Avissawella: Gateway to the Hills and the Old Seethawaka Kingdom
Avissawella lies on the Kelani river where the western lowlands begin to climb towards the Sabaragamuwa hills. In the sixteenth century this was Seethawaka, a short-lived but fierce kingdom that resisted colonial power, and reminders of that history sit alongside the modern junction town.
Seethawaka history
The ruins and sites linked to the Seethawaka kingdom, including old fortifications and the unfinished Berendi Kovil, recall a defiant chapter of the island’s past when Rajasinghe I ruled from here.
Seethawaka Wet Zone Botanic Gardens
On the edge of town, this newer botanical garden showcases wet-zone plants along the riverbanks, a pleasant green stop before the climb into the hills.
Getting there
Avissawella is an hour or so east of Colombo and a natural gateway on the low road towards Ratnapura and the gem country, well served by buses.
Been to Avissawella? Rate the places you visited and see what other travelers recommend.
Explore on Traveling Score