Ravana Gala, Laxapana - King Ravana’s other airport

Adopted from Lakdasun trip report

According to local belief there exists another such airport right in the Maskeliya hills called ‘Ravana Gala’ (රවනා ගල) and we decided to find it. We heard that there exist tracks similar to that made by airplanes landing and taking off on a large flat rock which has given birth to this legend. Excitement got the better of us as we embarked on a quest to find this relatively unknown place.

To reach Rawana Gala, you must proceed along the B328 from the double cutting junction (where the 0 km post is) and proceed towards Maussakelle reservoir. This is the same route that runs up to Nallathanniya from Norton Bridge.

As you travel about 10kms from the junction towards Nallathanniya, you will find a small bazar called “Luccombe Bazar”. From here, a small gravel road leads to your left which goes up to a tea estate called “Nyanza”. This is the road which will lead to the ‘airport’.

Locals seemed to know it by name so finding the path was not too difficult but there are many estate roads along the way which could lead you in a wild goose chase unless you ask the way. There were many instances where we had to go and knock on some doors to simply find the road. Please see the attached kmz for the exact route.

Situated at an elevation close to 1400 m this rocky surface has long parallel lines carved on the rock with each about an inch in depth. These according to the legend are wheel marks of planes that have landed and taken off from here during the age old times.

Since it was only Ravana who was known to have planes (Dandu Monara) people call this place as the airport of king Ravana. The geography of the place also could have contributed to this story due to a sudden drop on one side and long flat land on the other. Planes are said to have taken off towards the drop and have landed from the other side.

Obviously there could be a fully natural explanation to all these and since there are no archeological evidence to back up the legend this would remain only as a myth. But just for the sake of excitement lets all believe that this indeed was such an airport of the great king Ravana. It was a truly magical feeling to just lie flat on the rock and close our eyes and dream of an airplane landing right there while the mist rolled in around us.

Reference: http://trips.lakdasun.org/ravana-gala-laxapana-king-ravana-other-airport.htm

Ravana Gala, Laxapana - King Ravana’s other airport