Ratnapura

Ratnapura means city of gems, and the valley floors around it hold gravels rich in corundum, which is dug out of shafts sunk by hand and washed in wicker baskets in the streams, much as it has been for centuries. Blue sapphires are the best known but the range is wide. Trading happens informally on the streets and in dealers' rooms in the morning, and several museums and working mines take visitors.

What you actually see

• The hand-dug pits - shafts sunk into the gravel and worked with basket and pump.
• The washing - gravel sorted in wicker baskets in the streams.
• The street trading - dealers doing business openly in the mornings.
• The gem museums - collections and cutting demonstrations in the town.

When to go

January to March is the driest window; the area gets very heavy rain otherwise. Trading is a morning activity. Mine visits should be arranged.

Honest expectations

Buying gems here without expertise is a good way to be cheated; certification and knowledge matter and tourist-oriented shops overcharge heavily. Mine conditions are hard and the visits can feel intrusive. The town floods in heavy rain.

Nearby

Bopath Ella is north, and Sinharaja is southeast.