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In Sri Lanka, the story of the Ramayana is not just remembered. It is rooted in the land. Across hills, caves, and temples, the footsteps of Sita, Rama, Ravana, and Hanuman are believed to linger. Several historical places in Sri Lanka related to Ramayana are still visited today not as legends, but as sacred spaces. From where Sita was held captive to the cliff where Ravana prayed, the island has more than a memory. Each site carries the weight of devotion, loss, and divine power, woven into the very soil and stone.
Top Historical Places In Sri Lanka Related To Ramayana
These Historical Places in Sri Lanka trace the places where the Ramayana travelled across the country’s landscape, blending myth and memory.
1. Sita Kotuwa (Hasalaka, Matale District)
Photo: formulanone / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Tall trees rise above scattered stones, and somewhere between the silence and the roots lies the place known as Sita Kotuwa. It is believed this was the first location where Sita was kept after Ravana brought her to Lanka. That memory still sits heavy on the land as one of the sacred historical places in Sri Lanka related to the Ramayana. The path cuts through the jungle and climbs slowly until the remains of an ancient structure begin to appear. Pass through the stones covered in moss, outlines of broken walls, and a stream that winds past without a sound.
How To Reach: 5-hour drive from Kandy
Timings: 7 AM – 5 PM
Nearby Attractions: Wasgamuwa National Park, Knuckles Range, Dunuwila Lake
2. Ashok Vatika (Hakgala Botanical Garden, Nuwara Eliya)
Photo: Rehman Abubakr / Wikimedia Commons
This is where the forest still holds its breath. Ashok Vatika, now part of the Hakgala Botanical Garden, is believed to be where Sita was kept after being taken by Ravana. It is one of the most significant historical places in Sri Lanka related to the Ramayana. The trees grow close, the wind moves slowly, and stillness in the air. A flat rock lies under the Ashoka trees; locals say Sita sat there waiting for Rama. Some stop there with folded hands, others just stand. The garden today is known for its alpine plants and orchids, but it is this silence that travellers remember.
How To Reach: 10 km from Nuwara Eliya town
Timings: 8 AM – 5.30 PM
Nearby Attractions: Seetha Amman Temple, Gregory Lake, Moon Plains
3. Seetha Amman Temple (Nuwara Eliya)
Photo: Z thomas / Wikimedia Commons
The river beside this temple moves gently as though guarding the memories held in its banks. Built at the very spot where Sita is believed to have prayed during her captivity, Seetha Amman Temple remains one of the most important historical places in Sri Lanka related to the Ramayana. Ravana brought her here from Ashok Vatika so she could perform her daily rituals. The stream still runs behind the temple, and the stones in the water bear marks, believed to be footprints of Hanuman when he came searching for her.
How To Reach: 1 km from Hakgala Garden
Timings: 8 AM – 6 PM
Nearby Attractions: Hakgala Gardens, Pedro Tea Estate, Ambewela Farm
4. Ravana Cave (Ella)
Photo: A.Savin / Wikimedia Commons
Tucked into a hillside just above Ella, this cave is shadowed by dense forest and carries the feel of something ancient and hidden. Local belief holds that this was one of the secret passages Ravana used to travel across his kingdom and possibly one of the places where Sita was held before being moved to Ashok Vatika. Because of this, it remains a striking part of the journey through historical places in Sri Lanka related to the Ramayana. The entrance is narrow and the climb is steep, but many still make their way up. The rock walls inside are dark and cool, holding the forest above. Bats flutter in silence. Steps carved into the stone lead into the shadows as though the cave still guards the secrets of a forgotten time.
How To Reach: 2 km from Ella town
Timings: 8 AM – 5 PM
Nearby Attractions: Ravana Falls, Ella Rock, Little Adam’s Peak
5. Ravana Falls (Ella)
Photo: A.Savin / Wikimedia Commons
Water rushes down the rocks with force, hitting the boulders below in white sprays. The local people say this was once the entrance to a hidden cave where Ravana held Sita. Though the exact cave now lies deeper in the hillside, the falls are tied closely to that memory, placing them among the most well-known historical places in Sri Lanka related to Ramayana. The falls cascade from a rocky cliff surrounded by thick greenery, especially lush during the monsoon.
How To Reach: 6 km from Ella town
Timings: 24*7
Nearby Attractions: Ravana Cave, Nine Arches Bridge, Diyaluma Falls
6. Ramboda (Bhaktha Hanuman Temple)
Photo: Yercaud-elango / Wikimedia Commons
The hills near Ramboda stay quiet most of the day. This is where Hanuman is believed to have set foot when he first arrived in Lanka to search for Sita. The Bhaktha Hanuman Temple stands on a small rise, built in his honour. Among all the historical places in Sri Lanka related to Ramayana, this is the starting point, the place where the search began. The statue inside is tall, not in grandeur, but in presence. People come carrying offerings like bananas, betel leaves, and garlands. Morning prayers are steady, not rushed.
