Small prints of Pollonnaruwa

Pollonnaruwa is rich of archeological sites. There are rare places than our popular visits. I got to know about some of these places by a book and it made my visit at these sites. I did this travelling intermittently when I found a free time as well as a friend(s) to travel with me. Therefore I can’t say exact number of days need to cover all these places.

Places I included in this report are

• Duwegala Rajamaha Wiharaya-Handapanwila දූවේගල රජමහා විහාරය හදපාන්විල
• Pulligoda archeological site with ancient paintings
• Kottaragala/Kotaweheragala Thisawehera කොට්ටාරගල/ කොටවෙහෙරගල තිස්වෙහෙර
• Kosgahaulpotha archeological site. කොස්ගහ උල්පොත
• Dewagala cave temple දේවගල
• Silumina Saya සිළුමිණ සෑය

All these places are situated around Dimbulaga.

Duwegala Rajamaha Wiharaya
This is a cave temple situated in a Willuwa called Handapanwila. When you travel in Dimbulagala-Mahiyangana road, you will come across Maguldamana junction. There is an archeology board in the right hand side mentioning about this temple. Travel in the Buddha Jayanthi Road about 4-5km to reach the temple. Road condition is not good.

.	Cave temple is situated at the highest point of the Willuwa. Therefore during rainy season this temple remains without getting flood. Handapan Willuwa and Brandiya Willuwa are on either side of the temple.

Handapan Willuwa. It becomes a reservoir during rainy season. Wild elephants can be seen here

Historical background – Click Image to Enlarge

According to the chronicles, this cave temple belongs to B.C 4. But there is a stone inscription found on the roof of cave temple mentioning King Lajjithissa (ලජ්ජිතිස්ස) (B.C 119-109) has offered this cave temple to Gothagaththa Thissa (ගෝතගත්තතිස්ස) Thero. Following the quarrel between prince Dutugamunu and prince Saddhathissa, this Gothagaththa Thissa Thero has brought prince Saddhathissa to Dutugamunu.

There are two stone inscriptions found here with the cave temple.

It is unusual to find a stone inscription on the top of cave, not under the drip ledge

Note the second stone inscription found inside the cave. It is a sailer sign. New Buddha statue was made in front of this

Newly built Buddha statue

Number of ruins scattered around the cave temple. Not excavated yet

A ruin of old stupa-circumference is around 300feet

Another one

Following visit of Handapanwila temple, you have to come back in the same road towards Dimbulagala junction. Before Dimbulaga junction, you will find the road towards Soriwila (සොරිවිල) and archeology board indicating Kottaragala.

Kottaragala-Kotaweheragala Thisawehera

You have to drive about 1.5km in this road to reach this small rock in left hand side named as Kottaragala-Kotaweheragala Thisawehera. There is a police post next to this rock. Always inform them that you are going to visit there and the purpose of visit. Otherwise you would be caught as treasure seekers. (What happened to us)

Kottaragala rock

Ancient stupa. King Mahadhatika Mahanaga මහාදාඨික මහානාග (07-10A.C) has built it. It has a circumference of 200feet

Perennial pond “Kisida nosidena Pokuna”

View of Dimubulagala

View of Thoppigala

Another pond

Following visit at above three archeological sites, I came back to Dimbulagala junction. Two archeological boards were there indicating Pulligoda cave with paintings and kosgahaulpotha. Akasa Chaithya අකාශ චෙතයය of Dimbulagala can be viewed nicely on your way to Pulligoda.

“Akasa Chaithya”

Dimbulagala Lake with mountain range

Akasa chaithya zoomed

Pulligoda paintings.

This cave is situated about 3km from Dimbulagala junction and name board will direct you towards there.

Steps towards the cave

Fortunately remaining of the paintings are protected

Pulligoda paintings

There are two thoughts of the time period of Pulligoda paintings. Some archeologists believe this was drawn according to Pallawa පල්ලව tradition. There is a stone inscription found close to this cave mentioning this cave was offered to sermons by a person called “Kutahaka” කූටහක in B.C. period.

It shows five gods are carrying flowers. Most probably they were hearing preaching.

To reach Pulligoda archeological site you need assistance of some local.

Rev. Rathana Thero who was the chief priest of Pulligoda temple (as well as the only priest) voluntarily came with us.

