Ashok Vatika, Sri Lanka
Situated in the island country of Sri Lanka, the Ashok Vatika is a garden of great beauty and a site of great mythical importance. The instances and mention of the Ashok Vatika is found in the legendary epic of Hindu mythology the Ramayana. The mention of Ashok Vatika is not only there in the Ramayana but also in Vishnu Purana and other various versions of Rama tales by different authors over the timeline of Indian literature. The legend about the Ashok Vatika is the main reason that many people come to visit this tourist spot from every corner of the country and from all over the world. The visitors from India in particular favour this garden as the Hindu epic of Ramayana is quite popular and revered in the country. The Ashok Vatika is a must visit spot for the pilgrims and travellers visiting the Nuwara Eliya resort city of Sri Lanka.
According to the legend of Ramayana, Sri Lanka was the known as Lanka at that period and its ruler was the mighty demon king Ravana, the arch nemesis of Lord Rama - the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu. It is there in the epic that the sister of Ravana, Lady Surpanakha professed her love to Lord Rama but on his refusal she attacked Lady Sita. Brother of Lord Rama, Laxman came to her rescue and cut the nose of Surpanakha. On hearing this Ravana got infuriated and abducted Lady Sita, this was the trigger of the epic battle of Ramayan. It is said that it was in the Ashok Vatika garden that Sita c amidst the verdant greenery of the land.
The present day Ashok Vatika is in the region of Hakgala Botanical Garden and many tourists visit this place.
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