Visit to Medirigiriya

Medirigiriya (මැදිරිගිරිය) is located closer to Polonnaruwa and it has few tourist attractions. When you visit at Polonnaruwa you can pay a visit at Medirigiriya as well. I was able to visit following places at Medirigiriya.

Kaudulla National Park
Kaudulla National Park was established in April 1st, 2002. It is situated in Polonnaruwa District and there are two ways to reach Kaudulla from Colombo:

Colombo->Habarana (හබරණ) ->Galoya Junction (ගල් ඔය හන්දිය) at Trinco Road->Kaudulla NP
Colombo->Habarana-> 45Km post in Polonnaruwa Road->Kaudulla NP

Kaudulla is famous for elephants and bird watching. Elephants migrate from Minneriya NP to Kaudulla in August-September months. Elephant watching trails (safari jeep tracks) mainly located around Kaudulla tank. Other than elephants, deers, bears and leopards also can be seen in the park but rare.
Kaudulla tank was built by King Mahasen (මහසෙන් රජතුමා) and renovated in 1959. It gets water from Elahara-Kanthale giant canal (ඇළහැර-කන්තලේ යෝධ ඇල) from Amban Gaga (අඹන් ගග). Kaudulla tank supplies water for Medirigiriya area and it is a great fish source for fishermen.

Entrance of Kaudulla NP

Entrance of Kaudulla NP.

Nine doors of Kaudulla Tank-දොර නමය

Crocodile in Kaudulla Tank

Kaudulla Tank is a good place for bird watching

Jumbos in Kaudulla NP

Jumbos in Kaudulla NP

Jumbos in Kaudulla NP

Elephants in Kaudulla NP

Elephants in Kaudulla NP

Painted Stork

Fishing at Kaudulla Tank

Fishing at Kaudulla Tank

Kaudulla Tank

Black Headed Ibis

Safari Jeeps make a line around the elephant

Single elephant found at river bank

Single elephant found in the bank

Showing it’s colours

Showing it’s colours

Elephant show

Another set of elephants gathered beyond the great canal

Elephant gathering beyond the giant canal

Folk of birds

White bellied Sea Eagle

Couple of black headed ibis

Giant Canal to supply water to the tank

Safari jeeps at Kaudulla tank

Giant Canal to supply water to the tank

Medirigiriya Vatadageya and archeology complex
History of Medirigiriya Vatadageya and archeology complex goes back to King Kanitta Thissa in Anuradhapura Era (192-194) and later many kings have contributed to build this complex. Following Kalinga Maga invasion of Polonnaruwa kingdom, this was abounded and rediscovered by Mr. H.P.C Bell in 1897.

Medirigiriya Vatadageya (මැදිරිගිරිය වටදාගෙය)
Main attraction of this site is Vatadageya. Vatadageya is the structure built around a stupa to protect it. Vatadage can be seen only in early period of history when stupa was small.
This is built on a small rock with a massive stone frame. There are 27 stone steps to climb first and then you will reach to a resting area. After another 4 steps stupa house will come across. In the center of this stupa was situated, today can’t be seen. There are four Buddha statues in seating position around the Stupa.
Roof of the Vatadageya was placed on three concentric rows of stone pillars. By the way it is the main eye catching of the Vatadageya.

Medirigiriya Vatadageya. Note all the structures mentioned in the description: Entrance, 27 stone steps, resting area, four steps and stone pillars

Entrance and first set of stone steps

Three rows of stone pillars. At Outer row there are 32, intermediate row has 20 and inner row has 16. And the stone wall around the stupa house.

One of Buddha statues at Vatadage

Another view of stone pillars

Pichchamal Wiharaya (පිච්චමල් විහාරය)
These two image houses situated close each other generally called as Pichchamal Wiharaya. There are five Buddha statues inside this temple: Three standing and two seated.

Pichchamal Wiharaya

Three standing Buddha statues

Other image houses closer to Vatadage
There are three other image houses situated next to Vatadage. Currently the medicinal boat can be seen at this area. Ruined Buddha statues are placed there.

Medicinal boat

Three other image houses situated closer to Vatadage Image houses situated closer to Vatadage

Three stone inscriptions can be seen within archeology complex. One is written in Tamil.

Ancient Hospital
There was a well developed hospital in this archeology complex. It is situated at right hand side of the main entrance.

Ancient hospital at Medirigiriya

Small cave also can be seen at main entrance.

Cave at entrance

Stupa is situated opposite to Vatadage. You can have a nice view of Vatadage from stupa premises.

View of Stupa at Vatadage

Evening at Vatadageya

Evening at Vatadageya

Kaudulla Lake (කවුඩුල්ල වැව)
Kaudulla Lake is the largest reservoir built by King Mahasen. (Though it is less popular than Minneriya tank). Though Kaudulla Lake is considered as a creation of King Mahasen, actually made by his sister called Bisobandara.
Later King Wijayabahu (විජයබාහු රජතුමා) and King Parakramabahu (පරාක්ර මබාහු රජතුමා ) made some renovation for Kaudulla Tank.
Tank dam (bund) is 15m tall. It is 120m wide at the base. It has a capacity of 64 million cubic meters.
Kaudulla gets water from Elahara-Kanthale giant canal from Elahara anicut.
Kaudulla lake bunt can be approached from Medirigiriya side. You can have a splendid view with cool breeze on top of this.

Evening view of Kaudulla Lake

Fishing boats at Kaudulla

Kaudulla Lake

Panoramic view of Kaudulla

Hingurakgala (හිගුරක්ගල) and Bubula (බුබුල)
Hingurakgoda (හිගුරක්ගොඩ) is situated closer to Medirigiriya town and Hingurakgala is a temple situated on top of the rock called Hingurakgala. On top of Hingurakgala you can see a pond and a stupa (might be ancient). As this is one of a highest point in this area you can have nice surrounding view including Kaudulla Lake, Medirigiriya side and Hingurakgoda domestic airport.
Bubula is kind of a water spring situated closer to Hingurakgoda. It is a popular place for bathing among villagers. Nowadays they have constructed a pond to collect water.

The water spring called Bubula

View of Hingurakgoda airport from Hingurakgala

The stupa on top of Hingurakgala

The pond on top of Hingurakgala

In monochrome

Thanks for reading