This is situated about ¾ kilometers away from Pulligoda temple within the forest. The foot pathway is getting forested due to less frequent visits of people.

Pulligoda archeological site

This place was believed as an ancient Buddhist monastery where Maliyadewa Arahath Thero මලියදේව රහතන් වහන්සේ has preached “ariyawansalankara deshanaya” අරියවoශාලoකාර දේශනය . Maliyadewa Thero was the last Arahath Thero of Sri Lanka.

Entering to the forest patch, steps also can be seen there

Evidences of wild Elephants

View of Akasa Chaithya

Steps to climb

Ruins of an “Asanagara” ආසනඝර -This is the place where Maliyadewa Thero preached Ariyawansalakara Sutra. Treasure hunters have done their work

Work of treasure hunters

Surrounding view with Dimbulagala Lake

Few meters away from the ruins, a stone inscription can be seen on the flat stone. It is fairly long stone inscription and middle part of this can’t be clearly seen now.

Stone inscription

Note the middle part of this is missing now

Perennial pond

Then we got on to a nearby rock to enjoy the surrounding view

Dimbulagala Lake with Akasha chaithya

Ampara side

Pollonnaruwa-Mahiyanganaya road

Another man made pond

Dimbulagala mountain range. This part is visible as a face of lion. They call it Sinhagala සිoහගල

Then we walked back to the Pulligoda temple and went to our next place of visit-Kosgahaulpatha archeological site. It is situated about 2-3km from the temple and Rathana Thero came with us.

Kosgahaulpatha Archeology site

After travelling by three wheel and motor bike we came across an irrigation canal have to be crossed. It was funny to cross it like “Tarzan”.

My friend is crossing the water stream

Kosgahaulpatha rock. Ruins can be seen in the middle part of this rock.

The name Kosgahaulpatha is due to a water spring coming from the rock.

View of Sinhagala

Scattered ruins met our way

Ruins

Our team excepts me

There are two caves found in this archeology site. One has a reclined Buddha statue and other one is occupied by an attic. This is a special feature of this archeology site and I haven’t come across that kind of thing before.

Reclined Buddha statue. Treasure hunters have destroyed it

Foot print

A pond also can be seen there

Water is dropping from the water spring

Water spring is zoomed

Attic. There was a precious ladder to climb this. Locals said Dutch fellows have taken it off due to it’s value

Remanings-wall, two door frames and window. Rice husks can be seen there

After spending time at Kosgahaulpotha archeology site we direct our journey towards Aralaganwila side to reach other two places.

Scenic road towards Aralaganwila

Silumina Saya

I couldn’t find the reason for the name of this Stupa. This archeology site has been preserved well. You can approach this directly from Pollonnaruwa without going to Dimbulagala junction.

Silumina Saya surrounded by stone pillars

This is the history – Click Image to Enlarge

Korawakgala

Largest umbrella stone found in Sri Lanka

Front view with steps

The stone inscription found there

The last place of visit was Dewagala ruins which is located in Aralaganwila. It is an isolated rock carrying few caves and ruins. My friend was the guide here as it is close to his home. From Dimbulagala junction you have to travel till Madagama junction. (About 3km). Then take the road towards the Sewanapitiya about 2km to reach Dewagala cave temple.

Dewagala cave temple

The location of this rock is so fascinating and surrounded by paddy fields. It is believed this Buddhist monastery belongs to 1 B.C. The area between Mahawali river and Maduru oya was called inter river region අන්තර් ගoගා ප්ර දේශය. Buddhist monks of this region have used this. If you go to other end of the rock Dewagala lake can be seen.

Wall paper

Largest pond found on the rock

This is the only evidence of old Stupa. It has circumference of 150 feet and stone pillars can be seen all over there

Another pond

Small cave with newly built walls. But no Buddhist monks live here

Largest cave with drip ledge. At the moment they have found four caves here

Smart friend I met

Randomly captured

This is called Gal Ugula (ගල් උගුල) . There is a treasure under this trap and anyone would be injured by falling stones on him if try to get it.

Evidence of treasure hunters

Nearby giant-Dimbulagala

Baron’s cap

Final capture of the day..Is it man made or natural?

Thanks for reading.