‘Ashok Vatika’ in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka
‘Ashok Vatika’ in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka
During my Ramayana Tour to Sri Lanka in 2017, I visited Nuwara Eliya, the most enthralling place in Sri Lanka, it just took my breath away. Nuwara Eliya, is fondly called as Little England; the place is blessed with dazzling misty natural beauty, Scottish type weather, small green hills which are always covered with clouds, many Tea gardens and Strawberry farms, and the waterfalls dotting the region further accentuate its beauty and offer eye-pleasing views.
The place holds importance to Hindu Believers and Ramayana. In the present day, though there is no clear demarcation of the exact land of Ashok Vatika it is said to be located in Nuwara Eliya.
As per the Ramayana, King Ravan abducted the beautiful Devi Sita, wife of Lord Ram, brought her to the island of Lanka Puram (Sri Lanka) and imprisoned her in a beautiful garden called Ashok Vatika. There was a large Ashoka tree there, which provided the distressed Sita, shelter and comfort.
In Nuwara Eliya, there are three important Ramayana points worth visiting:
- Hakgala botanical garden is on 28 acres. This garden is said to be part of Ashok Vatika. The garden has a huge variety of flowers and exotic plants. These plants are divided into various sub gardens like Upper Flower Garden, Fernery, Rock Garden, Arboretum, Rose Garden and Glass House etc.
2. Seetha Amman Kovil is a Temple near the Hakgala Botanical garden. It is believed that after Ravana captured Sita, she used to come here to pray to Lord Rama regularly. Here one can see giant footsteps which are believed to be of God Hanuman.
3. Devi Sita Agni-Pariskha place – About 14 km from Sita Eliya in Nuwara Eliya, is the place where Sita Devi underwent the “Agni Pariksha”. In present day, there is a small temple dedicated to Devi Sita and a Ashvattha tree. There is a small Buddhist Temple called the Divurumpola temple along.
While in Nuwera Eliya, one would surely ponder why King Ravan kept Devi Sita at such a beautiful place, when he could have easily imprisoned her in jail or a cave…?
Rakhi Sunil Kumar
