Ramayana Tour of Sri Lanka: A 7-Day Itinerary

This one-week route links the main Ramayana sites without too much time on the road, starting and finishing near Colombo's airport. It works all year, but the hill country is clearest from January to April. Most travellers hire a car with a driver, as many of these places are hard to reach by public transport. See our guide to hiring a driver.

For the stories behind each place, read our guide to Ramayana sites in Sri Lanka.

Route at a glance

Day	Route	Main stops	Overnight
1	Airport to Chilaw and back	Munneswaram, Manavari	Negombo
2	Negombo to Kandy	Kelaniya (optional), Temple of the Tooth	Kandy
3	Kandy to Nuwara Eliya	Ramboda Hanuman temple, tea estates	Nuwara Eliya
4	Around Nuwara Eliya	Seetha Amman Temple, Hakgala, Divurumpola	Nuwara Eliya
5	Nuwara Eliya to Ella	Train, Ravana Falls, Ravana Cave	Ella
6	Ella to the south coast	Buduruwagala, Ussangoda	Tangalle or Galle
7	South coast to the airport	Rumassala, Galle Fort	Departure

Day 1: Munneswaram

Land at the airport and stay at Negombo. If you arrive early, drive about 1.5 hours north to Munneswaram near Chilaw, where tradition says Rama prayed to Shiva after the war, then visit the small Rama shrine at Manavari. Aim to reach the temple for the evening puja. See our airport arrival guide.

Painted Vishnu at Munneswaram Temple. Photo: Leon Meerson, CC BY-SA 2.0

Day 2: Kelaniya and Kandy

On the way east, you could stop at Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara, with its shrine to Vibhishana, though it adds time because of Colombo traffic. Continue to Kandy, about 3 hours. In the evening, see the ceremony at the Temple of the Tooth. It isn't a Ramayana site, but it's Sri Lanka's most sacred Buddhist shrine.

Worshippers at Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara. Photo: Jorge Láscar from Australia, CC BY 2.0

Day 3: Ramboda and tea country

Drive into the hills along the A5. Stop at the Hanuman temple at Ramboda, then see Ramboda Falls and a tea factory on the way. Sleep in Nuwara Eliya, and bring warm clothes, as it's cool after dark.

Day 4: Sita's hills

The most important day. Start at Seetha Amman Temple for the morning puja, walk in Hakgala Botanical Garden, then drive to Divurumpola, about an hour away near Welimada, where tradition places Sita's trial by fire.

Day 5: The train and Ravana's Ella

Take the scenic train from Nanu Oya to Ella, about 3 hours, and book well ahead. See our train guide. In the afternoon, visit Ravana Falls and, if you're up for several hundred steps, the Ravana Cave. Your driver can take the luggage by road. Dowa Rock Temple is a short detour.

Day 6: Down to the coast

Drive south, stopping at the giant carvings of Buduruwagala if you have time. Reach Ussangoda late in the afternoon, when the red earth glows and the heat has eased. Sleep near Tangalle, or carry on towards Galle.

Day 7: Rumassala and home

Walk up Rumassala at Unawatuna, Hanuman's fallen piece of the Himalayas, and visit the Peace Pagoda. If time allows, stroll the ramparts of Galle Fort, then take the Southern Expressway to the airport, about 2 to 2.5 hours. Allow plenty of time for your flight.

Adding the east coast or the north

With 2 to 4 more days, add Koneswaram and Kanniya Hot Springs at Trincomalee, or Adam's Bridge at Mannar. They're far from the hills, and are best linked through Sigiriya or Anuradhapura.

Practical tips

• Vegetarian food: easy to find, particularly in Tamil and hill-country areas. See our vegetarian guide.
• Clothing: modest clothes for temples, plus a warm layer for Nuwara Eliya.
• Puja times: they vary, so ask your driver or hotel the day before.
• Pace: older travellers may prefer to drop the Ravana Cave steps and Divurumpola, or add a night in the hills.

Keep planning

• Travelling from India: flights, ETA, rupees and food
• Planning the tour from India: cost, visa and season
• Ashok Vatika: the Seetha Eliya and Hakgala sites