Ritigala is an world famous ancient Buddhist monastery and mountain range in Sri
Lanka . The ruins and rock inscriptions of the monastery date back to 1st century BC. It
is located 43 km away from the ancient city of Anuradhapura and also 40Km from
Dambulla. The interesting feature is Its height and the local weather patterns create a
microclimate difference from that of the surrounding plains. Ritigala is home to a variety
of rare species of plant and animal with immense of biodiversity which is now strictly
protected.
The half-day Ritigala hike excursion is quite unique experience any one can get. you can
walk through a forest decorated with fauna and flora such as orchids, seated on the
remains of ancient stone bathing-pools, bridges, courtyards and other architectural
remains, while colourful birds and mischievous monkeys look at you from the treetops
of the jungle

 

• Time of departure: Any time you can vist , But better early in the morning or
evening.
• Also can couple with Polonnaruwa or Mineriya elephant safari tour if required.
• Travel Time: 01 hr
• Tour Duration: 02 hrs Hiking
• Distance from the hotel: 40 km from Hotel premises
• Tour inclusions: water, juice and driver and Guide Optional
• Ritigala Mountain

Ritigala is a mountain in central Sri Lanka which is home to an ancient Buddhist monastery.
The ruins and rock inscriptions of the monastery date back to 1st century BCE. It is located
43 km (27 mi) away from the ancient monastic city of Anuradhapura.
Ritigala mountain consists of four peaks which rise steeply from the surrounding plain. The
mountain is 6.5 km in length, and divided into northern and southern blocks by MahaDegala Gorge. The highest peak is Ritigala Kanda in the southern block
At 766 m (2,513 ft) above sea level, and 600 m (2,000 ft) above the surrounding plains,
Ritigala is the highest mountain in northern Sri Lanka. The modern name Ritigala is derived
from the ancient name Ariṭṭha Pabbata (Dreadful Mountain), mentioned in the Mahavamsa.
Its elevation is higher than the other main tourist attractions of the north central plains,
namely Sigiriya, Dambulla, and Mihintale. The significance of this topographical feature lies
in the abrupt sheerness of the massif, its wooded slopes, and the wet microclimate at the
summit.

Climate

The mountains intercept moisture-bearing winds and generate orographic precipitation,
which makes the mountains wetter than the surrounding lowlands. During the northeast
monsoon (December to February), Ritigala experiences the highest rainfall (125 cm) of
entire dry zone
The wet micro climate at Ritigala is a singular occurrence in the north central plains, the
ancient Sri Lanka’s “Wewu Bandi Rata” meaning “the land of rainwater reservoirs” in
Sinhalese
The climate at the summit is in sharp contrast to the climate at the foot; it is cooler in
comparison to hot and dry climate of the region. The mist and cloud cover which cover the
summit during the south-west monsoon results in high vapor condensation, in turn,
turning the earth moist when the plains all around are in drought.

