Ashoka Vatika Tour Duration: 06 Nights/ 07 Days Validity:

Srilanka: A fascinating city, not only for its comfortable blend of East and West, but also for its cozy mixture of past and present. Sri offers matchless multiplicity of picturesque tourist attractions, lively ceremonial festivals throughout the year, charming traditions, culture and crafts; gigantic ruins and colossal memorials of primitive civilization; a whole host of climes and ecological units from moist rainforests to sub plane evergreen rich farmlands to an arid rich jungle; excessive fauna and flora, wonderful wild life and wild life sanctuaries; and unspoiled palm fringed beaches circling this ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’.

Day 01: Negombo Arrive at the International airport in Sri Lanka. You will be greeted by our local representative and transferred to Negombo. (Approximately 20 minutes). Upon arrival check-in at the hotel .Negombo a famous fishing village North of Colombo, with a Dutch built Canal running through. The canal itself is a hive of activity with fishermen traveling up and down in their gaily-painted boats. On the shores of the canal you will find many homes and many species of birds including the spectacular Kingfisher. Rest of the day at leisure on the beach on your own .Overnight at the Hotel in Negombo

Day 02: Dambulla After breakfast proceed to Muneeshwaram Temple, Chilaw. (Approximately 90 minutes Drive). Muneswaram Temple, Chilaw After his victorious battle, Lord left for Ayodhya, in one of King ”s vimana (carriages).He felt he was being followed by bramhaasthi dosham as he had killed King Ravana who was a Brahmin. Legend has it that when he came to this place he felt bramhaasthi dosham was not following him and he stopped the vimana and asked God Shiva for remedy. Lord Shiva blessed Lord Rama and advised him to install four lingams there and pray to get rid of the dosham. Since then many Hindu devotees flock to the Temple.

Thereafter proceed to Mannavari Temple. (Approximately 20 Minutes Drive)* Manavari is the first lingam installed and prayed to by Lord Rama and this lingam is also called Ramalinga Shivan.

Thereafter proceed to Kandy, En route visit to Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. (Approximately 5 ½ Hrs Drive) Proceed to Dambulla via Wariyapola in Kurunegala Passing Dolukanda.Overnight stay at hotel in Dambulla.

Day 03: After breakfast proceed to Nuwara Eliya, En rout visit Dunuvila & Laggala. DUNUWILA - Dunuwilla is the place from where Lord Rama fired the Brahmaastharam at King Ravana, which eventually killed him. Dhunu means arrow and Vila Means Lake. This place got its name because Lord Rama fired his arrow from this lake. LAGGALA - The cartels behind the Dunuvila Lake are called Laggala. Laggala is derived form the Sinhala term Elakke Gala, which when translated into English gives us the meaning Target Rock. Laggala served as a sentry point to the King Ravana's army and it was from this rock the first Glimpse of Lord Rama's army was sighted and informed to King Ravana. This hill is geographically the highest part of the northern region of King Ravana's city and on a clear day the north east side that is Thiru Koneshwaran and North West side that is Talai mannar could be seen even today. King Ravana is believed to have done meditation on this rock and prayed Lord Shiva at Thiru Koneshwaran from this point. It is here that King Ravana was killed by Lord Rama’s Brahmaastharam. The top of Laggala is flat and is believed to have been hit by the Brahmaastharam.There after drive passing Yahangala. YAHANGALA - This is situated along the Mahiyanganaya - Wasgamuwa road. King Ravana's body after his death was kept upon this rock Yahangala meaning bedrock. His body was kept here for his countrymen to pay their last respects to their dear departed king. Geographically this rock is visible from miles away on its 3 sides.

WERAGANTOTA - Weragantota, means ‘a place of aircraft landing’ in Sinhala language, is believed to be the first place where Sitadevi was brought into 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 Mandothari surrounded by waterfalls, streams and varieties of flora and fauna.

SITHA KOTUWA - Sitadevi was kept in queen Mandothari’s palace until she was moved to Kotua and then on to Ashoka Vatika. The remains that are found are the remnants of later civilizations. This place is now called Sita Kotuwa which means ‘Sita's Fort’ and got its name because of Sitadevi's stay here

GURULUPOTHA - There was an aircraft repair center in the capital city. This place is known as Gurulupotha. In 's depiction King Ravana's Vimana resembled a huge peacock. The Vimana in Sinhala language means Dhandu Monara which is known as ‘flying peacock’, and hence the name Gurulupotha, which means ‘parts of birds’.After visiting those places proceed to the Hotel and Check-In .Overnight stay at hotel in Nuwara Eliya .

