The Ravana Cave is located about 2 km from the Ella town and 11 km (7 mi) away from Bandarawela. It is a fairly small cave, about 50 feet wide, 150 feet long, and about 60 feet high. History says that King Rawan used this cave to hide Princess Sita. Situated at an elevation of 1,370 m (4,490 ft) above sea level, this cave is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Sri Lanka.
Like the Sthripura cave in Welimada, according to legend, it was used by King Ravana to hide Princess Sita. It is also believed to be connected to the cave at the Dowa Rock Temple in Bandarawela (part of King Walagamba’s famous ‘tunnel network’). Archaeological finds include a human skull dating back to 20,000 BC. These tunnels attest to the architectural brilliance of King Rawana. The tunnels served as a means of rapid transit through the hills as well as a secret route. They networked all the important cities, airports, and dairy farms. A closer look at these tunnels reveals that they are man-made, not natural.
[envira-gallery id=”6292″]If you want to explore the historical sites of Sri Lanka and appreciate the history of Ravana, this is definitely a place to visit.
How to get there
First come to the Maha Ravana Vihara and then the Ravana Cave. Climbing about 650 steps is a bit difficult – uneven steps, most of which are slightly steep; In some places there were no steps – on sloping rocks.
The last few feet were hard, and no one was able to grab anything and climb. This cave is not so attractive to someone with very high expectations. Mainly it is a difficult climb and once you reach that place you will only see a small cave.
