Koneswaram-Temple-Trincomalee,-Sri-Lanka-276-Shiva-Sthalangal

Koneswaram Temple -Trincomalee, Sri Lanka (276 Shiva Sthalangal)

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About trip

About Temple: Koneswaram temple of Trincomalee or Thirukonamalai Konesar Temple.The Temple of the Thousand Pillars and Dakshina.Then Kailasam is a classical-medieval Hindu temple complex in Trincomalee, a Hindu religious pilgrimage centre in Eastern Province, Sri Lanka.

History:

One of the world’s largest natural harbours, there is an ancient temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. It is at the head of Konesar Malai (Swami Rock) on the dramatic Gokarna Bay, a seasonal home to blue whales.
Surrounded by jaw-dropping scenery on all sides, the colourful Koneswaram temple sits high above the bay, a classical-medieval complex in the Eastern Province city of Trincomalee.
The site is a religious pilgrim centre, and is one of the five “Pancha Ishwarams” (abodes of Shiva) that were built in coastal regions of Sri Lanka to honor the supreme god of Hinduism.
The dates of the temple have been debated, with some scholars citing the original to around 400 BC, and later construction from as early as the 5th century to as late as the 18th.
At one time the complex was as large and grand as any in India or Sri Lanka. The grandeur was mostly lost in the 17th century at the hands of the colonial Portuguese, who razed structures, dumped some into the sea, destroyed objects, and smashed ornamentation.
To salvage what they could, priests and devotees of the temple scrambled to bury their sacred objects, even taking advantage of the sea itself rather than seeing them crushed in the raid.
The original temple is claimed by some to have been the greatest building of its age, for both its architecture and its ornamentation. It combined key features to form a typically southern Indian plan, such as a thousand-pillared hall (similar to the famous “Aayiram Kaal Mandapam” in Madurai, India) and raised platform (or “jagati”) configuration, features that had been destroyed.
It was said that its gopuram (gateway tower) was visible to sailors approaching Sri Lanka from the sea.
The evidence for this magnificence comes from unearthing the very remnants that were buried, as well as the discovery of key pieces at the bottom of the bay.
They were found by photographer Mike Wilson and science-fiction author, Arthur C. Clarke. In 1956, Wilson and Clarke uncovered masonry, idol images, carved columns with flower insignias, and elephant head carvings while scuba-diving.
More importantly, they also retrieved the legendary Swayambhu lingam; a large stone phallus / obelisk said to originate from a Tibetan mountain top.
Upon reinstalling the lingam to the temple, Wilson was so overwhelmed by the experience that he renounced his career and family to become a Hindu swami.
As well as the recovered underwater pieces, there are also some original drawings done by Constantino de Sá de Noronha, the Portuguese governor responsible for the destruction.
Restoration work was completed in 1963 with the old pieces reinstalled. Today the site is reborn, and there is some quite modern construction as well.
And while the current site does not match up to the pre-1624 temple, it is still an awe-inspiring place to visit, for Hindus and non-Hindus alike.

Trip Overview

Arrival from Jaffna Airport and Transfer to Jaffna. Check-in to the hotel. Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical antiquity. Jaffna's suburb, Nallur served as the capital of the four centuries-long medieval Jaffna kingdom. Prior to the Sri Lankan civil war, it was Sri Lanka's second most populated city after the commercial capital Colombo. Jaffna was made into a colonial port town during the Portuguese occupation of the Jaffna peninsula in 1619. It changed hands to the Dutch colonials, who lost it to the British in 1796.Firstly you can Visit the Famous Jaffna Fort which was originally built by the Portuguese and renovated by the Dutch on 1680. Thereafter Proceed to Visit the NallurKandaswamyKovil and the MuneshwaranKovil which are in the Jaffna town. Also proceed to the Nothern most point in Sri Lanka you Can visit the Nilavarai Bottomless Well. Legend has it that when Rama was going back after the war, Seetha felt thirsty and there was no water available. So Rama sent an arrow to the earth and there a bottomless well was born. According to the people around, 40 feet of the well contains fresh water and from there downwards, the water is salty. They believe that the well is connected to Keeramalai Ponds. Some say that the fresh water comes from an underground tunnel from Matale. Overnight stay at Jaffna.

