Ashoka Vatika (అశోక వాటిక)
Today: Traditionally identified with the Hakgala area of Sri Lanka
The Ashoka Vatika was a garden of flowering ashoka trees inside Lanka, and this is where Sita waited. Ravana offered her a golden palace, but she refused to set foot in it - she sat under a tree instead, thinking only of Rama. It was here that Hanuman finally found her, dropped Rama's ring into her hands, and promised her: hold on, Rama is coming.
What happened here
- Sita's Abduction by Ravana: Sita waits under the ashoka trees, refusing the palace
- Hanuman's Leap to Lanka: Hanuman finds Sita and gives her Rama's ring