• Ritigala Strict Nature Reserve

Ritigala is a strict nature reserve, covering 1,528 ha (3,780 acres). It was established on 7
November 1941 (Gazette Notification No. 8809) Since it is home to species which are rare
and possibly extinct from the region, and also because its isolation provides ideal
conditions for the evolution of species, the conservation of such ecosystem is extremely
important and is managed by the Department of Wildlife of Sri Lanka together with the
Forest Department of Sri Lanka.
A strict nature reserve (IUCN category) is one of the two highest categories of
protected areas recognized by the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA).
These areas are mainly declared for the purpose of research and for preservation and
protection of large, unspoiled areas of wilderness. The primary purpose of such areas
is to preserve biodiversity as essential reference areas for scientific work and
environmental monitoring.
Located in the Anuradhapura district, of the North Central Province, Ritigala is Named after
Riti (Antiaristoxicaria), a type of tree found in the mid portion of the slopes Ritigala, the
highest isolated hill range in Sri Lanka, with nothing but the flat lands of the central Sri
Lanka surrounding it. Quartzite and Marble rocks dating back almost 2000 million years,
are found in the Ritigalamountains. It consists of 3 separate peaks, namely, “Kodigala”
kanda in the northern block and the “Wannati-kanda” and “Aushada-kanda” in the
southern block.
According to inscriptional evidences, Ritigala is believed to date back to the 2nd and 4th
century B.C. The ruins of an ancient Buddhist monastery, from 9th century, the Lanka
viharaya built by king Sooratissa Mountain during 187-177 B.C., 152 stone inscriptions, 74
rock caves, and 140 archeological buildings are some of the ancient ruins found in the
Ritigala area.
Ritigala SNR comprises of dry monsoonal, evergreen and montane forests. It is affected by
both the southwest and northeast monsoons with the altitude subdividing the wet zone
into low lands (0-900m), Sub montane region (900-1500m) and the montane region
(above 1500 m).
The crests of Ritigala are covered in mist during the southwest monsoon even when the
foot of the Ritigala mountain experience drought. October to November is rainy and June to
September is dry. While Na Ela, Deva Ela and MalwathuOya originate from the reserve, the
tanks UlpathWewa, HuruluWewa, KiriyagasWewa and KaluebbeWewa are found in the
surrounding area, with deep cylindrical rock pools are found near Deva Ela.
Due to the availability of suitable environmental conditions within the reserve, a high
proportion of endemism can be attributed to the survival of many wet zone species even
though it is situated in the midst of the dry zone. It boasts of 417 species of flora among
which 337 are flowering plants, 5 are endemic and 3 only found in Ritigala. Over 30 species
of mammals, including the endemic Golden Palm Civet and Toque Macaque call Ritigala
home. Other noteworthy mammals are the Sloth Bear, threatened Leopard, endangered
Elephant, Grey Slender Loris, Grey Langur, Jackal. Rusty-spotted Cat, Fishing Cat, Stripednecked Mongoose, Barking Deer, Spotted Deer, Sambar, Wild Boar, Porcupine, Pangolin and
several species of Bats.
More than 100 species of birds are known to frequent Ritigala, including the endemic Spotwinged Thrush, Sri Lanka Jungle Fowl and Sri Lanka Spurfow, The Great Raquet-tailed
Drongo, Grey Hornbill, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Blue Faced Malkoha, Rufous Woodpecker,
Rufous-bellied hawk-eagle and Mountain hawk-eagle are some of the colorful avifauna that
rove the skies and waters of Ritigala.
The reptile fauna of Ritigala includes Geckos, Lizards, Tortoises, snakes and Skinks.
Approximately 50 species of colourful butterflies, 20 species of fish and 16 species snails
have also been recorded at Ritigala.

Legends

Legends abound on Ritigala. One of mysterious aspect is the belief of powerful medicinal
herbs found near the crest. A herb called “Sansevi” is believed to have the power of
conferring long life and curing all human pain. According to legend, all vegetation on
Ritigala is protected by Yakkas, the guardian spirits of the mountain. The venerable Prof.
Walpola Sri Rahula Maha Thera (1907–1997), a Professor of History and Religions at
Northwestern University, a Buddhist monk scholar, in his “History of Buddhism in Ceylon,
says “the term “Yaksa” denotes superhuman beings worthy of respect. It is possible that it
was applied, by an extension of meaning, also to some pre-Buddhistic tribe of human
beings, aboriginal to Ceylon”.
The legend has it that Prince Pandukhabaya (3rd century BC) was assisted by Yakkas
during his battles against his eight uncles at the foot of Ritigala. Another legend refers to a
duel of two giants, most possibly Yakkas, named Soma and Jayasena. Soma being killed in
the duel, Jayasena became a legend.

