Arankele is one of the Sri Lankan cultural triangle’s best kept secrets, tucked away along a dirt track nestled deep amid thick jungle. The 6th-century cave her mirage lies 24 km (15 miles) north of Kurunegala and the short journey off Dambulla Road is well worth the detour.
An austere sect of Vanavasin monks currently occupies the monastery near the site entrance. Much like the forest temple of Ritigala, archaeologists discovered cast-west aligned double platforms and stone pavements which are thought to have been used for meditation. The main artery takes you by various monastic remains, and as you gradually ascend, you reach a magical clearing with a small rock temple and paths leading further into the jungle. The region and site is largely uncommercialised and is very often avoided by the main stream tourists.
We take many of our Buddhist Pilgrimage Tours to this site and they all love the seclusion and tranquility of this hidden historical gem. Arankele is perfect for those looking to discover places off the beaten track. It is also popular amongst the Educational Tour groups.
What’s more, Ritigala is also a part of the Ramayana Trails where Ritigala alongwith Hakgala Gardens near Nuwara Eliya and Rumassala near Galle are believe to be the places where Hanuman had said to have dropped parts of the Himalayan Mountain when he was sent to bring a medicinal herb to cure Sita Devi. Pieces of the mountain had dropped in these places and are geographically in a straight line. Remarkably these three regions share similar vegetation and flora endemic to these areas only. The climate too is said to be similar and unique to these areas.
