Rumassala Sanctuary — Attraction in Southern Province

Must visit place

some facts

To return to Unawatuna – in quite a strange manner, there are several ‘falls’ associated with the area around Unawatuna.

The hillock of Rumassala figures prominently in a mythical ‘fall’. The core theme of the Indian epic Ramayana is a mythical encounter between Rama and Ravana. When Rama’s brother Lakshman was near-fatally wounded in battle, there was only scant hope about his life. The Prince’s life could be saved only if certain herbs could be fetched from the Himalayas. Speed was of high essence. Hanuman the Monkey God undertook the mission. At the site, he forgot the names of the herbs.

He broke of the chunk of one mountain, where the herbs occurred. When the chief physician extracted the essential herbs, Hanuman threw away the chunk of the mountain. It fell to the ground and came to be named Rumassala. Ru-mas-sala, could be translated as ‘Beautiful Rock’. Incidentally, its present name ‘Buona Vista’, seems an echo of the original meaning, since ‘Buona Vista’ implies, ‘Beautiful Sight’.

There is yet another ‘fall’ associated with this region. As Pradeepa indicated, in a far off age, a meteorite from outer space would have fallen in this area. Sir Arthur C. Clarke has stated that, spot in this region does not come within the magnetic field that envelops the whole earth.

Mystery In consequence, Sir Arthur explains, that, Exhausted geo-stationary satellites end up high above this place around Unawatuna, and keep on milling round and round.

It is interesting to note in this context, that, when Arthur C. Clarke came to Sri Lanka (then Ceylon), way back in 1956, he made Unawatuna his first home. The mystery associated with the Rumassala area, may, in all probability, have intrigued him. When we were children, the elderly folk told us stores about the mystery of Unawatuna and Rumassala.

There are fruit groves in Rumassala which, only those travellers who genuinely lose their way, would come upon. Among precious herbs, in the Rumassala region, recording to folk-lore, is ‘kalu-nika’, a medical plant with life-giving properties.

Ganga Pradeepa dwells extensively on the Peace Pagoda . This sacred edifice, gives a totally new significance to ancient Rumassala, converting the whole rock into a monument for harmony and peaceful co-existence.

There are other places of high significance, a visitor to Rumassala...

Rumassala Sanctuary: Rumassala is presently declared as a sanctuary and the forest areas are of great interest to botanists as a variety of rare plants and medicinal herbs are found here. It is having panoramic views of the Galle Fort and the surrounding landscapes of Unawatuna and famous Jungle Beach, Also the famous temple names the Japanese Peace Pagoda also with in this Rumassala Sanctuary, on the hilly outcrop, which should not be missed to visit. Rumassala Sanctuary is adjacent to the Jungle Beach, which is a small but isolated stretch of beach accessed by a short trek through the forest that is a good location for swimming and snorkeling. The Legend: The legend dates back to the famous Ramayanaya. It is said that during the Rama – Rawana war Rama's brother Luxhmana, was injured and Hanuman was sent to Himalayas to fetch medicinal herbs. Hanuman forgot the name of the herb, but he brought a chunk of the peak containing many herbs. However, the mountain fragment slipped and broke into five pieces of which one fell to Rumassala. it is said to be the place that has the highest specific...

Rumassala Jungle is believed to be a part of Himalayas being ferried by Monkey god Hanuman as told in Valmiki's Ramayanaya epic. This myth is supported by presence of large amount of herbal plants used in Ayurvedhic medication. It consists of various village plots, Ambagahadeniya with many original settlers, Danwala very populated by villagers settled after tsunami and some lands bought over by foreigners, Kajjugahawatta, Kulunakanuwa, Bounavista etc. There are many footpaths that one can trek on also a tarred road running from Galle Road opposite the Cement Factory reaching Yaddehimulla area and Unawatuna beach. Most foreigners trek through Rumassala to get to the Jungle Beach and visit the Japanese...