natural wonder
Adam's Peak (Sri Pada)
A 2,243 m conical peak sacred to Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Christians alike, climbed overnight by pilgrims up thousands of steps to reach the summit footprint shrine at dawn.
17 km · about 20 min drive
Photo by L Manju
AsiaSri LankaSabaragamuwa Province
Ratnapura
Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka · Asia
About Ratnapura
Ratnapura is worth a stop: 35 minutes from Hatton, 17km from Adam's Peak (Sri Pada).
Ratnapura is in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, with about 48,000 people. The nearest town is Hatton, about 31 km away.
Ratnapura (Sinhala: රත්නපුර, IPA: [rət̪n̪əpurə]; Tamil: இரத்தினபுரி, IPA: [iɾɐt̪ːinɐβuɾi]) ("City of Gems" in Sinhala and Tamil) is a major city in Sri Lanka. It is the capital city of Sabaragamuwa Province, as well as the Ratnapura District, and is a traditional centre for the Sri Lankan gem trade. It is located onRead more
the Kalu Ganga (Black River) in south-central Sri Lanka, some 101 km (63 mi) southeast of the country's capital, Colombo. Ratnapura is also spelled as Rathnapura.
The name 'Ratnapura' is a Sanskrit word meaning "city of gems", from the Sanskrit words pura (town) and ratna (gemstone). Over 2000 years ago, the Buddhist teachings in Sanskrit and Pali influenced the local language. While candy produced from the jaggery palm is traditionally known in this region as ratnapura, it is more likely that the candy was named for the locale rather than vice versa.
It is the centre of a long-established industry of precious stone mining including rubies, sapphires, and other gems. Apart from gem mining, the city is known for the production of rice and fruit. Large plantations of tea and rubber surround the city. Tea grown in this region is called low-country tea. There is a well-established tourism industry in Ratnapura. Nearby Sinharaja Forest Reserve, Udawalawe National Park, Kitulgala, and Adam's Peak are especially popular among tourists.
In 1901, the town of Ratnapura had a population of 4,084, and by 2021, it had an estimate around 100,000 people, with Buddhists, Hindus, Christians and Muslims each constituting a significant portion of the population.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Ratnapura?
Within an hour or so of Ratnapura: Adam's Peak (Sri Pada) (17 km), World's End, Horton Plains (44 km), Ramboda Falls (54 km), Ambuluwawa Tower (55 km).
Where is Ratnapura?
Ratnapura is in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, about 31 km from Hatton.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 47,832
- Continent
- Asia
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Region
- Sabaragamuwa Province
- Timezone
- Asia/Colombo
- Coordinates
- 6.6858, 80.4036
Tags
Worth the detour from Ratnapura
4 notable places within an hour's drive.
natural wonder
World's End, Horton Plains
A sheer escarpment in Horton Plains National Park dropping about 1,200 m straight off the edge of the highland plateau. Best before 10am, before cloud fills the void.
44 km · about 50 min drive
waterfall
Ramboda Falls
A 109 m waterfall in two tiers falling right beside the A5 at Ramboda Pass, on the tea-estate road between Kandy and Nuwara Eliya. Visible from the highway without leaving the car.
54 km · about 60 min drive
photogenic
Ambuluwawa Tower
A vertigo-inducing spiral tower on a hilltop near Gampola whose staircase narrows to shoulder width and ends with no handrail, giving a 360-degree view over the central highlands.
55 km · about 65 min drive
Driving roads near Ratnapura
- 68 kmLipton's SeatThe ridge above Dambatenne where Thomas Lipton surveyed his tea empire, at 1,970 m. The narrow road climbs through Lipton's own estate and on a clear morning the view runs to the southern coast.
- 76 kmNine Arch Bridge, DemodaraA soaring colonial-era railway viaduct of brick and stone curving through tea-clad jungle near Ella. A short drive-and-walk brings you trackside as blue trains rumble across its nine arches.
When to drive here
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
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