Uva (Sinhala: ඌවUva, Tamil: ஊவாUva) is Sri Lanka‘s second least populated province, with 1,187,335 people, created in 1896. It consists of two districts: Badulla and Moneragala මොනරාගල மொனராகல. The provincial capital is Badulla. Uva is bordered by Eastern, Southern and Central provinces. Its major tourist attractions are Dunhinda falls, Diyaluma Falls, Rawana Falls, the Yala National Park (lying partly in the Southern and Eastern Provinces) and Gal Oya National Park (lying partly in the Eastern Province). The Gal Oya hills and the Central mountains are the main uplands, while the Mahaweli (Sinhalese: great-sandy) and Menik (Sinhalese: gemstone) rivers and the huge Senanayake Samudraya and Maduru Oya Reservoirs are the major waterways.
History of Uva
Uva Province has large amount of historical incidents from Ravana Era. Several News sources identifies that tha King Ravana had been governed the country based from Badulla. Ravana Waterfalls, Stripura Curve Tunnel Complex, Ravana Cave, Hakgala Mountain, Diurumwela Temple are the related places with Ravana stories.
Mahiyangana Temple is the Place of first visit of Lord Buddha to Sri Lanka. There are some ancient temples in Uva province as Muthiynagana Temple and Katharagama Temple.
The provincial history records an 1818 uprising (the Third Kandyan War) against the British colonial government which had been controlling the formally independent Udarata (Sinhalese: Up-Country), of which Uva was a province. The uprising was led by Keppetipola Disawe – a leader that the Sinhalese celebrate even today – who was sent initially by the British Govern
ment to stop the uprising. The rebels captured Matale and Kandy before Keppetipola fell ill and was captured – and beheaded by the British. His skull was abnormal – as it was wider than usual – and was sent to Britain for testing. It was returned to Sri Lanka after independence, and now rests in the Kandyan Museum.
Mountains
Uva’s symbolic mountain is Namunukula which stands tallest among the mountain range surrounding the Badulla town. One can get spectacular views of Welimada basin, Katharagama and Hambantota beach from Namunukula peak on a clear day. The views of sun rise and sun set are magnificent too.
Haputale mountain range has its tallest, peak Kirigalpottha. Haputale–Beragala gap gives a splendid view of the Southern and Sabaragamuwa provinces on a clear day.