The Legend of Lord Hanuman and Ritigala

According to popular belief, non-human Lord Hanuman of supernatural powers, traveled
over Ritigala, and, by accident, dropped a chunk off a mountain of the Himalaya range he
was carrying from India to Lanka for its medicinal herbs. Lord Rama’s brother, Prince
Lakshmana was mortally wounded in battle and only a rare herb in the Himalaya could
save his life. The pocket of vegetation of healing herbs and plants at the strange miniplateau at the summit of Ritigala, which is distinct from the dry-zone flora of the lower
slopes and surrounding plains at Ritigala, could thus be accounted for
Lord Hanuman has visited Lanka on a previous occasion. That was when he was sent by
Lord Rama in search of his consort Sita. It was King Ravana, who seized Sita from Parnasali
in India, the holy hut of Lord Rama and brought her to Asok Vana, a beautiful park at Sita
Eliya (close to Nuwara Eliya or Little England, as the British called it three millennia later)
on the Pusparaga (Dadumonara) in an air chariot, without touching her. Having found the
location where Sita was held, Hanuman made use of Ritigala Kanda as a launching pad to
take a leap across to South India. Incidentally, Ritigala is the highest prominence between
the central plains of Sri Lanka and the coast of southern India
Ruins of the ancient monastery of Ritigala
The ruins of Ritigala monastery are located on the eastern side of the mountain at the foot
of the gorge which separates the main peak from the northern ridge of the range. The ruins
cover an area of 24 hectares (59 acres). The monastery precinct begins at the office of the
on-site branch of Department of Archeology of Sri Lanka close to the foot of the reservoir
named Banda Pokuna. The ancient man-made reservoir is a feat of engineering with a bund
of polygonal plan completing a circumference of 366 meters. The construction of the
reservoir is credited to King Pandukabhaya (437 -367 BC). The reservoir possibly served a
ritual bathing purpose, with visitors bathing there before entering the monastery
The order of ritual bathing tank, ruins of entrance complex and a pedestrian path seem to
indicate devotees in large numbers visiting the monastery. The procession is similar to that
of Kataragama where pilgrims begins with a cleansing bath at Kataragama Manik river and
end with an offering to the God Skanda, the benevolent Hindu deity of Kataragama at the
main shrine
The edge of the reservoir is followed in a clockwise direction to arrive at the other bank,
and cross the bed of the stream feeding the reservoir. The steep steps here onwards lead
up to a beautifully constructed pavement, a stone path 1.5 meters wide that meander
upwards through the forest, linking the major buildings of the monastery. The stone cut
path is laid with interlocking four-sided slabs of hewn stone. Three large circular platforms
at intervals along the pavement allow for rest.
Stone bridges, raised platforms and courtyards
There are stone double-platform structures, Padhanaghara, which are characteristic of
Ritigala and other forest monasteries such as Arankele, Veherabandigala and the western
monasteries at Anuradhapura. Spread over an area of about 49 ha (120 acres) are about
fifty such double platforms.
Raised platforms formed by retaining walls of massive stones are found in pairs, linked
together by a stone bridge. The main axis of the combined platforms is set exactly east
west. The structures were then most possibly roofed and divided into rooms. These are
believed to be used for solitary practices such as meditation, as well as congregational
functions such as teaching and ceremony. Over a stone bridge lie interlocking ashlars and
the ruins of a monastery hospital, where the medicinal herbs-leaves and roots-grinding
stones and huge stone cut Ayurvedic oil baths can still be seen
The pavement continues straight ahead to reach one of the roundabouts. About 20 metres
(66 ft) before reaching the round about, a path heads off to the right, leading through
enormous tree roots to a lookout, reached by a stone high above a burbling stream. Further
up is another lookout. Then is found an artificial waterfall contrived by placing a stone slab
between two rocks.
Another 500 metres (1,600 ft) and two further sunken courtyards are seen. The first
courtyard contains a large double platform structure, one of the largest stone structures in
the entire monastery; one of the platforms preserves the remains of the pillars which once
supported a building. A few metres beyond lies the second courtyard and another large
double platform.