Getting There

The towns of Kitulgala and Ratnapura, sitauted in Sabaragamuwa Province, can be easily accessed directly from Colombo, Kandy or Nuwara Eliya. The area is best reached by road.  Useful drive times include:  Colombo to Kitulgala (2.5 hours); Kitulgala to Adam’s Peak (2 hours); Kandy to Kitulgala (3 hours); Nuwara Eliya to Kitugala (2.5 hours); Dickoya to Kitulgala (1. 5 hours).

Historical Background

The Sabaragamuwa province is of great archeological importance with the discovery of Stone Age settlements in Balangoda.  Considered to be the earliest settlement on the island, the excavated artifacts are currently on display in the National Museums of Ratnapura and Colombo.  It is also believed that Lord Buddha visited Sri Pada in Ratnapura making it a significant place of worship for Buddhists. In more recent history, the Portuguese in the 17th century occupied this area introducing Catholicism, followed by the Dutch.  Several churches built during this period still remain in Ratnapura.

Sights

Kitulgala offers rafting on Grade 3 and 4 rapids for down the Kelani River. Travel through jungle-clad hills and plantations growing low-country tea and rubber. Just across the Kelani River is a small, lush primeval forest, home to about 54 rare species of birds, including the indigenous white owl. Jungle trekking, outdoor camping, and mountain biking is possible.  A two-hour drive from Kitulgala will take you to Adam's Peak, a 2,234m mountain that is a sacred pilgrimage site for people of many faiths. The climb to the summit is possible from December to April and is hugely recommended for the active walker. Ratnapura is home to a long-established gem industry.  It is here that villagers from the surrounding gem fields gather to sell their precious stones to local gem merchants, international traders and tourists. Nature lovers should not miss the Sinharaja tropical rainforest.  Declared by UNESCO as an International Man and Biosphere Reserve, trekking through this bewildering land of exotic colours and wonderful sounds is an experience of a lifetime.

Accommodation

While Ratnapura offers limited accommodation, Kitulgala has more options.  The Rafter’s Retreat overlooking the Kelani River, offers rustic and ecologically-themed accommodation that is popular with those visiting Kitulgala mainly for white water rafting.  Plantation Hotel and Kitulgala Resthouse offers guesthouse-style accommodation.  Royal River Resort, a mid-range four bedroom hotel, clings to the edge of the Ing Oya rapids and is set in a rubber plantation.  Paradise Farm in Kitulgala offers tranquil surroundings set amidst organic fruit and spice farms with magnificent views of the central hills.  Sinharajah has two distinctive upmarket properties – Boulder Gardens, which gives the feel of living in a rain forest, and Rainforest Edge, which has gentler, views over undulating hills – and a couple of characterful lodges.

Food & Drink

Kitulgala, named after the `Kitul’ palm which is seen in abundance in this area, is famous for its Kitul juggery – a fudge that can be purchased from wayside boutiques.  Kitulgala Rest House, run by the Ceylon Hotel’s Corporation or the Plantation Hotel, are popular stopovers for rice and curry lunch.   The restaurant and bar at Plantation Hotel sits right over the Kelani River and is an ideal spot to break the journey with a cup of tea or a drink.  Several basic roadside cafes on the way to Ratnapura sells shorteats (buns and pastries), cool drinks and tea.

Shopping

Ratnapura town is filled with inviting gem shops where you can buy gemstones as well as gem studded gold and silver jewellery.  Most places have their workshops at the back where the coarse gem stones found in the depths of the soil are cut and polished. The National Gem & Jewellry Authority regulates and maintains the standards of the country’s gem industry.

Events

The Saman Devala in Ratnapura hosts an annual Perehara (cultural pageant) on the full-moon Poya day of July or August.  This pageant displays traditional folklore, music and the rhythmic dance forms of the Sabaragamuwa region which is distinctly different to the Kandyan and southern dance forms.  Dancers, drummers, Chieftains in traditional attire, and elephants dressed in glittering cloaks are all a part of this colourful pageant.

Ceylon Gems

Sri Lanka is renowned for its gems that are found in abundance in various regions of the island.

Two of the world’s largest blue sapphires - the Blue Bellthat adorns the British crown and the Star of India,currently on exhibit at the Museum of Natural History in New York - are from this island. Rubies, amethysts, topazand many more are found here.

Mining as well as cuttingand polishing of these jewels are skills that have been passed down to generations for centuries and are still done manually according to traditional methods. Gem pits, simply covered open-sided huts with thatched roofsset at the edge of a paddy field or a riverbed, are very much a part of the village landscape in certain regions.

Red Dot offers a fascinating gem experience in the village of Getahettain the western foothills, sandwiched between the west coast and the central highlands. A gem mining family, which has been in this trade for generations, will share knowledge and expertise as well as take you into their home and offer you a traditional village lunch.

Visit a gem mine and observe as the muddy gravel from below the earth surface is gradually brought up and sifted through by hand.  Watch as the rough stone is transformed into a sparkling gem through the process of cutting and polishing.  Learn of the various precious and semi-precious stones and the cultural beliefs that surround them.

Guests also have the opportunity to purchase gems if they wish. The National Gem & Jewellery Authority regulates the country’s gem industry and it is important that a certificate of authenticity is obtained for gemsthat arepurchased.

The Ceylon Gem experience will take about two-and-a-half hours inclusive of lunch and usually starts around 11.00 am.  Avissawella is en route from Kandy to the Southern Coast.

Rate: Rs. 1,500/- per head inclusive of lunch.  Children under 12 years are free-of-charge.

Location: Getahetta, Avissawella