Seetha Eliya, Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka agrees to provide land for Sita Temple

Bhopal: Deshdeep Saxena TNN May 17, 2016 Madhya Pradesh government will soon start the construction of a grand temple of Sita, wife of Lord Rama, in Sri Lanka at the place where she underwent agni pariksha (an ordeal of fire). The island nation has agreed to provide a piece of land for the purpose.An ambitious project of chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, it has been hanging fire for the last five years. In the past, Chouhan himself had visited the places in the island nation associated with mythological characters of Rama and Sita. In the last week of April, a top bureaucrat of MP government visited Sri Lanka to finalise various issues related to the temple, including its architectural design among others. RSS leader Ram Madhav has also been evincing keen interest in the project, government sources claimed. Chouhan had first proposed the project in September 2012 when the then Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa visited Sanchi to inaugurate University of Buddhist-Indic Studies.

The temple is likely to be constructed at Divurumpola, a place which the Sri Lankan government claims to be the site where Sita underwent the agni pariksha. During the recent visit of Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena to Simhastha in Ujjain and later to Sanchi on May 14, the chief minister discussed the issue again. "The government is still working on various issues like who would maintain the temple after its construction is over. It is likely to be maintained by India Foundation, an organisation with which RSS leader Ram Madhav is involved," sources claimed

Sri Lanka - Kandy and Nuwara Eliya

Sri Lanka - Ride to Kandy and amazing cultural show

https://youtu.be/HzOOl_QWa6k

"Sri Lanka - Kandy to Nuwara Eliya" on YouTub

https://youtu.be/Dr1IB7bvxks

Two trips in Sri Lanka, June 2014.

Here are the routes of the two trips Dr.Wignaraja with his three Australian doctor friends, Dr.Kaluaratchi and myself as 'tour guide' did.

1.     A.  Trip from Colombo to Avissawella, Ginigathena, Hatton, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Wellawaya, Maligawila, Embilipitiya, Rathnapura and Colombo. Two over night stays.

2.       

B.Trip from Colombo to Anuradhapura – Isurumuniya - Mihinthale,  Jaffna, Thiruketheeswaram, Mannar, Pesalai, Madhu, Thantrimale, Anuradhapura, Colombo. Three overnight stays.

The air-conditioned van we hired for the trip was driven by M. Suresh, a careful and courteous driver. His Sri Lankan Telephone Number is 0778948749. You can ring him up and discuss details re Rupees per Kilometer etc. with him.

The Hotels we stayed at during our first trip were:-

1.       ‘Grand Elle Hotel’, Elle -  

2.       The Centuria Lake resort, Embilipitiya -047 223 0514.

The places we stayed at during the Jaffna trip were:-

1.       The Gnanams Hotel –

2.        Pilgrims Rest, Thantrimale – Telephone 0728027626 – Three bed-room attached bath and you have to order your meals to be brought from out.

Videos  posted by me to Youtube. Please click on each of the blue lettered links:-

1st Trip

Kithulgala to Nuwara Eliya:-

http://youtu.be/iTk_waubjkE

Nuwara Eliya Gardens:-

http://youtu.be/SSghkdYUSUQ

Nuwara Eliya to Ella:-

http://youtu.be/L9onKjVm5X0

Ella to Udawalawe :-

http://youtu.be/jLkaes0g0Uk

Udawalawe National Park:-

http://youtu.be/u4SLzOdCJ6Q

Milk feeding time, Elephant Orphanage, Udawalawe:-

1.       http://youtu.be/GM31sVP8NMA

2.       http://youtu.be/U8hIlqwgMns

     Centauria Tourist Hotel, Embilipitiya:-

      http://youtu.be/hpCZKA3Ag1E

2nd Trip

Jaffna to Thirukketheeswaram:-

http://youtu.be/ZJwbp7F1mqU

Thirukketheeswaram to Pesalai:-

http://youtu.be/XL1njx133Uw

Pesalai to Thantrimale:-

http://youtu.be/8DNWfqU39es

Sights at Thantrimale:-

http://youtu.be/-AjU6tgcIgg

Thantrimale to Karawanella:-

http://youtu.be/cKDKb9m0oLQ

Please inquire re further clarifications - 1960batch@gmail.com

Philip G V

A trip in Sri Lanka with friends.

The 'Udarata Menike' at Pathana.

Devon falls at Pathana.

A bridal party at the Gardens, Nuwara Eliya.

Rest House, Ella/

Ravanella waterfalls, Ella.

Buddha statue, Maligawila.

Wild elephants, Udawalawe.

A dancing pea-cock, Udawalawe.

Sunset seen from the Udawalawe dam.

Feeding the orphan elephants, Udawalawe.

Dinner at the 'Centaurian Hotel', Embilipitiya. Wignaraja and Buddhika Kaluarachchi with Mick, Peter and David.

A trip made with Wignaraja, Buddhika Kaluarachche and Wigna's Australian doctor friends 'Mick', Peter and David. This trip took three days. From Colombo to Nuwara Eliya and night rest at Ella Rest House on the 18th May 2014. Down to Wellawaya passing Rawanella watrerfalls on the 19th going onto Maligawila to see the Buddha statue predating the Aukana statue and carved in the 7th Century AD. Going into the Udawalawe National Park to see it's wild life. Further on to see the orphan elephants being fed and night rest at the Centaures Hotel, Embilipitiya. The next day the 20th we were on the road to Rathnapura to buy jem-studded jewellery and back to Avissawella and Colombo. It was a journey with fun and rollicking laughter.