The legend of King Ravana has become popular as of recent times, and there has been a growing following of enthusiasts setting out to explore the corners of the island looking for evidence and historical artefacts.
Kasun Chamara and Prasad Chathuranga and educators who have jointly embarked on a journey in search of artefacts, evidence and simply exploring the parts of Sri Lanka which are believed to have been part of the Ravana legend.
The duo together with their travel companion Nadun Tennakoon shared with us their journey to the famous Nil Diya Pokuna, which is located at a distance of 13.3 km from Ella and is known to have been the location where King Ravana brought back Sita and kept her safe, and it is also said to be the place where he convened his army.
Legend has it that King Ravana abducted Sita from India and situated her in a secret location hidden away from human access, set way below ground. This cave is said to have numerous intertwining tunnels under a great black rock stretching out for miles on end.
It is believed that these tunnels from the Ravana Ella cave were designed to reach several other areas hundreds of feet below the surface, but for now these tunnels remain closed to the public under the protection of the Police Special Task Force. 
There are many tales of treasure, a throne and crown that has been abandoned and any number of other mythical fantasy stories around these findings.
Speaking to the trio who took the trip up to Ella taking the Wellawaya-Ella-Kumbalwela Highway route they stated that while back when the Nil Diya Pokuna was first discovered people were allowed to visit as they pleased, now it is mandatory that you have a guide from the village appointed to you. They noted that the guide also provides a head torch and some guidance with regards to the actual descent into the caves as it is not an easy task.
You are required to scale down into the cave using a rope and then grab hold of the ladder that has been set up for ease of access to all the visitors. Once you set foot on the ground of the cave, you must be vigilant and tread carefully as there are many holes, rocks and slippery surfaces all spread out across your path. They shared that it is nearly a 400m walk from the entrance of the cave to the actual pond.
The trio noted that what was most significant was not just the colour of the water but how absolutely clear the liquid was. They shared that you can see all the way to the bottom however if you wade about 3-4 metres into the middle of the pond you will encounter the abyss – the bottomless drop which is yet to be explored by divers as the initial explorations proved to be a challenge and there was no end in sight.
Chamara, Chathuranga and Tennakoon – all three of them – made special note of how the locals have taken great efforts to ensure that guests do not pollute the water and they do not allow people to bathe in the water and mix soap and other substances in the water. They also ensure that you do not litter within the premises, preserving the location well for many other generations to come.
The trio shared that the journey to the Nil Diya Pokuna, while not taxing in way of endurance, there are some challenges when it comes to overcoming one’s fears especially if you are claustrophobic and have fear of tight spaces then be warned there are many occasions where you must squeeze yourself through such spaces to travel to your destination. Leaving some of these challenges aside, they shared that it is an incredibly rewarding journey, one all Sri Lankans should experience if they can.
