Journey to Ratnapura, the storied “City of Gems,” for a rare look into Sri Lanka’s centuries-old gem-mining tradition, an industry that has shaped the region’s economy and culture for generations. Visit working gem mines to see traditional extraction methods still practised today, tour cutting and polishing workshops, and browse museums showcasing dazzling collections of sapphires, rubies, and rare gemstones. It’s an engaging cultural and industrial detour rarely featured on standard itineraries, offering insight into a trade that has made Sri Lanka world-famous among gem connoisseurs.