After Breakfast leave to Trincomalee. Check-in to Hotel. Thereafter proceed to visit Shankari Devi Temple & Koneshwaram temple The city is home to the famous ancient Koneswaram temple alluded to in its historic Tamil name Thirukonamalai from which its anglicized name is derived, and has been a sea port that has played a major role in the maritime and international trading history of Sri Lanka. It is referred to as Gokanna in Pali or Gokarna in Sanskrit. Thereafter proceed to visit Sri Pathrakali Amman Temple. PathirakaliAmbalKovil or the Kali Kovil, Trincomalee is a Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Bhadrakali, a form of the goddess Kali Amman in Trincomalee, Eastern Province, Sri Lanka. The Kali temple of the ancient TrincomaleeKoneswaram Temple Compounds, a large complex of connected shrines in the TrincomaleeKonesarMalai area, the temple is located close to the Trincomalee Hindu College. Made in classical Dravidian architecture, the Kovil is located just beyond the Konesar Road Esplanade before the entrance to Konamamalai (Swami Rock). Proximal to the ancient Koneswaram temple, both ancient temples share functions during TherThiruvillah Festival procession and the Back Bay Sea (TheerthamKaratkarai).Pathirakali Amman temple has attracted pilgrims from before the 11th century CE. King RajendraChola I expanded the shrine significantly during his reign, an inscription he left detailing this is displayed on the premises. The temple is mentioned in the book Birds of Prey (1997) by Wilbur Smith, set in the 1660s. Overnight Stay at Trincomalee.

After breakfast leave to Kandy. Check-in to the Hotel. Thereafter proceed on a city tour of Kandy, the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings which is a World Heritage Site. The name "Kandy" conjures visions of splendour and magnificence. Many of the legends, traditions and folklore are still lovingly kept alive. Drive around the Kandy Lake built by the last Sinhala king, Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe in 1798. Visit the Kandy town and Bazaar, the arts and crafts centre, a gem museum and a lapidary. Also visit the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens. This botanical garden was first built as a pleasure garden by a Sinhala king and was expanded by the British. It is 147 acres in extent and provides an amazing variety of trees, plants and flowers. And also proceed to visitDaladaMaligawa-The Temple of the Tooth Relic in time for the ‘Pooja’. Thereafter witness a typical Sri Lankan Cultural show featuring traditional Sri Lankan dancing. Overnight Stay at Kandy.

