Ritigala, Kala Wewa and Namal Uyana from Sigiriya

Sigiriya, nestled in the heart of Sri Lanka, stands as a breathtaking testament to ancient ingenuity and architectural marvel. Crowned by a magnificent fortress atop a towering rock plateau, it's an iconic symbol of the island's rich history and cultural heritage. The site, dating back over 1,500 years, boasts stunning frescoes, intricate water gardens, and the remnants of a once-thriving palace complex. Sigiriya remains a mesmerizing destination, drawing visitors from across the globe to marvel at its timeless beauty and historical significance.

Ritigala can be reached from the turn-off from Habarana- Anuradhapura Road at a distance of 12km from Habarana. Ritigala Mountain at a height of 766 m above the sea-level is the highest mountain in the north-central dry plains of Sri Lanka. The mountain mass about three miles long and about two miles wide at its widest point is covered with dense jungle inhabited by wild elephants, leopards and bears. It is the watershed of the Malwatu Oya which feeds the Nachaduwa tank and Kalueba Ela which feeds Huruluwewa. The Ritigala Mountain has been declared a Strict Natural Reserve in order to maintain its pristine environment. Ritigala mountain’s cloud cover and mist that cloth it most of the year round has resulted in a flora much more commonly found at the central hills of wet zone than those in the dry plains: the upper part of the mountain is well known for its flora, some of which are rare; it has also a range of wild orchids.

Kala Wewa, built by the King Datusena in 307 B.C, is a twin reservoir complex (Kala Wewa & Balalu Wewa) which has a capacity of 123 million cubic meters. This reservoir complex has facilitated with a stone made spillway and three main sluices. From the central major sluice, a 40 feet wide central conveys water to feed thousands of acres of paddy lands and ends at the historical capital Anuradhapura city tank Tissa Wewa meandering over 87 km (54 mi) at a slope of 6 inches per mile and is an another wonder of primeval hydraulic engineering facility in ancient Ceylon.