Planning a Ramayana Tour of Sri Lanka from India

Sri Lanka is the Lanka of the Ramayana for millions of people, and it's only a short flight from India. The main sites linked with Rama, Sita, Hanuman and Ravana can be covered in under a week. This guide deals with the practical side for travellers coming from India: getting there, paperwork, how long you need, what it costs and how to choose between a package and arranging things yourself.

For the sites themselves, see our guide to the Ramayana sites in Sri Lanka and the day-by-day 7-day Ramayana itinerary.

Getting there

Direct flights link Colombo with many Indian cities, including Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi and Madurai. Flying time from South India is about an hour to an hour and a half. Flights also operate between Chennai and Jaffna, and a passenger ferry has run between Nagapattinam and Kankesanthurai in the north, though its schedule has been irregular. Check current services before you plan around either.

Colombo's airport is at Katunayake, north of the city, which is handy: the first Ramayana temples, Munneswaram and Manavari, are about an hour further north.

Visa and entry

Indian citizens have generally needed an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), obtained online before travel. In recent years, Sri Lanka has also offered free visas to Indian tourists under schemes that have been extended several times. The rules change, so check the official ETA website shortly before you book, and apply only through that site. Our visa and ETA guide explains the process and how to avoid unofficial agents.

Your passport should be valid for at least six months.

How many days do you need?

• 4 to 5 days: the core hill-country sites. Chilaw temples, Kandy, Ramboda, Seetha Amman Temple and Ashok Vatika, Divurumpola, and back to Colombo with Kelaniya.
• 6 to 7 days: adds Ella's Ravana Cave and Ravana Falls, and the south coast sites of Ussangoda and Rumassala.
• 9 to 10 days: adds Koneswaram and the hot springs at Trincomalee, or the north, with Thiruketheeswaram and Jaffna.

Distances look short on the map, but hill roads are slow. Plan on 30 to 40 km an hour in the mountains.

What does it cost?

Prices change with the season and the exchange rate, so treat this as a guide to what drives the cost.

• Vehicle and driver. This is the backbone of any tour. A car with a driver commonly costs somewhere between USD 50 and 100 a day, depending on the vehicle and season, with vans for families and groups costing more. Our guide to hiring a driver explains what is included.
• Hotels. These range from simple guesthouses to five-star resorts. Three-star hotels with breakfast and dinner are the usual choice on packages.
• Entrance fees. Most Ramayana temples are free or ask for a small donation. Costs rise if you add major heritage sites, such as Sigiriya or the Temple of the Tooth, which have separate ticket prices for foreign visitors. Visitors from SAARC countries get reduced rates at some sites, so carry your passport.
• Group size. A couple pays far more per person than a group of six sharing a van.

Our travel costs guide gives daily budgets.

Package or independent?

Packages sold by Indian and Sri Lankan operators bundle hotels, vehicle, driver and sometimes a guide and meals. They are convenient, especially for older travellers and large family groups. Compare what's included, check that the operator is licensed, and be wary of itineraries that pack in too many sites per day.

Independent travel is straightforward too. Book a driver for the whole route, reserve your own hotels, and keep the flexibility to linger for a puja or skip a stop. Many drivers know the Ramayana circuit well.

Food

Vegetarians eat well in Sri Lanka. Rice and curry with dhal and vegetables is available everywhere, and Colombo, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya have South Indian and pure vegetarian restaurants. Tell hotels in advance if you need Jain meals or food without onion and garlic, as these are less familiar. Fish flakes and dried fish appear in some vegetable dishes, so do ask. See our guide for vegetarians and vegans.

Money and phones

The currency is the Sri Lankan rupee. Indian rupees aren't widely accepted, so bring US dollars to exchange, or withdraw rupees from ATMs with an international card. UPI payments by QR code have been introduced at some merchants, but coverage is patchy, and cash is still essential. A local SIM card is cheap and easy to buy at the airport. Read more in our guides to money and SIM cards.

Best time to go

The Ramayana trail runs through several climate zones, so there's no perfect month, and tours operate all year. January to April gives the clearest weather in the hills around Nuwara Eliya. Avoid the week of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year in mid-April if you dislike crowds. Maha Shivaratri, in February or March, is a special time at the Shiva temples.

Temple etiquette

Dress modestly, remove footwear, and expect men to be asked to remove shirts at some Hindu temples in the north and east. Many temples close between about noon and 4 pm. Our Hindu temples guide has the details, and our travel guide for visitors from India covers everything else.