Ashok Vatika / Ashok Vanam Sita Eliya Sri Lanka
Ashok Vatika / Ashok Vanam Sita Eliya Sri Lanka
Ashoka Vatika is the place where Sita Devi was in captivity under Sri Lankan king Ravana during Ramayana tours in Srilanka. There is no clear demarcation of the exact land of Ashok Vatika in Nuwara Eliya but it is believed the area is to be in Sita Eliya + part of the Hakgala botanic gardens & Hakgala Strict Nature Reserve (SNR). Basically, area is surrounds Sita Amman Temple / Hakgala Botanic Gardens / Nearby stream and close areas & part of Hakgala SNR. As per the Ramayana Story Sri Lanka, the beautiful princess Sita Devi was brought to the island of Lanka Puram (Sri Lanka) and imprisoned in an area named Ashok Vatika.
Ashok Vatika / Ashok Vanam Sita Eliya Sri lanka Ashok Vatika is one of the significant places mentioned in Ramayana Yatra Sri Lanka. She was preferred to stay in this garden instead of at Ravana’s majestic castle. There was a wonderful Ashoka tree here, which provided the distressed Sita, shelter and comfort. It is believed that the considerable area of Ashok Vatika were burnt and destroyed by monkey god Hanuman when he arrived in the island and found the lost princess Sita Devi. Sita Devi was in Ashok Vatika until end of the battle between Ravana & Rama which resulted the death of Ravana, the Sri Lankan King.


Today situation of Ashok Vatika
Today visitors can explore the Sita Amman Temple which is the iconic site of Sita Devi stay in Ashok Vatika / Nearby stream where its is believed that Princess Sita Devi used and the Hakgala Botanic garden which is the part of Ashok Vatika. Hakgala Strict Nature Reserve (SNR) is not approved to enter for regular visitors and you need to get special approval from Department of Wildlife Conservations and only for research and educational purposes.