How To Reach: 10 km from Nuwara Eliya
Timings: 7 AM – 6 PM
Nearby Attractions: Ramboda Falls, Kotmale Reservoir, Blue Field Tea Gardens
7. Lakegala Rock (Matale District)
Photo: Astronomyinertia / Wikimedia Commons
This towering rock is believed to be the place where Ravana’s army watched for incoming attacks from Rama. According to legend, it served as a lookout point during the final phase of the war. Because of this, Lakegala holds a strong place among historical places in Sri Lanka related to the Ramayana. The rock rises sharply from the forested land below, offering wide views of the surrounding terrain. It is massive, isolated, and steep, almost like a natural fortress. Reaching the base takes effort, and the climb is not for everyone.
How To Reach: 7 km from Ilukkumbura
Timings: 9 AM – 6 PM
Nearby Attractions: Wasgamuwa National Park, Dunuwila Lake, Riverston
8. Dunuwila Lake (Matale District)
Photo: Kasuni Amarasinghe / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
The surface of Dunuwila Lake looks calm, but the story beneath it is anything but still. It is believed that Rama stood here and shot the powerful Brahmastra toward Ravana during the final battle. The name “Dunuwila” means “place of the bow” in Sinhala, and that memory gives the lake its sacred identity. Unlike other dramatic Ramayana sites, Dunuwila offers no ruins or temples. The area is flat and quiet, with thick grass edging the still water. Clouds hang low, and the wind moves slowly across the lake’s surface.
How To Reach: 30 minutes from Hettipola
Timings: 24*7
Nearby Attractions: Wasgamuwa National Park, Lakgala Rock, Riverston
9. Divurumpola Temple (Welimada)
Photo: Banja-Frans Mulder / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
This is where Sita proved her purity after the battle, and she was reunited with Rama. It is believed that Sita stood here to undergo the fire ordeal, or Agni Pariksha, to prove her chastity. That moment is remembered in every corner of this site, making Divurumpola one of the most emotionally powerful historical places in Sri Lanka related to the Ramayana. The temple sits quietly near the town of Welimada. It is surrounded by tall trees and open land, with white-washed walls and a peaceful courtyard where monks walk. Locals say the name Divurumpola itself means “the place of oath.”
How To Reach: 20 km from Nuwara Eliya
Timings: 7 AM – 6 PM
Nearby Attractions: Ravana Falls, Horton Plains, Sita Kotuwa
10. Munneswaram Temple (Chilaw)
Photo: Balou46 / Wikimedia Commons
In the heart of Chilaw, surrounded by trees and open land, Munneswaram Temple has stood for over a thousand years. This is where Rama is believed to have paused after defeating Ravana, burdened by the sin of killing a Brahmin. He prayed to Lord Shiva here for purification. That prayer, still remembered, gives the temple its place among historical places in Sri Lanka. Unlike the dramatic hilltop temples, Munneswaram feels grounded and steady. The complex is large, with courtyards, shrines, and stone pathways worn smooth by generations of pilgrims.
How To Reach: Located 6 km from Chilaw town
Timings: 6.30 AM – 7 PM
Nearby Attractions: Anawilundawa Sanctuary, Chilaw Beach, Muthurajawela Wetlands
11. Ussangoda Plateau (Tangalle-Hambantota border)
Photo: A.Savin / Wikimedia Commons
As you step onto the Ussangoda Plateau, the red soil beneath your feet feels strange, almost scorched. Some believe this is where Ravana landed his Pushpaka Vimana, and others say the area was charred by Hanuman when he set Lanka ablaze. Whichever story you follow, Ussangoda is among the most visually distinct historical places in Sri Lanka related to the Ramayana. The grass is sparse, the earth deep red, and the views stretch endlessly over the ocean. Locals say nothing grows too tall here, and nothing stays too long.
How To Reach: 27 km from the Tangalle-Hambantota border
Timings: 6 AM – 6 PM
Nearby Attractions: Rekawa Turtle Hatchery, Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary, Ridiyagama Safari Park
12. Rumassala Hill (Galle)
Photo: A.Savin / Wikimedia Commons
Rumassala is believed to be a fragment of the Himalayan mountain that Hanuman carried during the war in Lanka. When searching for the Sanjeevani herb to save Lakshmana, he lifted the whole mountain. A piece is said to have fallen here, making Rumassala one of the most unique historical places in Sri Lanka related to the Ramayana. The vegetation is unlike other parts of the island, rich with medicinal plants and herbs not usually found in the region. Locals come for walks, and monks sit quietly under the trees.
How To Reach: 5 km from Galle Fort
Timings: 6 AM – 6 PM
Nearby Attractions: Jungle Beach, Peace Pagoda, Unawatuna Beach
The story of the Ramayana does not end in books. It lives quietly across valleys, caves, and shrines on the island. These historical places in Sri Lanka related to Ramayana are not imagined; they are walked, and prayed at. A stone where Sita may have waited, a spring where Ravana once wept. None of it feels distant here. Plan your adventures with TripXL for an unforgettable experience of history and culture.
Cover Photo: psychoslave / Wikimedia Commons
