Diwali Special- 10 Places In Sri Lanka, Where Ramayan Still Exists

Ramayana has fascinated many generations and had a profound impact on art and culture in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Sri Lanka too shares a special bond with India; geographically, historically, culturally and spiritually.

Although Ramayana happened millennium ago, it has geographic traces from North to South India, more specifically in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is connected to Ramayana and still makes it alive in many ways. Below is a list of places in Sri Lanka which is connected to the Ramayana Epic:

# Sita was kidnapped and kept at queen Mandodari’s palace at Lankapura. The place is called Sita Kotuwa; which means Sita’s Fort in Sinhala. Raavana at that time was believed to have an aircraft repair centre at Gurulupotha close to Sita Kotuwa.

# Ravana moved Sita from Sita Kotuwa to Ashok Vatika, the salubrious garden up in the mountains. The route in Sri Lanka is stunningly beautiful, as Ravana wanted to show Sita the beauty of his kingdom.

# Surprisingly, the Chariot Path atop the mountain range is still visible. The Sita Tear Pond close to the Chariot Path is believed to have been formed by Sita’s tears. Visitors can also see the famed Sita Flowers which are widespread at this area.

# The ruler of the Vanara Sena or monkey kingdom, Sugriva ordered his monkey armies to search for Sita in all four corners of the earth. Hanuman, Angada, Jambavan and other heroes traveled southwards. Hanuman was the only one strong enough to cross the ocean to reach Lanka. Whilst crossing the ocean, Hanuman was tested by Surasa, the Naga maiden en-route to Lanka. This place is now called Nagadeepa.

# Raavanagoda which means Ravana’s place in the Kotmale area is one such complex of tunnels and caves where Sita was hidden from Hanuman. Istreepura is another resourceful network of paths which interconnects all major areas of king Raavana’s city. Istreepura means Area of Women in Sinhala.

# Gayathri Peedam is the place where Ravana’s son Meghanath was granted supernatural powers by Lord Shiva prior to the battle.

# Neelawari is located in the North of the country in the Jaffna peninsula is a place Lord Rama shot an arrow to the ground to obtain water for his army upon arriving Lanka.

# Dondra, Seenigama & Hikkaduwa are places in the South of Lanka where Sugriva, king of Vanaras prepared for his attack on Ravana’s forces from the Southern flank.

# Dunuwila is a place from which Lord Rama fired the Brahmastra at king Rāvana who was directing the war from Laggala, where he was killed.

# After meeting Sita, Ram asked for an Agni Pariksha at a place called Divurumpola to prove her innocence and purity to Rama. Divurumpola means the Place of Oath in Sinhala.