Sri Lanka is world renowned for its rich history and culture; folklore and legends of all kinds are woven into and intertwined with most of Sri Lanka’s cultural sites, important cities and places to see in Sri Lanka. The Rumassala Mountain Sri Lanka is one such site having its own folklore and legend attached to it. Rumassala Sri Lanka is the place to be for those history and nature enthusiasts, and even the beach fanatics! So do not miss out on this site on your trip to Sri Lanka.
Photo Credits : @mannaganegoda
What is Rumassala Mountain and what can I see there?
Rumassala was formerly known as ‘Buona Vista’. It is a rain-forested promontory which offers an exceptional view of Galle from its hilltop. The forest and the ocean around Rumassala are rich in biodiversity; apart from the endemic and unique plants and herbs atop Rumassala, the waters beneath the base of the cliff are home to many sea-lives as well!
At the top of Rumassala Hill is the Peace Pagoda built under the guidance of the founder of the Nipponzan Myohoji Nikaya in Japan. There is also a very old institution of learning, named ‘The Buona Vista School’, which possesses an impressive history and a Buddhist Theme Park which is developing around an Elders Home in Rumassala. These are must visits on your Rumassala tour. Amongst the attractions atop Rumassala mountain are a large statue of Buddha, edifices depicting the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka and the brining of the Sacred Bo Tree from India, a statue of Anagarika Dharmapala and more.
Photo Credits : @will_gilpin
What’s the story?
The Rumassala Mountain is directly linked to the Ramayana yatra. According to the epic Sanskrit tale, the Ramayana, the re-incarnated god Lord Rama’s wife was kidnapped and and taken away by King Ravana. Thereafter, having searched long and hard, Lord Rama traced Sita to Sri Lanka, with the help of an immortal monkey demi-god named Hanuman and Rama’s brother, Lakshmana. An entire army of men and monkeys headed by Rama, Lakshmana, and Hanuman waged war on Ravana’s kingdom to rescue the kidnapped princess.
During this war, Lakshmana was injured by powerful arrows and fell unconscious. Hanuman was tasked with fetching lifesaving herbs from Himalaya to save Lakshmana’s life. So Hanuman went to the hills, lifted the part of the hill and brought it to Sri Lanka as he was unable to identify the lifesaving herbs alone. While he was carrying the hill, it is believed that some parts from the hill fell down at five places in Sri Lanka, one of them being Rumassala. It is said that the monkey-god made it back in time to save Lakshmana, the battle was won by Lord Rama, and Sita was rescued.
Is there any truth to this story?
It was discovered that the area has a magnetic anomaly, consistent with being struck by a meteorite by Arthur C. Clarke, a famous science visionary of Sri Lanka. According to Clarke, the scientific explanation could thus be that it is actually a meteorite that fell upon earth. It could mean that the exceptionally exotic and unique plant life of the hill could be from another space and plain. Further, according to Clarke, Rumassala has one of the lowest gravitational fields on earth, resulting in satellites being lost in orbit when they pass overhead.
Rumassala is a haven for medicinal and other herbs of value. Also, the soil properties of the hill are inherently different to the surrounding landscape which supports the legend that the hill was transported from another geographical location. Science has failed to logically explain the intriguing features of Rumassala and the legend of Rumassala is only further strengthened by these unexplained mysteries surrounding the hill.
Photo Credit : @_blue_marble_
How can I get to Rumassala and where to stay?
The Rumassala Mountain is located in the southern beach city of Sri Lanka, Unawatuna. Unawatuna is located around 140km away from Colombo and can easily be reached via train, bus, taxi, or you can even drive yourself there! Cinnamon Bey Beruwala as well as Cinnamon Bentota Beach are situated in close proximity to this magical site of legendary importance. Our staff at Cinnamon Bentota Beach will ensure that your stay will be loaded with luxury and sprinkled with hints of magic and mystery. Hikka Tranz by Cinnamon is also situated in close proximity to the Rumassala Mountain and is currently under renovation to bring you an extra dose of luxury and comfort. So stay tuned for the new and improved Hikka Tranz by Cinnamon.
So, make sure you book your stay with us while you explore the legends and folklore surrounding the Rumassala Mountain and live the enchantment!
Photo Credits : @mannaganegoda
Author : Shenella Fonseka
