International Tours
Mesmerising Sri Lanka
Mesmerising Sri Lanka is a six-day journey along the island's Ramayana trail, tracing the sites linked to the epic of Lord Rama and Sita from the coast at Negombo up into the tea-clad hills of Nuwara Eliya. Between the pilgrimage stops you meet the everyday wonders of Sri Lanka — the sacred Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, the elephants of Pinnawala, the botanical gardens of Peradeniya and the cool, British-flavoured hill station of Nuwara Eliya. It is a tour that blends faith, history and scenery.
Tour overview
This itinerary is a devotional circuit as much as a sightseeing one, threading together the temples and natural landmarks that Sri Lankan tradition associates with the Ramayana — Muneshwaram and Manavari near Chilaw, the Seetha Amman temple and Ashok Vatika, Divurumpola, and the Kelaniya temple near Colombo. Around these you weave in the island's signature experiences: the Pinnawala elephant orphanage, a Kandyan cultural dance, a tea factory in the hills and the gardens of Peradeniya.
Era Tours arranges the trip privately with a driver and guide throughout, so the pace suits pilgrims and first-time visitors alike. The route climbs steadily from sea level to the highlands, and the drives — Negombo to Kandy, Kandy to Nuwara Eliya — are among the most scenic in the country. Everything below is our recommended flow; we tailor the temples, the hotels and the balance of devotion and leisure to your wishes.
The Ramayana trail
Muneshwaram, Manavari, the Seetha Amman temple beside the stream where Sita is said to have bathed, Ashok Vatika, Divurumpola and the Kelaniya temple bring the epic to life across the island.
Sacred Kandy
The Sri Dalada Maligawa — the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha — and an evening of Kandyan dance make the hill capital a highlight.
Tea-country hills
The climb to Nuwara Eliya passes endless tea plantations, a working tea factory and a hill town of colonial bungalows, lawns and a cool, refreshing climate.
Day-by-day itinerary
6 daysThe Ramayana journey begins on arrival in Colombo, from where you are escorted the short distance up the coast to Negombo, a relaxed fishing and beach town near the airport. After checking in you take a short orientation of Negombo before returning to your hotel. Overnight in Negombo.
After breakfast you visit Muneshwaram and Manavari near Chilaw, sites where tradition holds that Lord Rama rested and worshipped on his journey back to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana. You then continue towards Kandy, stopping at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, home to some seventy rescued and orphaned elephants, and a spice and herbal garden. In Kandy you visit the Sri Dalada Maligawa, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, and end the day with a vibrant Kandyan cultural dance performance. Overnight in Kandy.
- Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
- — A sanctuary caring for around seventy orphaned and rescued elephants.
- Temple of the Sacred Tooth (Dalada Maligawa)
- — The most revered Buddhist shrine in Sri Lanka, housing a relic of the Buddha.
After breakfast you visit the Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya, famed for their vast variety of plants and a superb Orchid House. You then climb towards Nuwara Eliya, stopping at the Sri Bhaktha Hanuman temple on the way, and pass through great stretches of tea plantation with a visit to a tea factory to see how Ceylon tea is made. In the afternoon you explore Nuwara Eliya itself, a charming hill town of British character with manicured lawns, an Anglican church and a golf course set in a cool, refreshing climate. Overnight in Nuwara Eliya.
- Peradeniya Botanical Gardens
- — Historic royal gardens near Kandy, celebrated for their orchids and giant trees.
After breakfast you visit the Seetha Amman temple and Ashok Vatika, where Sita is believed to have been held and where a nearby stream is said to have sustained her, and the Hakgala Botanical Garden. You continue to Divurumpola, the spot associated with Sita's Agni Pariksha (trial by fire), where local devotees still come to pray, and the Sri Lankatheeswaram temple. In the evening you return to your hotel. Overnight in Nuwara Eliya.
- Seetha Amman Temple
- — A colourful hillside temple by the stream linked in tradition to Sita's captivity in Ashok Vatika.
After breakfast you descend to Colombo. On the way and in the city you visit the Anjaneyar temple, notable for its five-faced Hanuman and processional chariot, and the Kelaniya temple, associated with the coronation of Vibhishana as king of Lanka after Ravana's death. Colombo itself blends a fast-growing modern capital with ancient temples and historic landmarks, and you take in some of its attractions before returning to your hotel. Overnight in Colombo.
- Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara
- — A revered temple linked in legend to Vibhishana's coronation.
Your journey along the Ramayana trail comes to a close as you are transferred to Colombo airport for your onward flight. Tour ends.
This itinerary is a suggested flow and is fully customisable — hotels, pace and sightseeing are tailored to you. Ask us to adjust it →
Places on this tour
What's included
- Accommodation on twin-sharing basis in your chosen hotel category
- Daily breakfast at the hotels
- Private vehicle with driver and guide throughout
- All arrival and departure transfers
- Sightseeing and temple visits as specified in the itinerary
- All applicable taxes on the services quoted
Not included
- International airfare, visa and applicable taxes
- Monument, temple and cultural-show entry fees unless specified
- Lunches, dinners and drinks unless specified
- Camera and video charges
- Tips, gratuities and personal expenses
- Anything not mentioned under inclusions
Ideal for: Pilgrims following the Ramayana trail, culture lovers and first-time visitors to Sri Lanka.
FAQ
Mesmerising Sri Lanka — your questions answered
The Ramayana trail is a circuit of temples and natural sites across Sri Lanka linked by tradition to the epic of Rama and Sita. This tour follows it from Muneshwaram and Manavari near Chilaw to the Seetha Amman temple, Ashok Vatika and Divurumpola in the hills and the Kelaniya temple near Colombo.
Around six days covers the core Ramayana sites comfortably. This 5-night itinerary runs from Negombo on the coast up through Kandy to the hill country of Nuwara Eliya and back to Colombo, combining the pilgrimage stops with Sri Lanka's main cultural and scenic highlights.
December to April is the best time for this route, the driest season for the west coast, Kandy and the hill country. Sri Lanka has two monsoons affecting different sides of the island, so we advise on timing for the specific regions on your itinerary.
It works well for both. Alongside the Ramayana temples it includes the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, the Pinnawala elephant orphanage, Peradeniya's botanical gardens, a tea factory and the hill town of Nuwara Eliya, so travellers who simply want to see the best of Sri Lanka enjoy it just as much.
Yes, Indian passport holders need entry authorisation for Sri Lanka, usually an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) obtained before travel. We help with the current process when arranging your trip; the fee is not included in the tour cost.
