Ramboda Shri Bhakta Hanuman Temple

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Shri Bhakta Hanuman Temple built by Chinmaya Mission of Sri Lanka.
PM Velankar licensed under CC CC BY-NC-ND 3.0

Shri Bhakta Hanuman Temple is built by the Chinmaya Mission of Sri Lanka. Located in Ramboda on Kandy-Nuwara Eliya Road located approximately 30 kilometers North of Nuwara Eliya on the A-5 route facing the Kotmale Reservoir.

The Chinmaya Mission is a Hindu spiritual organization engaged in the dissemination of Vedanta, the science of the self as expounded in the Vedas, particularly the Upanishads, and other important Hindu scriptures including the Bhagavad Gita. The Chinmaya Mission was established in India in 1953 by devotees of the renowned Vedanta teacher Swami Chinmayananda.

Ravana, one of the most powerful rulers of the world reigned the island of Lanka according the one of the great Indian epics, Ramayana believed to be written in the 4th century BC by Valmiki in India. Ramayana paints Ravana as a tyrant of the Raksha Tribe who exercised mighty power over gods demons and humans. However, he is considered one of the most powerful Emperors of Lanka by the Sri Lankans. Ravana is also considered to be the most revered devotee of Shiva. Images of Ravana are seen associated with Shiva at some temples. He also appears in the Buddhist Mahayana text Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra, in Buddhist Ramayanas and Jatakas, as well as in Jain Ramayanas. In some scriptures, he is depicted as one of Vishnu‘s cursed doorkeepers.

As per the Ramayana epic, Sita was the wife of Rama, the hero of the story. One day Rama and Lakshmana (half brother of Rama) wounded a Raksha (demon) princess who tried to seduce Rama. She returned to her brother Ravana, the ten-headed ruler of Lanka. In retaliation, Ravana devised a plan to abduct Sita after hearing about her incomparable beauty. Ravana disguised himself as an old beggar, kidnapped Sita and brought her to the land of Lanka on his flying chariot known as Dandumonara (pushpaka vimanaya). Ravana hid Sita in several places in his kingdom as per the legend where Rama, the hero of the story finally managed to defeat Rama with a monkey army led by the monkey Hanuman and rescued Sita.

Most Indians and Sri Lankans believe that the epic Ramayana is woven around a real king who ruled over Sri Lanka over 4000-6000 years ago. The country is full of places which are linked to Rama, Sita, Hanuman and Ravana.

The Rama Setu, a chain of limestone shoals, between Rameswaram and Mannar is believed to be the bridge that Hanuman built to cross the sea to reach the kingdom of Lanka. Later the Europeans named this as the Adam’s Bridge.

Sita Eliya in Nuwara Eliya, Streepura in Ratnapura, Ravana Cave in Ella, Sita Kotuwa, in Gurulupotha are some of the places where Ravana is said to have hidden Sita from time to time. There are multiple places associated with his flying machine and considered ancient airports built to land the Dandumonara flying machine. Some of them are Wariyapola (port of the flying machine, Wa-riya-pola), Maskeliya Ravana Gala, Horton Plains (Maha Eliya) and Ussangoda down south are considered to be some of the airports of ancient Lanka.

Divurumpola near Welimada which is a Buddhist temple has become a major Hindu pilgrimage site in recent years, as Divurumpola is said to be the location where Sita, underwent the famous fire ordeal which is known as Agni Pariksha. Dunuwila is a small village in the central highlands of Sri Lanka where it is believed to be the place of the final battle between Rama and Ravana took place.

When Lakhshmana and Rama were critically injured during the battle with Ravana, Hanuman was asked to bring a life-saving medicinal plant. Sanjeevani Mountain. Forgetting the name of the plant, he brought the whole mountain with him back to Lanka and while travelling five prices of the mountain is said to have dropped in Dolukanda, Rumassala, Ritigala, Thalladi, and Kachchativu, each place now geographically unique to its surrounding.

The 16 feet idol of Shri Hanuman made of black granite

Rock outcrops of the sea where the Great Basses Reef Lighthouse and Little Basses Reef Lighthouse lie are called Maha Ravana Kotuwa and Kura Ravana Kotuwa in Sri Lanka due to the belief that these were the remains of a Fort of Ravana.

Recently the Legend of Ravana has taken a new interest among Indians and other Hindus, opening up a stream of tourists coming to Sri Lanka in search of the Ravana trail. Separate Ravana tours are also been organized by travel companies covering most of the famous sites connected to the legend.

Shri Bhakta Hanuman Temple has now become a permanent fixture for Ravana Trail tour groups due its picturesque location although this kovil has no connection to the legends of Ravana.

The temple itself is situated about 500m from the main road on a hill having a commanding view of the surrounding area. Legend has it that King Ravana hid Sita in this area at one time and Hanuman came to this area in search of her. A good tar road connects the temple and the main road. Three-wheelers are normally available to take you from the main road to the temple & back.

The temple is not too big nor very ornately decorated. The surrounding garden area of the kovil is spotlessly clean and well-maintained by the mission.

The idol of Hanuman is of black granite and it is carved beautifully and stands tall at 16 feet. You are not permitted to photograph the idol.

There is also an ashram containing about 16 rooms, with room names based on characters on the Ramayan – Vibheeshan, Jambavan, Sugriva, etc… A well-maintained vegetarian restaurant is maintained at the temple.

From the location of the temple, one can see the Kotamale Reservoir and the entire Kotamale Valley. The view is simply breathtaking. Even if you are not a religious person visit to this place is strongly recommended just for the scenic beauty and the awesome view one gets from this place.

If you are not appropriately dressed, you will not be allowed to enter the temple. If you are visiting Ramboda Falls, you can plan a visit to this temple.

Panorama . Valley View and portion of Kotmale Reservoir seen from Shri Bhakta Hanuman Temple . — Panorama . Valley View and a portion of Kotmale Reservoir seen from Shri Bhakta Hanuman Temple.
PM Velankar licensed under CC CC BY-NC-ND 3.0

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