Ramayana Sites in Sri Lanka

1. According to the Ramayana, king Rāvana brought Sita Devi from India in a “Pushpaka Vimana” which is widely known in Sri Lanka as the “Dandu Monara Yanthranaya”, or Large Peacock Machine in Sinhala. Ravana brought her to Weragantota in Lanka in his plane, the Pushpaka Vimana. Weragantota means the Place of Aircraft landing in Sinhala. This is the first place Sita Devi was brought to Lankapura (capita city of king Rāvana).

2. Sita Devi was kept at queen Mandothari’s palace at Lankapura. The place Sita was held captive is called Sita Kotuwa; which means Sita’s Fort in Sinhala. It is believed Rāvana had an aircraft repair centre at Gurulupotha close to Sita Kotuwa. Gurulupothameans Parts of Birds in Sinhala.

3. Ravana moved Sita from Sita Kotuwa to Ashok Vatika the salubrious garden in the mountains. The route too was said to be spectacularly beautiful, as Ravana wanted to show Sita the beauty of his kingdom.

4. The Chariot Path atop the mountain range is still visible. The Sita Tear Pond close to theChariot Path is believed to have been formed by Sita Devi’s tears. Visitors could also see the famed Sita Flowers which are endemic to this area.

5. Hanuman on the way back to India rested at Mani Kattuthar. Near by is the village of Kondagala, known as Kondakalai in Tamil, where Sita is said to have deranged her hair whilst passing the place. The village also contains Sita Gooli which are rice balls offered by Ravana to Sita; which she refused and threw away.

6. Upon hearing Hanuman’s threat and seeing his capabilities, King Rāvana decided to hide Sita at various secret locations as a precautionary measure. Rāvanagoda which means Ravana’s place in the Kotmale area is one such complex of tunnels and caves. Istreepura is another ingenious network of paths which are interconnected all major areas of king Rāvana’s city. Istreepura means Area of Women in Sinhala. This refers to the retinue of ladies Ravana made available to look after Sita.

7. Gayathri Peedum is the place where Ravana’s son Mehganath was granted super natural powers by Shiva prior to the battle.

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

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

10. During the height of the battle Indrajit, elder son of Rāvana beheaded a lookalike of Sita Devi in front of Hanuman to break his spirit. This place is known as Sitawaka in the Avissawella area.

11. Yudhaganawa, battlefield in Sinhala is a place in Wasgamuwa where the major battles took place.

12. Hanuman uprooted the entire peak with all the herbs growing there from the mountain and returned to Lanka.

13. Parts of the hill fell on five places in Sri Lanka; namely Rumassala in Galle, Dolukanda in Hiripitiya, Ritigala close to Habarana, Talladi in Mannar and Katchchathivu in the north. Karthikaya Subramaniyam was requested to go to battle by Indra to protect Rama from king Rāvana’s Brahmastra. This was at Kataragama, which is now a very popular place for worship among Sri Lankans.

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

15. Laggala is derived from the Sinhala term “Elakke Gala”, which means Target Rock. Laggala served as a sentry point to observe Rama’s army. Geographically, this is the highest part of the northern region of Rāvana’s city.

16. After Rāvana’s death, his body was kept at Yahangala, Divan or Bed Rock in Sinhala for the country men to pay their respect for their departed King.

17. Sita met Rama after the war, and Divurumpola is the place she under went the “Agni” test of fire

18. Vantharamulai is a place that Rama, Sita Devi, Lakshmana and Hanuman rested after the turmoil of the war. Amaranthakali is believed to be the place where they had the first meal after the war.

19. When returning to India, Rama felt he was followed by a “Brahmahasti Dhosham”, a dark cloud capable of taking his life, as he had killed Rāvana, a Brahamin. Rama felt safe from the “Brahmahasti Dhosham” at Munneswaram. This is the place Rama prayed to Shiva and where God Shiva asked Lord Rama to install four Lingams to get rid of the Dhosham. These four Lingams were installed at Manavari, Thiru Koheneshwaram, Thiru Ketheshwaram and Ramaeshwaram in India.

20. After king Rāvana’s death, Rāvana’s brother Vibhishana was coroneted as a king of Lanka by Lakshmana at Kelaniya.

21. Kanniya – The place where King Rāvana carried out the last rites for his mother.

22. Gavagala or Ghoushala – King Rāvana’s dairy farm.

23. Airports of King Rāvana

1. Thotupolakanda (means Mountain Port in Sinhala) at Horton plains
2. Weragantota (means Place of Aircraft landing in Sinhala) in Mahiyangana
3. Ussangoda (means Area of Lift in Sinhala) in the Southern coast
4. Wariapola (means Aircraft Port in Sinhala) in Matale and
5. Wariapola (means Aircraft Port in Sinhala) in Kurunagala.

24. Neelawari- A place where Rama aimed an arrow to obtain water.