King Ravana’s Connection with Ella – By Dr harold Gunatillake Sri Lanka is reaching its target tourist mark for 2023; it is hoped travellers will turn their sights in 2024 to visit the splendid island called Sri Lanka. So, let’s check this connection with Ella, now famous as a nest for foreign tourists and spoken about worldwide. Nestled in a verdant valley, surrounded by stunning vistas, the tranquil town of Ella is like a slice of paradise. Ella has gained worldwide fame and is now a popular destination in Sri Lanka, surpassing Hikkaduwe, once the most visited tourist site. But what makes this little village such a hot spot for tourists? Ella is renowned for its hilly terrain in Sri Lanka, surrounded by hills covered with cloud forests and tea plantations. Due to its higher elevation, the town has a cooler climate than the surrounding lowlands. The days can be ...
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Historical Buddhist temple Located in Unawatuna Sri Lanka ” Rumassala ” – By Malsha – eLanka Rumassala Temple is a historic Buddhist temple located in Unawatuna, a coastal town in southern Sri Lanka. According to local legend, the temple was built by the Indian monkey god Hanuman during his search for medicinal herbs to heal the injured Lord Rama, as described in the Hindu epic Ramayana. The temple is situated on a hill overlooking the Indian Ocean and offers panoramic views of the surrounding area. The temple complex includes a large Buddha statue, several smaller shrines, and a stupa (a dome-shaped Buddhist monument). The temple is also believed to have a healing power and is visited by many locals and tourists seeking spiritual solace or physical healing. The surrounding area is lush and forested, and there are several walking trails leading to beautiful viewpoints and secluded beaches. In recent years, ...
Nil Garunda Rock – unique rock deposit By Arundathie Abeysinghe Located in the remote hamlet of Rupaha in Walapane in Nuwara Eliya District approximately 74 kilometers from Kandy, Nil Garunda Gala (meaning Nil Garunda Rock also known as Marble Rock or Serpentine Rock) is a unique rock deposit, considered as the only such rock deposit in South Asia. Some scholars are of the view that there is no such type of rock anywhere in the world. Although, Nil Garunda Rock is similar to *Rose Quartz Mountain Range in Namal Uyana, this is a relatively unknown and rarely visited sight. The uniqueness of the Rock is its bluish green color that glitters due to sunlight. The surface of the Rock is soft and shiny, unlike a piece of granite. According to folklore, this unique “rock is growing” and mending and has healing properties too. Hence, a lot of damage has been ...
Kanniya hot water springs – mythical miracle in Trincomalee By Arundathie Abeysinghe Situated in Trincomalee, Kanniya hot water springs also known as Kanniya hot wells is a popular tourist site visited by a large number of tourists daily. According to visitors and locals, water of these hot wells is renowned for their therapeutic healing powers. Due to the mineral composition of the water, there is a belief that the water cures skin ailments as well as arthritis. Locals believe that these healing properties are due to the ever present gods in the surroundings of these wells. According to archaeologists, the hot water springs had belonged to the Buddhist Monastery Complex of Velgam Vehera (Temple) Monastery also known as Vilgam Vihara (Temple) Monastery which spans over a large area. During archeological excavations, the foundation of the Buddha Statue, an old dagoba (stupa) and ruins of the Temple Complex had been ...
Lakegala Mountain – wrapped in mystery and legend By Arundathie Abeysinghe Located about 324 meters above sea level, Lakegala Mountain is a 1310 meter high rock famous due to its unique triangular pyramidal shape and colossal size. Spectacular Lakegala Mountain is one of the highest bare rock outcrops in the world. Meaning “Rock of Lanka” (Lankagala in Sinhala which later became Lakegala), Lakegala is situated about 175 kilometers away from Colombo in *Meemure. As Lakegala Mountain is situated in Meemure, the mountain is pristine and undisturbed from the external world and has abundant endemic flora and fauna. Situated in close proximity to Kandy and Matale Districts, there are several access roads to Lakegala. According to foreign tourists, the unique triangular shape of Lakegala Mountain resembles the “Matterhorn of the Rockies”. The trek to the peak is arduous for average hikers, especially the last 300 meters of the journey. Hence, ...
Fort Frederick in Trincomalee – emblazoned with colonial insignia By Arundathie Abeysinghe Situated about four kilometers from Trincomalee town center, Fort Frederic also known as Trincomalee Fort or Fort Triquillimale is a fort built by the Portuguese. The Fort was built in 1624 CE on Swami Rock Konamamali from the debris of world renowned ancient Hindu Temple, Koneswaram Temple (Temple of Thousand Pillars). The Temple was destroyed by *Constantino de Sá de Noronha under Phillip II. Fort Triquillimale was dismantled and rebuilt by the Dutch in 1665 and renamed it as Fort Frederick. Later, the Temple was rebuilt. Originally, Fort Triquillimale has been a triangular shape. The triangular fort had been outfitted with artillery bastions with the objective defending against British invaders. In 1795, during the British Colonial Era, the British took over Fort Frederick and added artillery to the Fort. The gateway of the Fort which pierces the ...
Ravana Ella and Ravana Cave – entwined in myth and legend By Arundathie Abeysinghe Cascading from a height of 25 meters grandly down many rock faces from an oval-shaped concave rocky outcrop, Ravana Ella (Ella meaning waterfall in Sinhala) or Ravana Falls is the source of many myths and legends. Ravana Ella is one of the widest waterfalls in Sri Lanka and also a major tourist attraction. This waterfall is situated in Ravana Ella Wildlife Sanctuary about six kilometers from *Ella Railway Station on the road towards south of Sri Lanka through Ella Gap. It is linked to the Hindu epic *Ramayana – a historic tale that is based in India and Sri Lanka. According to Ramayana, the waterfall is named after the famous king, King Ravana who kidnapped Princess Sita from India and hid her in the caves behind the waterfall. The waterfall is surrounded by lush vegetation ...
