Secrets of Badulla

The map – click to enlarge

Ah it’s time to do another “Secrets of….” album and this time I wanted to do one on Badulla. Look out for the new additions when you guys pay a visit to Badulla again.

Rambukpotha RMV

This ancient temple could be reached via Badulla – Passara rd. when you reach 1^st mile post (after passing the university) there would be an Archeology board directing to the left. Take that road and reach the temple. It’s believed to be done by King Udaya and it has sheltered many leaders of Wellassa rebellion. The main attraction is the Image house. This is beautiful piece of architecture; out of everything I loved the heavy wooden door. There were paintings belonging to Kandyan era in it. The bell has an interesting story; it’s said to be done with old railway lines by the Englishman.

image house at Rambukpotha RMV badulla

the entrance

inside the image house

kandyan era

more paintings

paintings

the pagoda

the ancient bell done with rail lines

Lindamulla Pattini devalaya

Just before reaching Badulu Oya Bridge from Passara side there is a turn off towards Spring Valley. Traveling few kilometers along this rd will bring one towards a beautiful Pattini devalaya which is a must visit place if you ever come to Badulla. The outer wall paintings of this devalaya are the hallmark feature at this place.

Lindamulla pattini devalaya

note the large pus wela

wood work

frescoes at Lindamulla pattini devalaya

more frescoes

and more

upper section

lovely isnt it

Badulla inscription

This interesting inscription could be found at the center of Senerath Paranavitharana library. So to visit it you need to go there when it’s open and keep in mind to be silent. This was initially found at Soro bora lake (Mahiyanganaya) and later shifted to Badulla.

Badulu tem lipiya

translation – click to enlarge

small sorouwwa

cute ha??

Welekade star fort

Welekade fort has an interesting shape and its right by the side of the road. This is located close to the hospital on Bandarawela road.

Welekade fort badulla

current residents

Badulla ambalama

This fascinating piece of architecture could be seen in the premises of District secretariat behind the Buddha statue of Badulla. To visit it you need permission from that office. Luckily the security guard was a distant relation so I got the opportunity to snap it. The archeology board at the site mentions:-

“දේශිය  වාස්තු විද්‍යාත්මක ලක්ෂණ වලින් සමන්විත දැව කැටයම් හා විශේෂ ආරුක්කු වලින් ද පේකව වලින්ද අම්බලමේ උපයෝගීතාවයට උචිත පරිදි කෙටි බිත්ති වලින්ද සමන්විතව  ක්‍රි:ව: 19 වන සියවස මුල් භාගයේදී ඉදිකර ඇති දුර්ලබ ගණයේ අම්බලමකී. රාජකාරී කටයුතු සදහා කච්චේරියට පැමිණෙන සේවාදායකයන්ට තම කටයුතු ඉටුවන තුරු රැදි සිටිම පිණිස මෙය කරවන්නට ඇතැයි සිතිය හැක.”

Badulla ambalama

note the tiles

Medapathana

Medapathana is a scenic location at Badulla and to reach it one needs to travel along Mahiyangana road and at Ridipana take the Medapathana cemetery road. The road condition up to the cemetery is good! From here onwards it’s best to have a walk. It’s simply an mind blowing location with a panoramic view. Badulu oya runs along its eastern boarders and one could attempt to reach the top of Dunhida falls from here.

walking along medapathana

wow

and wow

Narangala

namunukula covered with mist

lovely landscape

badulu oya valley just before dnuhida falls

meegahakivula side

yet another

badulla town and eladaluwa peak

a pano

Dunhida and Kuda dunhida falls

Passing Ridipana and traveling 3km’s towards Mahiyangana you could reach the ticket counter of Dunhida. To view kuda dunhida one needs to get to the high grounds where the toilet is located at the beginning of the trail.

kuda dunhida

the best i could do

dunhida beauty

when she is thin

top

side view

Kataragama Devalaya Badulla

This ancient site is believed to be done by 1^st Wimaladarmasuriya king and it’s located in front of the Uva provincial council building. The paintings of the outer wall were similar to the ones seen at the Lindamulla pattini devalaya. The “Kapu mahaththaya” at this site was very kind and helpful. He did show me around the place without any hesitation. The main sections are the Kataragama devalaya, Pattini devalaya, Kitchen and quarters, Bo tree and Singhasana mandapaya.

entrance of badulla kataragama devalaya

lightig up the path

main premises

resting place of the kapuwas

kataragama devalaya

paintings

tiles

a lion

top part

ruins

oil bucket

makara thorana

instruments used at the perahera

another moon stone

paththini devalaya

its paintings

more artefacts

sinhasanaya

its carvings

Muthiyanganaya and Uva museum

Apart from historically important Muthiyangana Dhageba my main interest was on the museum (which should be approached from the temple premises). There were pictures from many places of Uva province and also the artifacts were very unique and interesting.

Entering Muthiyanganaya

muthiyangana sthupa

choose the odd one

modified

from the past

ah loved this one

museum of uva

a barrel

many together

mainahama

dolawa

weapons

Reelpola Godegama RMV

While going towards the railway station by crossing the Badulu oya there is a road to the left called Wewalhinna road, traveling along this road for few kilometers will bring you to this temple. There is an ancient image house which is under renovation. Some of the statues found in the image house is said to be done in wood. The paintings found here belongs to Kandyan era.

Reelpola Godegama RMV

inside the image house

frescoes at Reelpola Godegama RMV

wooden and cement statues

partly done by wood

the door looks interesting

the key

roof paintings

more frescoes

Galgepitiya RMV

To reach this temple one needs to proceed along Wewalhinna rd and turn left at one point. Better to ask directions from locals because it’s very hard to describe. You also could reach this from Spring Valley road quiet easily. At this temple a caved image house with and inscription could be found. In this image house you could note similar statues as found in Reelpola temple which is under renovation.

image house at Galgepitiya rmv

entrance

the new statue

side view

partly done

god kataragama

Eladaluwa peak

To reach Eladaluwa one needs to take Wewalhinna road for few hundred meters and turn on to Eladaluwa road which ends up at the communication towers at its summit. Though it’s not as scenic like medapathana the whole of Badulla town could be seen easily. You would need a 4wd to tackle this one.

I’m glad that I could visit all of these places and I’m privileged to introduce these unknown places to the common traveler.

view from eladaluwa rd

more scenery

end of the road

summit of Eladaluwa

badulla zoomed out

badulla