Mahiyanganaya is a town situated close to the Mahaweli River in Badulla
District, Uva Province of Sri Lanka. It is said that Gautama Buddha
visited Mahiyanganaya on the Duruthu full moon poya day in order to settle a
dispute arose between Yakkas and Nagas (two tribes then inhabited this area)
and this was his first ever visit to Sri Lanka. Then the Buddha preached Dhamma
to Sumana Saman, a leader in this area, to whom the Buddha gave a handful of
his hair relic so that people could worship. After that Sumana Saman (now the
god Sumana Saman) built a golden chethiya in which the sacred hair relic was
deposited. Later on about seven chethiyas were built over the original golden
chethiya from time to time, the last one being built by the King Dutugemunu. As
such, this historic town is a very sacred place for Buddhists. The majority of the people in this area are engaged in paddy cultivation being the
main economic activity. 
It is however of religious significance since Lord Buddha visited the
Mahiyanganaya Raja Maha Viharaya on his visit to Sri Lanka over 5000 years ago. You may be surprised to learn of the many activities you can do as a traveller in
Mahiyanganaya, much more than you may be able to do any other tourist
destination in Sri Lanka.

Mahiyanganaya is filled with nature and natural beauty
Mahiyanganaya is strategically situated in the Badulla district with great views of
the misty mountains of the central highlands and the Knuckles range. The city is
also bestowed with large open spaces of land, lush grasslands, arable land, picturesque lakes and manmade reservoirs. Supporting the region’s agricultural
economy, the longest river in Sri Lanka, the Mahaweli flows through this
beautiful city, replenishing and nourishing its abundant plant, animal and human
life. Rich in Culture
Located about 19 km off Mahiyanganaya, in Dambana bordering the Maduru Oya
sanctuary lies one of the world’s oldest aboriginal tribes, known as the ‘Vedda’ community. A minority population of about 1000 individuals at present reside
enjoying the natural habitat, seclusion and protection of the forests. Peek into the
unique culture and traditions of these indigenous people and observe how they
hunt and gather, cook in open-air fires, collect bees-honey, engage in traditional
song and dance – a few of the rare opportunities to be witnessed whilst in
Mahiyanganaya
Learn how to make a traditional Sri Lankan dish and indulge in an authentic Sri
Lankan lunch whilst on a village tour in Mahiyanganaya. Learn a simple village
craft and immerse in the simplistic lifestyle as they thrive and coexist with
nature.

Abundance of Wildlife
Moreover, the Wasgamuwa and the Maduru Oya National Parks are located
within an hour’s drive from Mahiyanganaya. Both national parks are home to
numerous wildlife species from over 100 species of birds to herds of elephants, the purple-faced langur monkeys, wild boar, sambar, spotted deer, buffalo
including leopards and sloth bears on rare occasions.
Or you could take a boat safari over Sri Lanka’s largest lake, at the Gal Oya
National Park and discover elephants swimming between islands and
exceptional birdlife including migratory birds that swell their ranks from
December to April. Even within Mahiyanganaya on the bank of the Mapakada
Lake, one can observe sightings of herds of elephants and numerous birdlife
whilst on a boat ride.

•  18 bend road

The drive up to Mahiyangana is a spectacular one. Situated approximately 5
hours (about 200km) from the capital city of Colombo, the drive to
Mahiyanganaya is yet another spectacular experience. The popular
Mahiyanganaya- Kandy road can be accessed through the historical city of Kandy. Commonly referred to as the ‘road that needs both your hands on the wheel all
the time’ or the දහඅට වංගව in Sinhala is a winding road with 18 arduous
hairpin bends leading up to Mahiyanganaya. A 41km stretch through the 18
bends, is a challenging yet scenic drive with a couple of lookout points on top of
the mountains gazing down to the beautiful valley of Mahiyanganaya. During a
road redevelopment conducted in 2011, the number of hairpin bends was
reduced to 16 from 18, yet it continues to be a very popular drive among tourists
and local travellers alike.

• Rathna Ella

The famous Rathna Ella (රත් ඇල්) is within a short drive of 30mins from
Mahiyangana town. It is a truly mind-blowing experience accompanied by a
scenic hike of about 3km both ways. The hike is about 1.5hours in duration and
takes one through lush paddy fields, villages, forests and streams leading up to
the awe-inspiring waterfall that gushes in drapes of water, a truly serenely
experience worth the effort. After the hike and a dip in the water, you are bound
to be hungry! On the way back, you can enjoy a scrumptious Sri Lankan lunch at
a nearby village home