Visiting The Moonstone Mines in Sri Lanka at Meetiyagoda

The ethereal silvery light of the moon rays can arouse passion and dreams among many! The Romans believed, Moonstones- a gemstone with a white or a milky-blue hue was created with solidified moon rays. Moonstones have been associated by ancient Roman and Greek civilizations with their lunar deities as well as worn as jewellery. Whether you chose the milky white lustrous moonstone or the one with the rare blue sheen, it's easy to fall in love with this gemstone, just like me, during my visit to Sri Lanka.

I recently traveled to Sri Lanka with Spiceland Holidays and visualized the beautiful spectacle of moonstone mining at Meetiyagoda. The Dutch started moonstone mining in Sri Lanka and our guide told us that the mining methods have remained quiet unchanged even during modern times. The skill and hard work of the miners is noteworthy as they descend narrow shafts and mine sand that contains the semi precious stones. Mining is tiring work and can be done only for 1-2 hours at a stretch.

Workers than wash the sand in water which helps separate moonstones from the soil. The separated moonstones are than polished and shaped to form pieces of jewellery.

The process of polishing is  unique too- moonstones are attached to the top of a thin stick with wax that helps in providing the artisans with better grip during polishing

The moonstones are mostly embedded in silver or gold frames to form bracelets, rings, necklaces, earrings and bangles. There are quite a number of unique jewellery pieces available in Sri Lanka made with both varieties of moonstones and I chose a blue sheen moonstone bangle to complete my collection!

According to experts, the benefits of wearing moonstones are many. Moonstones promote calmness, serenity and emotional balance. Moonstones are also known to enhance feminine energies, fertility and encourages hope. Studies show that people suffering from sleep disorders benefit by keeping a blue moonstone under their pillows at night. It's no wonder that moonstones are also known as "Dream Stones".

How Do I Get Here:
Sri Lankan Airlines operates multiple flights from major Indian cities to Colombo. The Airlines also operates flights from other countries like Singapore, Australia, Japan, France and more. For more detailed information about reaching Sri Lanka take a look here. Meetiyagoda is located between Ambalangoda and Hikkaduwa, and easily reachable by road.

Where Do I Stay:
Though there are various options including home stays in Meetiyagoda, Hikkaduwa (a year round surfing destination) is a better choice. Located on the busy Galle road that connects Colombo to Galle, Hikkaduwa has quiet a few stay options ranging from luxury beachfront hotels to smaller guest houses. Spiceland Holidays offers good packages for Hikkaduwa and other destinations in Sri Lanka.

Best Time To Travel:
Sri Lanka is a year round destination and the high season times are from September/October till May.