Ratnapura or the City of Gems, lies on the south western foothills of Sri Lanka’s hill country and as the name suggests is a renowned source of high quality gemstones. Gem mining in Sri Lanka is a manual and sometimes dangerous process, and a visit to a working gem mine makes for an interesting experience. The fruits of the miners labour are brought to Saviya Street at the town centre everyday, where they area snapped up by jewellery manufacturers and go on to be set in exquisite jewellery found in shops around the town. A visit to the Ratnapura Gemological Museum will provide a good understanding of the industry and a souvenir shop on site gives you the opportunity to take back a precious memory. The Maha Saman Devale in Ratnapura, a temple devoted to the guardian deity of Adam’s Peak, Lord Saman, is worth a visit for its excellent architecture and layout. Ratnapura is also an alternate route to ascend Adam’s Peak and offers a good staging point for excursions to the Sinharaja Rainforest and Uda Walawe National Park.
