Introduction
Ratnapura lies 101 km southeast of Colombo and is Sri Lanka’s major precious-stone (Gems) center. The ancient city of gems also has fine views of Adam’s Peak on the eastern horizon & is surrounded by thickly forested hills.
Ratnapura has become famous as a trade hub for the area’s ancient wealth of gemstones which include sapphires, ruby, star ruby, alexandrite cat’s eye, topaz, spinel, citrine amethyst, moonstone, aquamarine, tourmaline, garnet, zircon, etc. Sri Lanka has the greatest concentration of gems on earth and is ranked among the top five gem-bearing nations.
Ratnapura is also one of the popular eco tourism destinations. You will find waterfalls, forest land, rivers and tea plantations offering breath taking views. Nature trails, hiking, cycling, bird watching, and wildlife safaris are just some of the activities that visitors can enjoy here.
Climate
Ratnapura is one of Sri Lanka’s wettest towns. In February, considered as the driest month of the tropical island, Ratnapura normally has nearly 100mm of rain and in May, the wettest, nearly 500mm of rain. The city’s temperatures range from 21°C – 30°C.
Places to visit
- Bopath Ella waterfall
- Maha Saman Devale
- Pre-historic caves
