Buttala, north of Kataragama and fringing Yala National Park, is known as the rice bowl of Sri Lanka. The region is mostly jungle with plenty of opportunities for trekking, wildlife spotting, rock-climbing and even rafting. The Menik Ganga (Gem River), well known as an excellent source for gemstones, flows through the area and it is not uncommon to see groups of raw gem dealers trading beneath a large shade-giving tree. Close by are the ancient archeological sites of Dambegoda and Maligawila, which has the largest monolithic statue of Buddha on the island.