Travel to the Gem City.

Ratnapura (City of Gem) is a major city in Sri Lanka. it is the capital city of Sabaragamuwa province. some say the modern name is derived from the Protuguese name "rapadra" for :jaggery", the plam candy produced traditionally in this reagion, but the more common explanation in Sri Lanka is that is comes from the Sinhala "ratna" meaning "gems" and "pura" meaning city. Ratnapura located some 101Km south east of capital Colombo. Come to the Ratnapura and get feel about traditional life style and unique nature of the area. and other hand plenty of tourist hot-spots are available to visit around the Ratnapura area.

Gems

Most of the people in Ratnapura have connection with the Gem trade, in its many factors, either mining cutting, Polishing and making jewellery. At the center of this, quite the most beautiful of industries. Hear, you will found stone of excellent quality, Luster and variety, sapphires, rubies, amethysts, topaz, garnets, tourmaline, cat's eyes, star rubies and the mysterious moonstones, to name a few. Craftsmanship of high quality, all cutting and polishing is being done the traditional way by hand. 

Bopath Ella Waterfall.

Bopath Ella Waretfall

Bopath Ella is one of the most picturesque water falls in the country which is 30 meters in height. The waterfall arises from the waters of Kuru Ganga, a tributary of Kalu Ganga. The name ‘Bopath’ is derived from two words Bo (Bot tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment) and Path (leaf). The water fall is divided in to three cascades giving a rounded shape that resembles to the shape of the Bo-tree leaf. There are several pools with cool water between the stream and the water falls that are ideal for refreshing bath. The waterfall can be easily accessed by a vehicle and it is several kilometers before the city on the main road from Colombo.

Maha Saman Devalaya.

Elephant at the Saman Devala

Entrance of the Devala

Maha Saman Devala is by far the most sacred instituting in the city.  The temple is dedicated to God Saman and it is located 2 kilometer from Ratnapura on the Main road of Panadura – Ratnapura. The temple is dating back to 1270 AD and built by king Parakramabahu 2. Historical evidences suggest that its glory was intact throughout the present day since its origin. It was renovated by king Parakramabahu 5^th in 15^th century. The Portuguese plundered the temple in 1618 and built a church at the site. Under the King Rajasinghe 2 the site was rescued by the Sinhalese forces and rebuilt the Saman Devala at the original location.

National Museum

Ehelepola Walawwa

 Ehelepola Walawwa (Ehelepola mansion), which was the mansion of famous Ehelpola, who lived in 19^th century, has been turned to the national museum of Ratnapura. It houses valuable fossils found in the area in the gem pits, among the noteworthy pre-historic fossils are elephant, rhinoceros and hippopotamuses fossils. There are artifacts of local art and culture such as musical instruments, masks, costumes, jewelry, textiles and flags.

Pothgul Viharaya.

Pothgul Viharaya.

Pothgul Vehera is one of the most historical sites in Ratnapura, which dates back to 1^st century BC. The temple was constructed under the patronage of King Walagambahu of Anuradhapura. There are several cave paintings, representing several Buddhist stories and a reclining Buddha statue. One sculpture shows an incident in that took place on one his 550 lives, in which Buddha jumped in to the mouth of a devil. Devotees need to climb a flight of steps with more than 400 steps.

Sinharaja Rain Forest.

Visiting this last remaining primeval rain forest definitely would be one of the most fascinating experiences of the tour to Ratnapura. The forest is a bio-diversity hot spot in the world and houses large number of endemic fauna and flora species. It is one of the 166 global natural UNESCO world heritage sites.

Sri Paada

Ascending the sacred mountain starts in Ratnapura and it is reputed being the best place for view s of the holy mountain.

Udawalawa National Park

Elephants in the Park.

Udawalawa is the ideal location for people who love some adventure on the tour. The Udawalawa national park is inhabited by large number of wild elephants. The drive from Ratnapura to Udawalawa takes around 2 hours. A Part of the Udawalawa national park is consisting of dry zone forest while the other part mainly consists of wet zone forest.

Wawlpane Cave.

wawlepane Cave

Waulapane lime stone cave is a famous site among the adventure holiday makers and being used for caving. The cave is situated 300 meters above the sea level in the Sabaragamuwa province. Cave is the living habitat for thousands of bats and the name ‘Waulapane’ derived from the Sinhalese name for bats ‘Waula’.

Maduwanwela Walawwa.

Maduwanwela Walawwa

Entrance to the Walawwa.

Maduwanwela walauwa (mansion) was inhabited by Maduwanwela clan and it is known as Burutha Maligarwa (‘Castle of satinwood’) as well. It was built by Maduwamwela Maha Mohottala during the Dutch colonial time. It was the living quarters for six generations of the Maduwanwela family.




Visit Ratnapura (Gem City) and add memorable experiences to your life.

Meemure - One of the best Trip for ever!!!!!

