Ravana's Cave
A cave set high in the rock above Ravana Falls, tied to the Ramayana legend that King Ravana hid Princess Sita here. A steep stairway leads up to the mouth and valley views.
On the foundation of a cliff roughly 1,370 meters above sea level, a short but steep climb of some 800 steps leads up from the Ravana Ella Temple to a cave system woven directly into the Ramayana, one of South Asia's most enduring epics. Local legend holds that King Ravana, ruler of ancient Lanka, hid Princess Sita within these very caves after abducting her from India, some tellings even claiming the cave system once marked the entrance to an elaborate underground palace the demon king built to house his court, a claim that adds genuine mystery to what's already a striking natural formation.
Estimates on the cave's true age vary considerably depending on the source, some placing its formation as far back as 4,000 years, others tying its story more loosely to the broader mythological timeline of the Ramayana itself, a text most scholars treat as legend rather than verified history even as the physical cave remains a genuine, explorable site regardless of how literally its backstory is taken. The walk up passes through genuinely striking scenery, valleys, rocky outcrops and dense hillside greenery, before reaching the cave mouth itself, where cool stone interiors offer a welcome break from the climb's exposed, often hot ascent.
Paired naturally with a visit to nearby Ravana Falls at the base of the same hillside, Ravana Cave gives travelers a physical, walkable connection to the same mythology that's shaped place names throughout the wider Badulla and Ella region, Seetha Eliya, Seetha Kotuwa and Ravana Ella all tracing back to the same legendary conflict between Rama and Ravana that local tradition holds played out across these very hills.
At a glance
- Entry fee: LKR 150
- Opening hours: Daylight hours
- Time needed: 1 to 1.5 hours
- Best time: Morning, before the midday heat
Getting there
Just above Ravana Falls, about 6km from Ella. From the roadside it is a steep climb of a few hundred steps up to the cave.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to visit Ravana's Cave?
- LKR 150.
- What are the opening hours at Ravana's Cave?
- Daylight hours.
- How long should I spend at Ravana's Cave?
- Plan for 1 to 1.5 hours.
- When is the best time to visit Ravana's Cave?
- Morning, before the midday heat.
- How do I get to Ravana's Cave?
- Just above Ravana Falls, about 6km from Ella. From the roadside it is a steep climb of a few hundred steps up to the cave.