A colourful Hindu temple linked to the Ramayana, said to mark where Sita was held captive by the demon king Ravana.

Overview

This vividly painted Dravidian-style temple stands beside a stream about 5 km from Nuwara Eliya on the road towards Hakgala. Dedicated to Sita, the temple is one of the key stops on Sri Lanka's Ramayana trail, and pilgrims point to round depressions in the rocks by the stream said to be the footprints of Hanuman. Its bright gopuram and riverside setting make it a striking, atmospheric visit.

History

Local tradition holds that this is the site of Ashok Vatika, the grove where Sita was kept captive by Ravana in the epic Ramayana, making it a place of pilgrimage for Hindus and followers of the Ramayana legend. The present temple structures are relatively modern but sit on a site venerated for centuries.