COLOMBO : Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunwardena accompanied by Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay released s special Commemorative Cover for Sita Amman Temple in Nuwara Eliya on Sunday, April 23 in the presence of a distinbguished gathering.
They also laid the foundation stone for a Meditation Centre at the Temple, which is believed to signify the place of Ashok Vatika in the epic of Ramayana. The Meditation Centre will add to the facilities at the Temple and help attract more tourists from India and other places.
Sita Amman temple is the only Hindu Temple which dedicated to Princess Sita in Sri Lanka. This is one of the important Ramayana related places of Sri Lanka. Sita Amman Temple is located in Nuwara Eliya. Sita Eliya area (10 Min drive from Nuwara Eliya Town) close to Ashoka Vatika (This Ashoka Vatika has converted as a Hakgala Botanic Gardens Sri Lank). Sita Amman temple is one of the important Sri Lanka Ramayana Sites Which we can find when travelling along the Ramayana Trail Tour Sri Lanka from Kandy towards Ella via Nuwara Eliya
The soil here is black in colour. According to the epic of Ramayana it is the believed that Hanumanji burnt this area before he left Sri Lanka. The foot prints of Lord Hanuman’s can be seen even today close to the stream close to the Sita Amman Temple.
With reference to the Ramayana proof of Sri Lanka it is believed that the Sita devi was captive at this site by King Ravana. There is a stream by the side of the temple where that runs from the hill, catered to the needs of Sita Devi during her stay at Ashok Vatika. She is also said to have bathed in this stream. About a century ago of three idols were discovered in the stream.
Now there is temple for Lord Rama, Sitadevi, Luxshmana, and Hanuman by the side of this stream. It is interesting to note that foot prints akin to Lord Hanuman’s are found by this river and some are of small size while some are of large size.( with inputs from Ceylon Expeditions)
