Ramayana Trail in Sri Lanka

The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic that chronicles the story of Prince Rama, who was the seventh avatar of the Hindu god, Vishnu. A major part of this legend includes the kidnapping of his wife, Sita, by a demon king from Lanka, and Rama’s quest to recover her.

Curious to learn more and explore these legendary places during your group trip to Sri Lanka? There are more than 50 sites that belong to the Ramayana Trail, but if you’re strapped for time; here are some of the major sites on the Ramayana Trail that you can visit.

The story of Rama’s journey to Sri Lanka begins with the kidnapping of his wife, Sita. The demon king Ravana is said to have travelled to India and captured Sita while Rama was away, carrying her on his airborne chariot to his home on the island of Lanka (modern-day Sri Lanka). Rama chased after them, but found a hurdle in crossing from India to Sri Lanka.

According to Hindu legend, an army of warrior monkeys built a bridge between the two countries to allow Rama to cross into Lanka and pursue the demon king. The remains of Rama’s Bridge can be seen today extending from Mannar Island in the north of Sri Lanka, to Pamban Island in India’s south. It is a chain of disconnected limestone shoals and sandbanks, covering a distance of approximately 48 kilometres. It is also known as Adam’s Bridge due to claims from early Islamic sources that Adam, the first man, crossed to India from this bridge after falling to earth at Adam’s Peak.

After kidnapping Sita, King Ravana is said to have hidden her in the caves behind Ravana Falls. The area was once shrouded by a cloak of thick jungle that would have easily hide the waterfall and cave away from prying eyes. Located in the Ravana Ella Wildlife Sanctuary, in Ella, the entrance to Ravana Cave lies around five kilometres away from the Falls, but the two are said to be connected to each other. The cave is more than a thousand metres above sea level. Ravana Falls reaches a height of 25 metres and is known as the widest waterfall in Sri Lanka, and legend has it that Sita bathed in a pool of water gathered by these falls during her confinement here.

The best time to visit Ravana Falls is between June and November, during the rainy season, when the waters gush over the rocks and cascades in stunning form to the pool below. Be careful when attempting to swim here as the rocks can be slippery and the gush of water might be too strong.

After visiting the cave and falls, try these other group activities in Ella too.

Located in the village of Munneswaram, a 9 minute drive from the town of Chilaw, this temple complex dedicated to Lord Shiva is considered the oldest Hindu temple in Sri Lanka. King Ravana was a Brahmin, which is a sacred title in Hinduism. When Rama killed him, he had committed a major sin in the religion, and so turned to prayer to repent. The Munneswaram temple is said to be the location where Rama prayed to Lord Shiva for guidance after killing the king.

The temple complex is one of the Pancha Inshwarams, which are a group of five ancient Hindu kovils dedicated to Shiva that are dotted around Sri Lanka’s coast. The complex contains five different temples, one of which is honoured by Buddhist worshipers. In 1578, the temple was destroyed by the Portuguese, with the entire building left in ruins except for its basement. Members of the local community managed to save some of the temple’s idols before its destruction, and it was rebuilt by a Sri Lankan king before again being destroyed by the Portuguese in the early 17th century, and rebuilt by the locals.

After exploring the temple, head back to your hotel or explore the town! Chilaw has a variety of activities on offer to keep the whole gang entertained, from dolphin watching to wildlife safaris.