Ritigala Forestry Monastery

Ritigala Forestry Monastery

Ritigala Forestry Monastery is located in the southeast of Anuradhapura. It is the highest mountain in northern Sri Lanka and surrounded by many mysteries and folklore. It is a popular belief that Lord Hanuman accidentally dropped a part of medicinal herbs he was carrying back from the Himalayan Mountain to Sri Lanka to help Lord Rama’s brother

About the destination

Ritigala Forestry Monastery spreads for 700 acres of land. It serves as a home for monks who lived a simple way of life while giving up the materialistic life. Currently, Ritigala has since been abandoned and has been covered by a thick canopy of jungle and stone pathways.

You can’t climb this place without a prior permission as the mountains are off range for people.

History of the destination

The story behind the famous Ritigala is very fascinating. It is stated that Hanuman was given the task of finding 3 medicinal herbs for Lord Rama’s brother, Prince Lakshman, who was dying from being wounded during a battle. As he couldn’t identify the herbs he took off the whole Himalayan mountain so that the doctors themselves could find the specific medicinal herbs. On his way, he dropped a chunk in Ritigala which has now grown into a medicinal forest that has very rare and valuable medicinal herbs.

There is another story that is about a warrior who fought during the reign of King Pandukabhaya named Ritigala Jayasena. He was killed on the battlefield and it is said that his ghost haunts the monastery up to this day.

Reaching the destination

From Colombo

Go on the McCallum Road and take the Colombo – Katunayake Expressway. Merge to the Outer Circular and turn right onto Colombo – Kandy Road. Turn left onto Ambepussa- Trincomalee Highway and turn left onto Maradankadawala-Habarana-Thirukkondaiadimadu Highway. Turn left onto Ganewelpola – Dachchahalmillewa Road and drive to your destination.

From Anuradhapura

Go on Sangabo Mawatha and turn right onto Senanayake Mawatha. Turn left onto Kamkaru Mawatha and turn left onto Maradankadawala-Habarana-Thirukkondaiadimdu Highway. Turn left onto Ganewelpola – Dachchahalmillewa Road and drive to your destination.