A Spiritual Tour to Trincomali, Srilanka

[Guest post by my Father, Shri S.B.V.Lakshmi Narayana]

It was our first travel abroad and with a tense moments, started our journey to Sri Lanka six day tour organized by Shri Kuchibhotla Ramasastry and his grandson Shri Kuchibhotla Satyanarayana Sarma, Hyderabad. The team consists of 82 members.

CHINMAYANANDA MISSION GUEST HOUSE AT RAMBOD, SRILANKA

On arrival at Colombo Airport from Chennai by Indian Airlines Flight. On completion of immigration checks and visa formalities, we came out from the Airport and went to parking place where two A/C 42 seated

buses, as arranged by our organizers, are ready for us. Organizers have already distributed slips with bus number, seat number, and Room numbers of our accommodations at respective places to all the members.  All the 82 members assembled, took the bus and settled in our seats allotted.

ANOTHER VIEW FROM CHINMAYA MISSION GUEST HOUSE, RAMBOD

First we were taken to Shri Mayurapathi Bhadrakali Amman Temple Kalyana Mandapam (Hindu Cultural Centre) outside Colombo, where we had completed our daily routine and had the goddess “darshan”. It took about two hours time. Since it was already 11.00 AM, organizers prepared Lunch. Post Lunch, we had started at 1.00 PM to our night stay at Rambod. Rambod is a very beautiful place with lot of trees and mountains, Hanuman Temple, Sita-elia (Nuwara Elia, which is Ashoka-grove where Sita Amman stayed for ten months. On the way, we were supposed to see one Buddha Temple and Ranganadhaswamy temple. The temples were closed as we were late and both the temples were skipped from the journey. Finally at 9.00 PM, reached Rambod and since buses could not go on the steep mountain to reach our accommodation at Chinmaya Mission Guest House, Autos were provided to occupy our rooms. Hot snacks were prepared immediately and served to us.

MACWOOD TEA ESTATE, SRILANKA

On the second day early morning, we saw the environment around us and thrilled with the beauty of the surrounding nature and then went to Hanuman Temple, which is hardly 100 mts from our accommodation. The statue is about 30 ft tall and in the temple they played Hanuman Chalisa, which really vibrated us in that environment. Had breakfast and went to Macwood Tea Estate and they have provided their employee to show various processes of tea manufacturing. In the estate tour, they had shown us white-tea leaves, which we never saw before. When enquired, they informed that it is highly nutritive and available in their stores at Rs.10000/- per 50 grams only. As a courtesy, they provided, a cup of black tea, free of cost to all the members.

From there, we visited Gayatri Peetham at Nuwara Elia.  This idol was established by Meghanadha.  The temple authorities are constructing one more temple to install 108 Bana Lingams. We have seen 108 lingams, which were brought from Gomati River.  The speciality of these lingams is that they are continuously sweating. There we have completed our lunch and visited ‘Ashoka vaatika’, where Sita Amman stayed for ten months.  We had seen Lord Hanuman’s two foot prints and then came back to Rambod for night stay.

BUDDHA TEMPLE AT KANDY (TEETH OF BUDDHA IS UNDER CROWN)

On the third day morning, after visiting Lord Hanuman, we completed our breakfast. From there, we had started to Trinkomali. On our way, we had seen a big Buddha Temple, where the teeth of Buddha was kept under a gem studded golden crown.  Since it was already post noon, Mathal temple at Dhambulla was closed. We then proceeded to a medicinal plant Garden-cum-Restaurant, where we had Lunch. There the staff of Royal Pharmacy have explained about the plants and shown various medicines prepared with the plant extracts. It appears they are effective for so many diseases but very much costly.  Started our journey to reach Buddha Golden Temple and then to Trinkomali. There we were provided accommodation at Sarvodaya Hostel.

 

SEVEN HOT WATER KANNIYA BHAVULU AT TRINCOMALI

On the fourth day, “Chandi homam” was performed. We had Bath at Kanniya Hot water wells (7) which were said to have been dug by Ravanasura to perform his mother’s rituals.  The local peoples believe that only after bath at these wells, one should visit Saankari Amman/Saankari Devi. After bath, we went to the goddess’ temple, had a peaceful darshan and returned to Sarvodaya Hsotel, where the Chandi Homam was at the ending stage.

ROOF & WALL ARCHITECTURE AT KALI AMMAN TEMPLE, TRINCOMALI

One the fifth day, we went to Kali Temple, where Kumbha Mela was being performed.  The temple is very much rich is architecture on the walls and roof.  Then we went to Lakshmi Narayana Temple and had darshan of ‘Dasaavataras’ and Lakshmi Narayana Murthy.  Returned to Sarvodaya, where our organizers completed ‘Ekadasa Rudhabhishekam’ with 365 ‘mruthika’ lingams. In the evening, we were taken to a nearby beach, spent some time and returned to accommodation.

SRICHAKRA ARCHANA AT SRI MUNISWARASWAMY TEMPLE, CHILAW

On the sixth day, i.e. “Radha Saptami” day, we had our bath with Swallow Wort (Jilledu) leaves at Sea, seen the Sun Rise and came back to

Sarvodaya, where Aruna Paarayanam and Surya Namaskarams were performed. Shri Ramasarma with traditional fervor prepared Payasam, an Indian sweet made of rice, milk, jaggery and after offering it to the Sun god first (Nyvedyam), it was served to us. We then completed our breakfast and started to reach Colombo. On the way at Anuradhapuram, we were taken to a shopping centre and then to a Buddhan temple. We had lunch there and then visited Buddha Golden temple.  After that at Chilaw, we had a darshan of shri Muneeswaraswamy, the idol was said to be installed by Sri Rama after killing Ravana.

 Reached Colombo Airport at 9.00 pm. After Check in, we had dinner (pulihora) and took our flight 12.40 midnight.

The meals/coffee/tiffin were prepared by Organizers with own chefs brought from Hyderabad. The food arrangements are extremely good.  The package of the entire tour except at Trinkomali local trips is Rs.36000/-. We have to pay the Visa fee of Rs.2200/- at Srilanka, which is valid for 30days. Indian Rupees are mostly (80%) acceptable at an exchange price of 2 Srilankan rupees for one INR.