Kubera, the god of wealth, was Lanka's original ruler and master. He governed the golden island with justice and prosperity until his half-brother Ravana, armed with Brahma's boons, drove him out and seized both the city and the Pushpaka Vimana.
Ravana seized Lanka from his half-brother Kubera and ruled it as the capital of his demon empire until his defeat by Rama.
After Ravana's death, Rama installed Vibhishana as the righteous king of Lanka. The rakshasa who had defected to Rama's side was charged with ruling the golden city according to dharma rather than demonic pride.
Vishvakarma, architect of the gods, built Lanka as a city of gold — an impregnable island fortress of divine craftsmanship. Every palace, wall, and street was wrought from precious metals and gems by the celestial builder.
The sage Agastya appeared to Rama during the battle at Lanka and taught him the Aditya Hridayam, a hymn to Surya that gave Rama the power to defeat Ravana in their final combat.
Hanuman leaped across the ocean to Lanka on a scouting mission for Rama. After finding Sita in the Ashoka Vatika, he allowed himself to be captured and then set the golden city ablaze with his burning tail.
Indrajit, Ravana's son and Lanka's most formidable warrior, defended the golden city with powerful magical weapons. His Nagapasha bound Rama and Lakshmana, and only his death at Lakshmana's hands broke Lanka's military resistance.
Kumbhakarna, Ravana's giant brother who slept for months at a time, was awakened during the siege of Lanka to defend the city. He devastated the vanara army before Rama finally slew him in prolonged combat.
Mandodari, Ravana's chief queen, ruled alongside her husband in Lanka and repeatedly counseled him to return Sita and avoid war with Rama. Her warnings went unheeded, and she mourned Ravana after his death on the battlefield.
The Pushpaka Vimana, an aerial chariot that could fly at the speed of thought, was housed in Lanka after Ravana seized it from Kubera. After the war, Rama used it to fly the victorious party from Lanka back to Ayodhya.
Rama led the vanara army across the ocean to Lanka to rescue his wife Sita from Ravana. The ensuing war devastated the golden city and ended with Rama slaying the ten-headed demon king in single combat.
The vanara army built the Rama Setu, a miraculous bridge of floating stones, across the ocean to reach Lanka. This causeway made the invasion of Ravana's island fortress possible, overcoming its greatest natural defense.
Shurpanakha, Ravana's sister, returned to Lanka after Lakshmana mutilated her for attempting to seduce the brothers. Her account of Sita's beauty inflamed Ravana's desire, setting in motion the abduction that would lead to Lanka's destruction.
Ravana carried Sita to Lanka and imprisoned her in the Ashoka Vatika, where she refused his advances and endured captivity for nearly a year. Hanuman found her there weeping beneath a shimshapa tree, and Rama's war to free her consumed the golden city in flame.
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