Day 04: Nuwara Eliya Breakfast at the hotel, proceed to visit Labukella Estate. There after proceed to Sri Baktha Temple; Ramboda (Approximately 01 & ½ Hrs Drive) on these hills of Ramboda where Hanuman was searching for Sitadevi, Chinmaya mission of Sri Lanka built a temple with Hanuman as the presiding deity. On every full moon day special pooja”s are conducted and witnessed by thousands of devotees. There after to Mani Kattuther at Labukalle Estate. (Approximately 30 Minutes Drive). This is a rock in the Labukalle estate. Lord Hanuman met Sitadevi and on his way to announce this happy information to Lord Rearrested on this hill top. The hill where Lord Hanuman is believed to have rested after meeting Sitadevi is known as Mani Kattuther.Later check-in at the Hotel and in the evening visit to Gayathri Peedam in Nuwara Eliya.It is believed to be the place from where King Ravana”s son Meghanath propitiated Lord Shiva with penance and pooja”s and in turn was granted super natural powers by lord Shiva. Return to the Hotel and overnight at Nuwara Eliya

Day 05: Bandarwela After breakfast proceed to Bandarawela, En route visit , Seetha Eliya (Approximately 20 Minutes Drive) The stream that runs from the hill, catered to the needs of Sitadevi during her stay at Ashoka Vatika. She is said to have bathed in this stream. Now there is a temple erected for Lord Rama, Sitadevi, Luxshmana and Hanuman by the side of this stream. It is interesting to note that foot prints akin to Lord Hamunams are found by this river -some small and some large .Thereafter proceed to Divurumpola situated in Nuwara Eliya Welimada road (Approximately 1 Hrs Drive)

Divurmpola means a place where one takes an oath. Sitadevi, after being liberated from King Ravana was subjected to a test to prove here chastity by offering herself to the fire. However she came unscathed and proved her holiness during this ritual at this place. Check- In at the hotel (Approximately 1 & ½ Hrs Drive).Overnight stay at Bandarawela Hotel, Bandarawela.

Day 06: Colombo Enjoy Breakfast at the hotel. Today you proceed to Colombo (Approx 197 km & 6 hrs drive)

En route visit Sitawaka - An interesting as well as shocking episode took place here. To shatter Lord Rama’s confidence and halt his progress during the war, Indrajith eldest son of King Ravana played a trick, with Sitadevi’s look alike. Indrajith beheaded the look alike in front of Lord Hanuman thinking that it will stop the advancing forces of Lord Rama. There is a stone in this area called “Rampathagala” with one foot mark which is traditionally believed by the people as Lord Rama’s foot mark. This place is known as Sita Waka

After noon Proceed to Kelaniya to visit the Temple in veneration of - Kelaniya is the place where King Veebeshana ruled after being crowned by . As Lord Rama was in exile for 14 years, could not take part in any coronation ceremony, deputed his younger brother prince Lakshmana to crown Veebeshana. Today in this very place a Buddhist shrine and a temple for king Veebeshana exist. There are murals enshrined outside the Buddhist temple depicting the crowning of King Veebeshana. Today temples for King Veebeshana are found through out Lanka and he is still considered as one of the 4 guardian deities of Sri Lanka. A painting of King Veebeshana adorns the walls of the new parliament. It is a fact that there is no temple for King Ravana where as many exist for King Veebeshana. This goes on to prove that his stand towards dharma and justice made him a god is Sri Lanka.

Finally visit the Panchamuga Anjaneyer Temple - the only Temple in the world to have a Chariot for Anjaneyer (Hanuman).Overnight stay at hotel in Colombo

Day 07: Colombo-India After Breakfast at the hotel commence a tour of Colombo which includes time to indulge in shopping a drive through the city taking you to the busy commercial areas as well as the tree-lined residential, Cinnamon Gardens. Visit Fort, the former British administrative center and military garrison, Sea Street - the Goldsmith's quarters in the heart of Pettah, the Bazaar area, where there is a Hindu Temple with elaborate stone carvings, and the Dutch Church of Wolfendhal dating back to 1749. The historic Dawatagaha Mosque and the former Eye Hospital are two buildings in Cinnamon Gardens worth looking at. Also visit the BMICH, see the replica of Avukana Buddha and the Independence Square.

Thereafter transfer to the airport for the departure flight. (Approximately 1 Hrs Drive)