Dunuwila is a lake in remote country north-east of Kandy, off the road from Hasalaka towards Wasgamuwa National Park; operators place it near the 40 km post on that road. It is a different place from the village of Dunuwila closer to Kandy.

What is the Ramayana legend associated with Dunuwila?

Tradition holds that Rama loosed the Brahmastra, the arrow that killed Ravana, from this lake — the Sinhala name means "lake of the bow". The rocks behind it, Laggala ("target rock"), are said to have been Ravana's lookout. These links are matters of tradition and devotion, not archaeology.

Is there anything to see at Dunuwila?

The lake, the rock wall of Laggala behind it and the surrounding dry-zone scrub. There is no temple or visitor centre; most people stop briefly as part of a day visiting the Ramayana sites between Hasalaka and Wasgamuwa.

How long does it take to get to Dunuwila from Kandy?

Allow around three hours each way by road, via Hasalaka. The final stretch is rural and unsignposted, so travel with a driver who knows it; a 4WD is advisable, especially after rain.

Which other Ramayana sites are near Dunuwila?

Seetha Kotuwa near Gurulupotha, where tradition holds Sita was first kept, and the tract inside Wasgamuwa that tradition names as the battlefield (Yudaganawa — not the stupa of the same name at Buttala). Wasgamuwa National Park is nearby for an elephant safari.

Is there an entry fee for Dunuwila?

No entrance fee has been reported for the lake itself. National park fees apply if you continue into Wasgamuwa National Park.

Dunuwila – Ramayana Lake near Wasgamuwa

Dunuwila is a quiet lake in the remote country north-east of Kandy, off the road from Hasalaka towards Wasgamuwa National Park. There is little here to see in the conventional sense — water, scrub forest and a line of rock behind it — but for pilgrims following the Ramayana Trail it marks one of the epic's decisive moments. The name explains why: in Sinhala dunu means bow and wila means lake, and tradition holds that it was from this lake that Rama loosed the arrow that killed Ravana.

What is the Ramayana connection at Dunuwila?

In the Ramayana, the war in Lanka ends when Rama kills Ravana with the Brahmastra, the most powerful of his divine weapons. Sri Lankan tradition places that final encounter in this part of the island: the battlefield itself is identified with a barren tract inside Wasgamuwa, and Dunuwila with the spot from which Rama took aim. The rocks behind the lake are known as Laggala, read locally as "target rock", and the same tradition makes them Ravana's lookout — the place from which his sentries first sighted Rama's army approaching.

As with every site on the trail, this is devotional geography rather than archaeology. The Ramayana itself names no Sri Lankan lake, and there is no historical evidence connecting this place to the events of the epic. What there is, is a name and a story that local people and Hindu pilgrims have attached to it, and a landscape — open water under a wall of rock — that makes the story easy to picture.

What can I see at Dunuwila?

Come with modest expectations and a sense of the story. There is no temple, ticket office or visitor centre at the lake. Most visitors stop for a short while to look across the water towards Laggala, hear the legend from their guide, and move on. In the early morning or late afternoon the light on the rock is at its best, and the surrounding dry-zone scrub is good for birds. The appeal is the solitude: Dunuwila sees a small fraction of the visitors who reach the trail's better-known sites.

How does Dunuwila fit into a Ramayana itinerary?

Dunuwila belongs to a cluster of Ramayana sites in the country between Hasalaka and Wasgamuwa, and it makes most sense as part of a day spent there:

Seetha Kotuwa, near Gurulupotha on the Kandy–Mahiyangana road, where tradition holds Sita was first kept before being moved to Ashoka Vatika.
Yudaganawa in Wasgamuwa, the tract tradition names as the battlefield. (Not to be confused with the great Yudaganawa stupa at Buttala, which belongs to a different story.)
Wasgamuwa National Park itself, for a jeep safari among its elephants.

For the trail as a whole — from Munneswaram on the west coast to Seetha Eliya in the hills and Ussangoda in the south — see our guide to the Ramayana Trail, the Ramayana sites by region, and ramayana.sri.lanka.com.

How do I get to Dunuwila?

Dunuwila is reached by road from Kandy: east along the Kandy–Mahiyangana road to Hasalaka, then north on the road towards Wasgamuwa; operators place the lake near the 40 km post on that road. Allow around three hours each way from Kandy. The last stretch is rural and the site is not signposted for visitors, so go with a driver who knows it — a 4WD is the safer choice, particularly after rain. There is no public transport that is practical for a visit.

When is the best time to visit?

This is dry-zone country, hot and dusty for much of the year. The main rains come with the north-east monsoon, roughly October to January, when minor roads can turn to mud; the drier months that follow are easier going. Whatever the season, plan to be here early in the day, before the heat builds.

What should I know before visiting?

Facilities: none at the lake — bring water, sun protection and anything else you need for the day.
Wildlife: this is elephant country on the edge of a national park. Keep to the vehicle at dusk and follow your driver's advice.
Respect: it is a place of devotion for some visitors; keep noise down and leave nothing behind.
Entry: no entrance fee has been reported for the lake itself. National park fees apply if you continue into Wasgamuwa.

Lakpura's private Ramayana tours can include Dunuwila and Seetha Kotuwa on request, with a chauffeur guide who knows the route and the legend. Plan a tailor-made Ramayana journey.