Ravana Falls

Rawana Falls Rawana Falls Rawana Falls

Ravana Falls (popularly known as Ravana Alla, (රාවණා ඇල්ල) in Sinhala) is a popular sightseeing attraction in Sri Lanka. It currently ranks as one of the widest falls in the country.

Description

This waterfall measures approximately 25 m (82 ft) in height and cascades from an oval-shaped concave rock outcrop. During the local wet season, the waterfall turns into what is said to resemble an areca flower with withering petals. But this is not the case in the dry season, where the flow of water reduces dramatically. The falls form part of the Ravana Ella Wildlife Sanctuary, and is located 6 km (3.7 mi) away from the local railway station at Ella.

The Legend

The falls have been named after the legendary king Ravana, which is connected to the famous Indian epic, the Ramayana. According to legend, it is said that Ravana (who was the king of Sri Lanka at the time) had kidnapped princess Sita, and had hidden her in the caves behind this waterfall, now simply known as the Ravana Ella Cave. The reason for the kidnapping is said to be a revenge for slicing off the nose of his sister by Rama (husband of Sita) and his brother Laxmana. At the time, the cave was surrounded with thick forests in the midst of wilderness. It is also believed that Rama’s queen bathed in a pool that accumulated the water falling from this waterfall. They believed that Ravana has played the Ravanahatha over here.

The Historical Connotations

Whilst the story of the Ramayana appears to be fanciful fiction; strangely enough several archeological treasures have been unearthed and locations referred to in the literary epic have been found in actuality. Based on these discoveries, some information has been established as undeniable fact.

  • Ravana was a real Sri Lankan king who lived over 5000 years ago.
  • The technology used by him was advanced with no equivalent in the current world.
  • He was extremely powerful and much feared by his countrymen.
  • He kidnapped a beautiful princess and kept her imprisoned in a cave in Sri Lanka.
  • The nearby waterfall was used for her bathing purposes.
  • Ravana created a beautiful garden for her entertainment filled with flowers and fruit trees.
  • The key locations of the cave, garden and launch pad for his flying vehicle have been located in modern Sri Lanka.

The Cave and Archeological Evidence

The Ravana Ella Cave lies 1,370 m (4,490 ft) above sea level on the foundation of a cliff. The cave is a popular local tourist attraction, located 11 km (7 mi) away from Bandarawela. Excavations undertaken in the cave uncovered evidence of human habitation dating back to 25,000 years.

Rawana Falls Rawana Falls Rawana Falls

Om Badulla-distriktet

Badulla är huvudstad i Uva-provinsen i Sri Lanka. Badulla ligger sydöst om Kandy, nästan omgiven av floden Badulu Oya, cirka 680 meter över havet och är omgiven av teplantager. Staden överskuggas av bergskedjan Namunukula. Badulla ligger cirka 230 km från Colombo mot de östra sluttningarna av Sri Lankas centrala kullar. Badulla och omgivningar rekommenderas starkt för ekoturister eftersom Horton Plains nationalpark och Knuckles-bergen ligger några timmar bort. Speciella platser i Badulla: Muthiyangana-templet, Dhowa-templet, den gamla träbron Bogoda, Rawana-vattenfallen.

Om Uva-provinsen

Uva-provinsen är Sri Lankas näst minst befolkade provins, med 1 187 335 invånare, skapad 1896. Den består av två distrikt som heter Badulla och Moneragala. Provinshuvudstaden är Badulla. Uva gränsar till östra, södra och centrala provinserna. Dess största turistattraktioner är Dunhinda Falls, Diyaluma Falls, Rawana Falls, Yala nationalpark (som delvis ligger i södra och östra provinserna) och Gal Oya nationalpark (som delvis ligger i östra provinsen). Gal Oya-kullarna och Centralbergen är det viktigaste höglandet, medan floderna Mahaweli och Menik och de enorma Senanayake Samudraya och Maduru Oya-reservoarerna är de viktigaste vattenvägarna i Uva-provinsen.

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