s mother heard the news, she was wrought with unbeatable sorrow. When Ravana returned, he found his beloved mother’s demise and was disheartened. To perform his mother’s rites, Ravana stuck the earth with his sword in several spots and several fountains sprang from these points. The water was hot and such was the beginning of the hot water springs.

Koneswaram Temple - Koneswaram Hindu Temple -
Which was applied as the name of the form of Shiva for whose worship the temple at Tirukōnamalai had been dedicated”. In India there exists three other important Shaiva shrines named Gokarna.[5] The Gokarna Shiva temple in Kalinga (modern day Orissa) is also located on a mountain and the presiding deity is known as Gokarnasvamin. S. Pathmanathan states that both Shaiva shrines named Gokarna facing the eastern coastline and existing on mountains is not a coincidence, and that the Kōnesvaram temple was likely first established by settlers from Kalinga whose “favourite deity was Gokarnasvamin enshrined on the Mahendra mountain in Kalinga”.

Visit to Kandy

Kandy - Visit to Kandy.
Sacred City of Kandy
This sacred Buddhist site, popularly known as the city of Senkadagalapura, was the last capital of the Sinhala kings whose patronage enabled the Dinahala culture to flourish for more than 2,500 years until the occupation of Sri Lanka by the British in 1815. It is also the site of the Temple of the Tooth Relic (the sacred tooth of the Buddha), which is a famous pilgrimage site.

Sigiriya - Sigiriya Rock Fortress and Cobra Cave.
According to the ancient Sri Lankan chronicle the Cūḷavaṃsa, this area was a large forest, then after storms and landslides it became a hill and was selected by King Kashyapa (AD 477–495) for his new capital. He built his palace on top of this rock and decorated its sides with colourful frescoes. On a small plateau about halfway up the side of this rock he built a gateway in the form of an enormous lion. The name of this place is derived from this structure; Siṃhagiri, the Lion Rock.

In 477 AD, Kashyapa I, the king’s son by a non-royal consort, seized the throne from King Dhatusena, following a coup assisted by Migara, the King’s nephew and army commander. The rightful heir, Moggallana, fearing for his life, fled to South India. Afraid of an attack by Moggallana, Kashyapa moved the capital and his residence from the traditional capital of Anuradhapura to the more secure Sigiriya. During King Kashyapa’s reign (477 to 495 AD),

Kandy - This sacred Buddhist site, popularly known as the city of Senkadagalapura, was the last capital of the Sinhala kings whose patronage enabled the Dinahala culture to flourish for more than 2,500 years until the occupation of Sri Lanka by the British in 1815. It is also the site of the Temple of the Tooth Relic (the sacred tooth of the Buddha), which is a famous pilgrimage site.
in the evening, enjoy watching a mesmerizing traditional Kandy dance show.

Visit to Nuwareliya

Nuwara Eliya - Explore best attractions of the city, including the Temple of Tooth Relic, Shri Bhakta Hanuman Temple, and Ramboda Waterfalls
Another place related to folklore is the Hindu temple called Seetha Kovil (Hanuman Kovil). It is found on the way to Badulla from Nuwara Eliya before reaching the Hakgala Botanical Garden. The temple is in the village called Seetha Eliya. The area is related to the Ramayana story in Hinduism. Folklore says that the mighty king Ravana kidnapped princess Seeta who was the queen of Rama and hid her where the temple now is.

Seetha Eliya - With reference to the Ramayana proof of Sri Lanka it is believed that the Sita devi was kept captive at this site by King Ravana. There is a stream by the side of the temple where that runs from the hill, catered to the needs of Sita Devi during her stay at Ashok Vatika. She is also said to have bathed in this stream. About a century ago of three idols were discovered in the stream.

Transfer to Kataragama

Kataragama - Tevayani Amman (Sanskrit: Devasenā) and her traditions hail from North India where they are associated with Hindu monks of the Dāsanāmi Order founded by Adi Sankaracharya in the 8th Century AD. Myth and history combine to explain how Thevayani Amman came from North India to Kataragama to recover her wayward husband Lord Murugan.

Centuries ago, it is believed, the Kataragama God’s senior spouse Tevayani Amman prompted Kalyana Giri Swami to leave North India and come South to find her missing husband and bring him home.

The sage is said to have found Lord Murugan in Kataragama. Kalyana Giri Swami requested Lord Murugan to accompany him to India, but Valli Amma intervened and begged Kalyana Giri Swami not to take her husband away. Kalyana Giri Swami never returned to India but remained and requested Thevayani Amman to come and settle in Kataragama also. Thevayani Amman came and since that time all three deities live happily together in Kataragama.

Kataragama Temple - Buddhists, Hindus and the indigenous Vedda people, and is a popular attraction to visit when you’re in Yala. The history of Kataragama reaches as far back as the 5th Century BC and it has functioned as the capital for several kings in the Ruhuna Kingdom. Although Kataragama is a multi-religious sacred town, most pilgrims pay tribute to God Kataragama; it is believed that this powerful deity resides in Kataragama and assists those who appeal to him with faith and devotion.

Transfer to Galle

Galle Dutch Fort - Ancient Greek and Roman geographers may have known about Galle, which they might have called the Cape of Birds. Ptolemy might also have known about the port which he referred to as Odoka. Moroccan traveller Ibn Battuta visited Galle (or Qali as he called it) in 1342. During the 12th and 13th centuries, Sinhalese refugees fleeing Tamil armies from the north began to settle in Galle and other nearby areas.

Galle had been a prominent seaport long before western rule in the country: Persians, Arabs, Greeks, Romans, Malays, Indians, and Chinese were doing business through Galle’s port. In 1411, the Galle Trilingual Inscription, a stone tablet inscription in three languages, Chinese, Tamil and Persian, was erected in Galle to commemorate the second visit to Ceylon by the Chinese admiral Zheng He. In 1502, a small fleet of Portuguese ships, under the command of Lourenço de Almeida on their way to the Maldives, were blown off course by a storm

Unawatuna Beach - Unawatuna is one of the most popular beaches in the South as well as the entire island. It is popularly known as a family friendly area especially with the shallow water levels most ideal for swimming. Locals flock in the evening to bathe in the sea. The west end of the beach leads to some rocks and stairs to go up a small hill with a pagoda and a big Buddha statue. It makes for a nice little walk with a beautiful view overlooking the beach.

Visit to Colombo

Colombo - Gangaramaya Temple, Galle Face Green, Viharamahadevi Park, National Museum of Colombo, Independence Memorial Hall, Beira Lake, Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque, Seema Malakaya, Dutch Period Museum, Old Parliament Building, World Trade Center, Paradise Road, Pettah Floating Market, and many more places.

Being the capital of Sri Lanka, there is a diverse list of places to visit in Colombo for everyone. The rich and vast history of Colombo may be the result of having been ruled successively by the Dutch, Portuguese, and British! This has led to an incredible patchwork of various different cultures, and the various monuments of Colombo can attest to that.

Apart from some marvelous historical monuments and buildings, there are some religious places exhibiting praiseworthy details, museums storing artifacts, and nature escapes that make it a great travel destination. You can witness a perfect amalgamation of different cultures in Colombo you can also shopping.

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