Ratnapura - Sri Lanka's gem city

Ratnapura translates to “gem city”. And that’s exactly what Ratnapura is all about. The valley between Adam’s Peak and Sinharaja is Sri Lanka’s major gem mining area, famous for an extraordinarily large variety of gemstones and for the high quality of sapphires, blue sapphires and Padparadschas in particular. The townscape of Ratnapura is not attractive and not a major tourist destination. It’s a trading center in the first place. Only travellers interested in gems will enjoy their stay in Ratnapura. There are exhibitions and museums attached to the jewellery shops and gem mines can be visited in the surroundings.