Day trip to Ratnapura Gems Shops, Maha Saman Dewalaya & Udawalawe Safari.

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Rathnapura, Goods Shed Rd, Ratnapura, Sri Lanka

The gem-mining centre of Sri Lanka is also a major crossroad between southern plains and the hill country to the east. A bustling market city servicing most of the surrounding towns. Many of the prominent gem dealers in Sri Lanka operate from this town. Ratnapura is literally the City of Gems and it has been known as such throughout the history of the island and has been referred to in ancient texts here and elsewhere. Gem mining is widespread throughout the region and you will see pits dug in low lying areas like valley floors, riverbeds, paddy fields and other very damp places. Anything worth investigating is usually found in a gravel bed and extracted using primitive methods. A unique feature of the occurrence and distribution of gemstones in Sri Lanka is that a variety of different stones are invariably found together at one site. The stones that have made the region world famous are various spinels, aquamarines, tourmalines, topaz, garnets, amethyst, cat’s eyes, zircons and moonstones.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Udawalawa National Park, 7th Mile Post, Uva Province, Sri Lanka

Udawalawe National Park is famous for its large population of elephants. Hence, this national park is ideal to observe the herds of marvelous Asian elephants in their unique natural habitats. It is known that about 400 elephants in total are sustaining here while about 250 of them are considered as permanently resident.

​Other than the elephants, the national park provides home for many other species of mammals such as the rusty-spotted cat, fishing cat, Sri Lankan leopard etc. The Sri Lankan sloth bear is rarely seen in Udawalawa national park. Sri Lankan sambar deer, Sri Lankan axis deer, Indian muntjac, Sri Lankan spotted chevrotain, wild boar and water buffalo are among other mammal species that could be seen. Golden jackal, Asian palm civet, Toque macaque, Tufted grey langur and Indian hare also reside in the park. The endemic Ceylon spiny mouse was also recorded in Udawalawe national park in 1989.

Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: National Museum Ratnapura, Colombo Road, Ratnapura 70000 Sri Lanka

The museum includes exhibits on prehistoric archaeological inventions, natural heritage, geological, anthropological, zoological artifacts and models relating to the Sabaragamuwa Province. The weaponry on display include Sinhala swords of the late medieval era including a sword alleged to have belonged to Ehelepola, and a collection of old guns including a Vickers machine gun used during the First World War. The cooking utensils of the region include a tripod pan with three moulds for preparing rice flour cakes known as kiri roti. Traditional Kandyan jewellery includes necklaces, bangles, anklets and earrings. The grounds of the museum contain a palaeobiodiversity park, with life-sized animal sculptures of species believed to have existed in the region.

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Maha Saman Dewalaya, Panadura Road, Ratnapura 70000 Sri Lanka

Maha Saman Devalaya or the Great Saman Temple (also called Sumana Saman Devalaya) is a shrine dedicated to deity Saman, situated at Ratnapura, Sri Lanka who is the presiding deity of the Sri Pada Mountain (Adam's Peak) which is also called Samanthakuta meaning the mountain of Saman which is believed to have the left foot impression of Lord Buddha which he kept in his visit to Sri Lanka

Duration: 2 hours