Meemure is a Village in Sri Lanka with a population of about 400. it is located near the boarder between Kandy District and Matale District in the Knuckles Mountain Range. meemure is one of the most remote Village in Sri Lanka with the only formal accesses via a 14Km travel the town of "loolwatta". There is nor cellular services available i the Village and there is nor direct mail delivery to the Village; a villager journeys each day to Thapal Junction to exchange Incoming and Outgoing apostle mail with a postmen.

"Lakegala" mountain is in Meemure Village. It is considered the place where king Ravana lifted the "Dadu Monara" or " Dhandu Monara". Residents of the Village depend on several staple crops including Pepper, Cardamom, Paddy and Ginger. Meemure Village owns an exceptional natural beauty. It is rich with natural beauty and Traditional Sri Lanka beauty.

• Year and Month - May, 2012

• Numbers of days - Two day Journy

• Crew - Six (My friends in University)

•  Transport - To Hunnasgiriya By bus, From Hunnasgiriya to Loolwatta then by Bus and then by foot for Kaikawala  Village Temple, stay at the temple and next day to the Meemure by Foot.

• Route - Badulla - Kandy- Hunnasgiriya - Loolwatta - Kaiykawela - Meemure - (trough the Jungal) - Hettipola - Hasalaka - Mahiyanganaya - Badulla.

We started  our journey from Badulla at about 4.30 am and we come to the Kandy city at abut 8.00 am we had our braekefast from a small "thekade". After we visited around the Kandy city. After that we got in to a bus which goes to the"Teldeniy Town. From the town we got a lorry and went to the Hunnasgiriya. when it was 2.30 pmthen we had our Lunch there. From the Hunnasgiriya to Loolwatta by bus (only two vans come to the Hunnasgiriya in the morning and leave at about 1.30 pm, so we missed the van)

The Bus only for "Loolwatta" and then we started our log walking Journey. 

With Some Villagers

 The Journey it started from Loolwatta.

Rain, that Punished to our Dinner.

 Trough the road to Meemure. It Was heavy Rain.

We come to come to a little shop which located "Kaiykawela" Village (Kaiykawela is nearest Village to the Meemure). after big journey. The Villagers of Kaiykawela were so friendly and helpful.

Kaiykawela Villagers with my friends.

We arrived to the Kaiykawela Temple at about 7.30 pm, accommodate for night. The "swameen wahanse" was very helpful to us.

Accommodate in Banasalawa of the Temple.

Next day in the morning we started goes to the meemure, the Village located 4Km ahead from the Kaiykawela Temple.

Lakegala Ahead.

To the Meemure.

We got into the Village when it was 7.30 a.m, and then we had our breakfast form a Village;s House.

Stone Wall, stone Stair and simple Gate that enter to the Garden.

Wow, that is Lakegala.

Lakegala with Paddy filed.

It was nice experiance.

A Villager, old but strong man, real "Sinhalaya" he alwayes proud about his Village.

a king of teh Village

For his Lunch.

After the Paddy harvesting.

Villagers life, With Cultivation.

Heart of the Villagers.

Paddy filed

Cultivation, in side the Jungle. 

Villagers of the Meemure, most of the time farmers. Their main Job was Cultivation

Trough the natural Pandol, enter to the Jungle.

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Attractive and Valuable Rain forest available around the Village, it is life of the Villagers.

Beauty of the Forest.

a king of the forest.

Traditional method to vearship Gods to protect us within the jungle.

It was real adventure.

Route to Meemure,

Meemure is approximately a 7 hour drive from Colombo, in an off road vehicle. First go to Kandy city which is 116 km away from Colombo. Then Kandy-Mahiyangana Road (A26) towards to Mahiyangana. Turn to Left from Hunnasgiriya Junction which is 35 km away from Kandy. Then go towards the Loolwatte Village which is 15 km away from Hunnasgiriya Junction. Then from Loolwatte it is about another 15 km to the Meemure Village.you can use village public van it is a marvelous experience to have,to that you should be at Hunnasgiriya junction around 11 clock .hiring vehicles from Hunnasgiriya would be expensive than village vehicle . The nearest Police station is Teldeniya Police. On your way to Meemure from Colombo you can see many Natural Sceeneries; among them Hulu Ganga (River), Victoria Reservoir, Teldeniya New Town (Teldeniya was flooded in filling the Reservoir behind the Victoria Dam, Mahaweli Project), Dothalugala Forest and Botanical Garden, Mini Worlds End, Coberts Gap (Attala Mottuwa) a place where lot of wind blowing to the other side, Meemure and Lakegala Mountain where King Rawana Lifted his Air Plane called Dhadu Monara. At the Meemure Village you can stay at “Dumbara Pini Bindu” Village Hall with Permission of village People. Also you can visit and have bath from a water fall and a stream. This is the place where Sri Lankan Film “Suriya Arana” Shooting. You can have climb to the Lakegala Mountain also which is full of Adventure. If you are Local Alcohol lover you can have “Ra,” local toddy made of Kithul Tree.

If you want to real Sri Lanka Tradition and explicit nature then travel to meemure Village.