Ritigala - Sri Lanka

When it comes to ancient and natural beauty, Sri Lanka leads the way and the site of Ritigala is one of the most ideal examples of this fact. Ritigala is both a mesmerizing beauty as well as an site of ancient artefacts and it is believed that this site dates back to the 1st century B.C. The Ritigala Mountain, which is also referred to as the Ritigala Mountain Range, occupies a significant position in the district of Anuradhapura. The Ritigala ancient site is located just over 40 km from the first accepted capital kingdom of ancient Sri Lanka – Anuradhapura city.

                 Many legends and tales are told about Ritigala and these include tales that are over two thousand years old. The great historic chronicle of Sri Lanka, Mahawamsa, mentions Ritigala as well as related tales. It is believed that dreaded guardians or spirits defend the Ritigala ancient complex and another belief exists that medicinal herbs of high value are present in the area. When one studies the formation of the name “Ritigala”, it is clear that it had a prominent past as it means the “Dreadful Mountain”. Located over 2500 feet or over 750 m above sea level, temperatures are significantly lower than the surrounding region. The Ritigala Mountain is vast in size and it is the highest peak in the entire area of Northern Sri Lanka. The acreage of the Ritigala Mountain Range is nearly 4,000 acres. The Department of Wildlife as well as the Department of Forestry of Sri Lanka are two main authorities responsible for the maintenance of the Ritigala area.