Previously known as the abode of the great demon Ravana, Sri Lanka holds religious significance among the Hindus. In fact, the people of South India as well as Sri Lankans revere him as divine for his wisdom and knowledge and have dedicated many Ravana temples in Sri Lanka.
However, in the present times, it has attracted many tourists owing to the beautiful topography of its island, a hub to exotic wildlife, serene beaches as well as its cultural heritage.
In the previous years, the Sri Lankan government has made attempts to promote tourism through the Sri Lanka Ramayana Tour which explores multiple Ravana temples in Sri Lanka attracting a huge population of tourists all over the world. There are more than 50 Ramayana places in Sri Lanka ranging from Ravana temples to the place where Sita was confined as well as the Ram Setu.
8 Ravana Related Places in Sri Lanka
Are you a mythology enthusiast and love to explore historically significant places? If yes, then these Ramayana places in Sri Lanka should be your go-to. Here is a list of Ravana temples in Sri Lanka that you can visit:
1. Ella
Ella is a town in Uva province of Sri Lanka famous for its Ravana caves and Ravana waterfalls. There is a man-made cave which paves way to many larger caves and according to legends, these caves were once inhabited by Ravana.
A 1,080-feet high waterfall can also be spotted around these caves. These caves hold religious significance to the Ramayana places in Sri Lanka.
2. Thiru Koneswaram Temple
The legend dictates that the Thiru Koneswaram Temple was built by Sage Agastya as directed by Lord Shiva since he was impressed by the devotion of Ravana towards him and thus is one of the important Ravana temples in Sri Lanka.
According to the legends, Ravana, along with his mother, worshipped Lord Shiva here. The temple is located in the town of Trincomalee which is also known for its beautiful and serene beaches. It is believed that Lord Rama erected the second lingam here after he killed Ravana to atone for his Brahmanical sin.
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3. Munneswaram Temple
As the legend goes, this is the place where Lord Rama prayed to Lord Shiva after killing Ravana.
He believed that he had been cursed by the Brahmahatya Dosh by killing Ravana as he was also a Brahmin and killing a Brahmin is considered as sin in Hinduism. Lord Shiva suggested Lord Rama to atone for the killing by erecting five lingams.
4. Manavari Temple or Ramalinga Shivam
This was the first lingam established by Lord Rama after he killed Ravana and is considered among the most important Ramayana places in Sri Lanka; as it is a famous Hindu temple. It is the only lingam named after Lord Rama. The siva linga is considered to be around 7000 years old.
5. Kelaniya Temple
This Ramayana place in Sri Lanka is believed to be the place where Ravana’s brother Vibheeshan was crowned as the king of Lanka after the death of Ravana.
It is located in the city of lights, Nuwara Eliya, which is situated among the central mountain ranges and is home to many important Ramayana places in Sri Lanka.
It is also an important religious spot for Buddhists as the last place Lord Buddha visited in Sri Lanka after attaining enlightenment. The Sinhala Buddhists also revere Vibheeshan as the protector of their land and worship him as a deity.
6. Seetha Ammam Temple
Located 5 kilometres away from Nuwara Eliya, Seetha Ammam is also among the most important places in Sri Lanka Ramayana Tour as it is believed to be the site of Ashoka Vatika, where Ravana kept Sita as a captive.
A stream is located near the location where it is believed that Goddess Sita used to bathe. Tourists have also spotted small and large footprints which are said to be related to Lord Hanuman when he visited Goddess Sita at Ashoka Vatika thus being a place of wonder and I want exploration.
7. Sri Bhakta Hanuman Temple
This temple was established by Chinmaya Mission and is located within the Ramboda village situated in the Central Province of Sri Lanka.
It is one of the places among Sri Lanka Ramayana Tour because Lord Hanuman began his search for Sita from here. One may also find Sita Tear Pond here. As the name suggests, the pond emerged from her tears.
8. Ketheeswaram Temple
It is one of the Ravana temples in Sri Lanka dedicated to Lord Shiva as it is believed that it was established by Ravana’s father, Mayan. It is the third location where Lord Rama established the lingam as a remedy to Brahmahatya Dosh.
The temple is located on the island of Mannar situated on the north-western part of Sri Lanka. Special prayers are dedicated to Lord Hanuman every full moon day at this temple.
Sri Lanka is not just a travel destination, with its diverse cultural and heritage, it has also become a spiritual experience for its tourists.
Sri Lanka Tourism
Sri Lanka is observing a boom in its tourism reporting around 1.25 Lakh tourists around the world in March 2023. A large population of Indian tourists are responsible for this surge in Sri Lanka tourism as reported by the Sri Lankan Tourism Development Authority.
The authority also revealed that there was a 38% jump in Indian tourists in the month of March as compared to February in 2023. The surge can also be attributed to the increase in the number of direct flights between India and Sri Lanka which has made travel more accessible.
In fact, the spiritual, cultural and religious similarities between the two countries make it a vacation hotspot for Indian tourists.
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