Ritigala Strict Natural Reserve
About This Place
Ritigala Strict Natural Reserve
A remote and atmospheric ruined forest monastery complex in the scrub forest of the North Central Province, rarely visited and reached by a winding forest track. Ritigala Mountain rises 766 metres above the surrounding plain and was revered in ancient times. The ruins include paved meditation pathways (padhanaghara), double-platform buildings, and a remarkable ancient hospital, all dating from the 1st–10th centuries AD. The dense forest has reclaimed most structures, creating an eerie jungle-ruin atmosphere.
Difficulty
🧭 moderate
Best Time
📅 May to September (dry season); avoid after heavy rains — paths become muddy.
Safety Rating
Accessibility & Visitor Info
Remote location near Habarana; rough track from Aukana road; mandatory guide/ranger; dense forest; combine with Aukana Buddha visit nearby.
📖 Legends & Stories
Ritigala is associated with the Ramayana — Hanuman is said to have landed here while searching for medicinal herbs to cure Lakshmana. The mountain is also believed to have been the retreat of the Pansakulika monks, a strict forest-dwelling Buddhist sect. Local village elders speak of a light that appears on the mountain summit on certain full moon nights, believed to be the flame of the ancient monastery's eternal lamp.
Location
📍 Find It Here
8.116700, 80.616700
Community
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