Gurulupotha is located not far from the foot of the famous 18 hairpin bends of the A26 mountain road from Kandy via Hunasgiriya to Mahiyangana. Gurulupotha at this prominent location had a British rest house for upper-class travelers of the colonial period. From Gurulopotha to the junction in Hasalaka New Town, it's only 4.3 km (2 miles) further down the road to the east. In the western direction, Kandy is in 64 km (40 miles) distance by road.
Gurulopotha has several small attractions, among them is one of the few dripstone caves of the island, but it cannot be visited. A major attraction is the view to the wide "Gem Falls", Rathna Ella.
Close to the road, at the opposite side of the Mounts Edge Regency, is a picturesque bathing place at the stream. Only a hundred meters further up is a signboard of the Archaeological Department leading to the Gurulupotha Ancient Site. The downhill jungle path is 500 m (1600 feet) long. It's a typical Padhanaghara from the 7th to 10th century AD, a double platform once used for meditation by forest monks particularly of the Pamsukulika brotherhood. Padhangharas occur at many former monasteries in the region around Anuradhapura. But this type of architecture is very rare in the hillcountry.
Apart from platforms, two well-preserved undecorated guard stones are still in situ. Further stone slabs are littered in the immediate surrounding. The Padhanghara must ince have belonged to a larger monastic complex.
The Gurulupotha Achaeological Site is also known under the name of Sita Kotuwa, meaning "Sita's Castle". The name refers to the legend of King Ravana, who kidnapped Lord Rama's consort Sita. He first kept her in the palace of his wife Mandodari, before trasferring her to the famous Ashoka Vatika. It's believed that the Padhanaghara platforms are ruins of that castle and that therefore the area of Gurulupotha must have been the capital of the demon king, namely the illustrous city of Lankapura.
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