Fun at Pleasure Island

This one day trip was planned to visit at Pleasure Island at Ibbankatuwa reservoir. Then we added a short visit to Jathika Namal Uyana for it.
Jathika Namal Uyana (ජාතික නාමල් උයන)
Jathika Namal Uyana consists of largest Na forest (Iron Wood/Mesua Ferara) of Sri Lanka, largest pink quartz reserve of South East Asia and few ancient ruins. This is the forest reserve called Ranawa Kanda (රණව කන්ද).
Iron Wood/ Mesua Ferara is the national tree of Sri Lanka and spread over 260acers here.
Pink quartz is having history of more than 500millions of years. There are seven rows of mountain situated 180m-300m range of sea level. Old name for this mountain range is “Lunugal Debala” (ලුණුගල දෙබල) -salt like mountain. Cylicone di-oxide is the chemical which gives pinkish appearance here. It is believed King Shajahan has used the marble from Namal Uyana pink quartz in constructions of Taj Mahal.
We were the first travelers entered the Na forest on that day. It was nice to walk along well paved foot pathways under the shades of Iron wood trees. At the end of foot pathway we entered pink quartz mountain which was identified as the largest of South East Asia.

Tree canopy…..

Just in front of entrance

.	Well paved foot pathway

Well paved foot pathway

Information on bio diversity

Ancient pagoda

Bodhigaraya- බෝධිඝරය

Local gods

Water stream. According to the literature there are three water streams starting from the mountain range

It is a forest reserve

Trio of the journey

Pink quartz mountain range

Pink quartz

Beliya Kanda බේලිය කන්ද (largest one is seen behind) and nearby small lake

Pink quartz range

Buddha statue found at the base of the range

On top of pink quartz

Ritigala (රිටිගල) is seen

Following Namal Uyana visit we came back along the same road. Ranawa RMW is situated about 1km away from Namal Uyana.
Ranawa RMW රණව රජමහා විහාරය
King Dutugamunu has been here for sometime while he was attacking Anuradhapura. The stone bed seen here belongs to him.

.	Ranawa ancient temple

Stone bed

New image house

Then we drove to Dambulla back and bought for food and beverages to visit at pleasure Island.
Pleasure Island (සතුටු දූපත)
This is a small islet situated at Ibbankatuwa reservoir (Dambulu-Oya tank). This island has been rented by the local authority to a private owner for tourism. They arrange boat tours to Pleasure Island.
At Pleasure Island you can have a bath at Ibbankatuwa Lake and can spend your day. For bath, they indicate a safety boundary and not good to swim beyond that. Then a life guard would be there to look after you.
Nothing much you can see in this islet as it is too small. But it facilitates a good view towards surrounding area. Pleasure Island can be recommended for a group fun in a one day trip.
You have to drive about two kilometers from Dambulla along Kurunegala road and get a right hand side turn to reach the lake.

Directions

Just before start the boat tour

Travelling with pleasure

Pleasure Island

Pleasure Island-the area for bath.

The foot pathway within the Island

???Ruins

Over the bank

Fun at water

Dambulla cricket stadium and Yakkurugala (යක්කුරුගල) are shown by the arrow

Pink Quartz mountain-“Ranawa Kanda”

Boat is ready for return journey

Dambulu Oya- දඹුලු ඔය

Ibbankatuwa Tank

Gates

Our last place of visit of the day was pre-historical burial site at Ibbankatuwa.
Ibbankatuwa pre-historical Burial
Ibbankatuwa pre historical burial is situated about 4-5km from Dambulla along Kurunegala road. You have to get right hand side turn from main road to reach the burial in about 200m.
They have found 10 tombs here which belongs to 750-400BC (early Iron Age). Each tomb is separated from four stone slabs and covered with another slab on top of it. Excavation has revealed personal belongings such as clay pots, necklaces and some beads etc.

Ibbankatuwa Pre historical Burial

.

Thanks for reading