After breakfast Leave to NuwaraEliya. En-route proceed to visit Sri Baktha Hanuman Temple &GayatriPeedam Sri Bhakta Hanuman Temple, The Sri Lanka branch of the Chinmaya mission, commited to promoting the Ramayana philosophy as well as Ramayana Trail pilgrimages, has built a temple with Hanuman as a presiding deity in Ramboda at the Kandy to NuwaraEliya main road. There is a new five metres tall granite statue of Rama's devote supporter. Hanuman is believed to have started his searching for Sita in the Baroda hills. Hanuman traditionally was not as popular among Sri Lankan Tamil devotees as he indeed is in India, because he devastated parts of the island with his burning tail. But in recent times Hindu missionaries and local Tamil spiritual leaders began building shrines for worshipping Hanuman in Sri Lanka, too. The Tamil word for Ramboda, Rampadai, means "Rama's force", this is why Ramboda is believed the area where Rama collected his troops. GayathriPitam, also spelled GayaththriPeedam, inside NuwaraEliya town is the first and foremost temple built for Gayathri Amman in Sri Lanka, Gayatri being an aspect of Saraswati and the Universal Mother. The temple was founded by the GayathriSiddhar Swami Murusegu. The Shiva Lingam for this Tamil temple was brought from the Holy River Narmada. GayathriPitam is said to be the place from where King Ravana's son Meghanath propitiated Lord Shiva with penance and worship and in turn was granted super natural powers by the mighty god. Check-in to the Hotel. Thereafter proceed to visits the tea plantation and a tea factory, where the best Tea in the world is produced. You will be told all about the process of manufacturing tea. You can also see how tea is graded. Taste a cup of pure Ceylon tea in the factory. thereafter Proceed on a city tour, because of its invigorating mountain climate and scenery is Sri Lanka s most popular hill resort. Sri Lanka s highest mountain Pidurutalagala (8282 feet) is located here. Nuwara-Eliya also has one of the finest 18hole Golf courses in South Asia. The hill station of NuwaraEliya is celebrated for its fresh climate, the wonderful scenery all around, and its “Englishness” Wonderful mountain panoramas surround the wide valley, into which fall many lovely but icy waterfalls. Thereafter Proceed to visit Sita Amman Temple. The Sita Amman Temple can be seen en route to the Hakgala Botanical Gardens. The prominent temple architecture will not fail to attract your attention. Ancient statues of Rama and Sita can be seen on one side of the temple. The temple today is a modern building with its paintings, statues and pillars decorated with sculptures; all depicting the tale of Rama and Sita Overnight Stay at NuwaraEliya.

After breakfast Leave to Bentota. Check –in to the hotel. Thereafter proceed on a Bentota sightseeing, which is a paradise of unlimited sun, sea and sand. The rest of the Day is at leisure to indulge in various water sports activities to take a picturesque boat trip on the ‘Madhu Ganga’ river. The primitive life style of the inhabitant of the island of the Madu River is only a boat ride away. The boat ride takes us through the thick mangroves and abundant the bird life, to reveal the primitive style of fishing and prawn trapping still practiced by the inhabitants of the islands. And also visit the Turtle hatchery in Kosgoda which is being operated by the Wild Life Protection Society of Sri Lanka. Several species of turtles, especially the endangered hawksbill are protected here. Most vulnerable of all are their eggs, which are left uncovered on beaches all around the coast. The goodwill of Kosgoda area fishermen who bring these eggs gratis to the hatchery has led to the hatching and have released around 100,000 young turtles in only two. Overnight Stay at Bentota.

After Breakfast leave to Colombo Check-in to the hotel. Thereafter proceed on a City/ Shopping tour of Colombo, driving through the Commercial area of the “Fort” so named, because both the Portuguese and Dutch had a Fort at this point. Drive passed “Pettah” – a noisy Oriental bazaar with a hotchpotch of Humanity, ancient vehicles, bargains, mosques & temples. Visit Hindu temple & drive pass Jumi-UL AlfarJumma Mosque, Continue the tour through the Wolvendaal Dutch Church, Hultsdorf Law courts, to the residential area of Cinnamon Gardens and on to the Independence Square and Bandaranayake Memorial International Conference Hall. Also, visit the ceramics corporation showroom, majestic city shopping complex, House of Fashion, and the Odel unlimited dress boutique.After leave for airport in time for the departure flight.

What 's Included

We can provide stay for ( 2*, 3*, 5*, 7* ) 1.Solo Traveler 2.Double sharing Rooms 3.Suite Rooms 4.Deluxe Rooms 5.Royal Suite Rooms 6.Home stay ( as per requirement )

From Trip start to till end the Tour Guide will be take care Local Speaking Guide - ( English,Tamil,Hindi,Telugu & Malayalam ) *

Breakfast Lunch Dinner (As per requirement *)

All local vehicle transport

Based On Itinerary

According To Itinerary

Nill

All Excluding Paid Activities.

THENI . DINDIGUL . SIVAKASI . CHENNAI