| Ratnapura | ||
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| State | Sri Lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Sabaragamuwa | |
| Altitude | 130 m a.s.l. | |
| Inhabitants | 46.183 (2001) | |
Position
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| Institutional website | ||
Ratnapura is a city of Sri Lanka, capital of the province of Sabaragamuwa. Its name means city of gems and is an important center of international trade in precious stones, especially sapphires. Here was found the "Blue Belle" the magnificent blue sapphire of 400 carats that adorns the crown of the sovereigns of UK. Also the "Star of India", a sapphire of great proportions kept today at the natural science museum in New York, comes from the mines of Ratnapura.
To know
Ratnapura rises in the floodplain of the Kalu Ganga River.
The river and its tributaries, with a slow work of erosion, have torn the crushed stone between which the precious stones are found from the sides of the mountains. Even today it is easy to see groups of boys with rakes intent on sifting the bottom of the river in the hope of being able to find some gem. The whole territory of the district is strewn with open pit mines, little more than rudimentary shafts with poor safety and ventilation measures in which brave underpaid miners dressed in a simple loincloth descend to escape the suffocating heat of the bowels of the earth. The miners are entitled to a small part of the less valuable stones which then goes to feed the smuggling on the streets of the city in which individuals of nationality also participate thai. One of the most important entrepreneurs and mine owners is Jinadasa Guruge, an internationally renowned jeweler, best known in the United States and great benefactor of his country. Some tourist agencies organize guided tours of the mines.
How to orient yourself
How to get
Ratnapura is an important road communications hub located 100 km southeast of Colombo. Frequent suburban bus lines connect it to Colombo, Panadura on the west coast, Badulla, on the highlands and Matara, Hambantota on the south coast.
How to get around
What see
- The Ratnapura National Museum houses an interesting collection of gems of various quality and carat
- Maha Saman Devala is a Buddhist temple dedicated to the god Seman considered the patron saint of the city
- The church of San Pietro e Paolo where the Catholic community (less than 25,000 followers) of the city gathers every Sunday. Ratnapura constitutes a Catholic diocese whose origins date back to the times of the Portuguese conquest of Sri Lanka.
Events and parties
What to do
Shopping
As in the city of Surat in the state Indian of the Gujarat, even on the streets of Ratnapura it is easy to come across individuals who suddenly extract a handful of stones from the pockets of their jackets which are carefully examined by a crowd of people. In every corner of the streets there are indigenous people crouched on the ground who, with rudimentary electrolysis tools, offer to plate gold jewels in poor quality alloys and manufacture. The tiny goldsmith workshops work the gold (24 carats) with archaic means. The goldsmith shops of a certain value are almost all in the hands of exponents of the Muslim minority of Sri Lanka. As is the custom in all the bazaars of the Near and Middle East from Istanbul down, here too you will be offered a cup of tea and the owner will do everything to induce you to buy but if you are not an expert in the sector it is better to leave it alone. You will risk paying prices that are quintupled to say the least!
How to have fun
Where to eat
Where stay
Moderate prices
- Pensions
- Dharshana Inn Address: 68/5, Inner Circular Road
- Gem Land Hotel Address: 12, Mudduwa Road, Tel .: 94 45 2886
- Kalawathi Holiday & Health Resort Address: Polhengoda Village. Tel: 94 45-22465
- The Nilani Lodge Address: 21, Dharmapala Mw, Tel: 94 45 22170
Average prices
- Ratnaloka Hotel 94 45 22 455 53 rooms
Safety
How to keep in touch
Around
- The Bopath Falls, near the village of Kuruvita easy to access along the way to Colombo. It is possible to take a bath but after 5 minutes you will feel an unpleasant sensation of cold so it is better to be careful.
- The Rajana waterfalls, near the village of Marapana which have been the backdrop for countless local films.
