Seetha Kotuwa | Kandy | Sri Lanka

Tucked within the forests of Hasalaka Gurulupotta in Sri Lanka's Central Province, Seetha Kotuwa — also known as Sita Mata's Court — is an archaeological site positioned directly along the Sri Lanka Ramayana Mawatha. The setting is quietly dramatic: streams and waterfalls thread through dense flora and fauna, giving the ruins an atmosphere that feels both ancient and alive.

According to tradition, this is believed to be the very place where Princess Sita was detained by King Rawana. The name itself reflects that legend — Sita Fort, meaning "Fortress of Sita" — and the site is intimately linked to the Ramayana epic. The ruins visible today are considered the remains of later civilisations, layered over a landscape that tradition associates with the city of Lankapura, said to have once stood within these forests.

A Landscape Steeped in Legend

According to the Ramayana Mawatha in Sri Lanka, the city of Lankapura is said to have included a beautiful palace for Queen Mandothari, surrounded by waterfalls, streams, and plants. It is also traditionally held that this is the place where Goddess Sita was first kept — a detail that draws Ramayana pilgrims and curious travellers alike to this remote corner of the Central Province.

The Journey to Seetha Kotuwa

Reaching the site involves descending into the misty Dumbara Valley through 18 hairpin bends — a route described as five miles and 2,000 feet east of Scarf in the mountains. Writers who have made the journey have long remarked on the remarkable nature of that drive, and the valley's mist-softened scenery does much to set the mood before the ruins even come into view.

What Remains Today

Alongside the Ramayana-linked remains, Anuradhapura is also noted for limestone caves found in the ruins of what is described as an ordinary forest from the end of a later century — a reminder that the region holds layers of history beyond any single tradition. The site as a whole is a quiet, remote place where archaeology and living legend sit comfortably side by side.

Visiting from Kandy

Seetha Kotuwa makes a compelling excursion for those based in Kandy City, the historic highland capital that serves as the natural gateway to the Central Province's many cultural and natural attractions. Travellers looking to explore the wider region will find a range of Activities from Kandy that can be combined with a visit to the site, making the most of the extraordinary landscapes that define this part of Sri Lanka.