Forgotten Wellassa (Thanamalwila to Lunugam wehera)

Map around Thanamalvila – click to enlarge

Map around lunugamwehera – click to enlarge

map around pannangamuwa – click to enlarge

After my last visit to Wellawaya I thought of proceeding further south and my wife did join me on this venture. As usual we took of early from Monaragala and reached Thanamalvila. There were few places on the way to Thanamalvila which we thought of visiting while returning back.

• Endagala hermitage
• Weheragala ruins
• Usgala hermitage
• Seema pauwa hermitage
• Padikem gala RMV
• Uru sita wewa
• Thammanagala temple
• Mal asna buduruwagala hermitage
• Orukem gala
• Sadagala aranya
• Mahawapi RMV
• Anjaligala archeology site
• Lunugam wehera RMV
• Unatu wewa temple
• Dewram wehera archeology site
• Nalagiri pabbatha aranya – Kivul ara
• Walaskanda aranya
• Kurudana rmv

Endagala Hermitage (  6°25’40.38″N  81° 6’58.44″E)

Few Km’s along Udawalawe road there is an area called Komaligama and to the left there is a road which leads towards Endagala hermitage where few drip ledge caves and a well functioned hermitage could be found.directions.

Caves at Endagala hermitage – Komaligama

the rock bed

another cave where monks meditate

Weheragala ruin site (6°25’2.87″N  81° 5’47.90″E)

At Bodagama of Udawalawe road there is a road directing to the left and two Km’s along this road one could visit an extensive archeology site called Gothapabbatha RMV. There are lots of ruins scattered around but the most fascinating finding is the Buddha statue. (If one wishes to help this place please mail to – Head priest, Thiranagama Buddhist center, Agunakola wewa , Thanamalvila)

AKA Gotapabbatha RMV

view from the temple

villagers at work

an inscription

wow what a creation

original moon stone

this was found in this archeology reserve

Weheragala

the temple tank

Usgala hermitage (6°26’9.66″N  81° 1’38.90″E)

From Thanamalvila – Udawalawe road there is a by road to the north called Balaharuwa road (just before Mahagalwewa road) which connects to B528 and after traveling on this road one will come across a tall rock with a pagoda on it. The newly built pagoda is built over the ancient one.

Climbing steps to reach Usgala sthupa

more to go

wow	debris of the old pagoda could be seen

remains from the past

near by tanks

Seema pauwa hermitage (6°27’24.88″N  81° 1’54.88″E)

Passing Usgala we reached B528 and took a right turn, few hundred meters away from this junction we came across a name board directing towards the left which ended at a hermitage which belongs to 2^nd BC. After a small climb we reached the summit where few ponds and ruins of a pagoda were seen.

steps leading to Simapauwwa hermitage

wow

ruins could be seen scattered around

the kema

a poser

i cant remember what its called but this is used by monks to keep huge books and read

ruined pagoda

the view

Usgala was seen from here too

Padikem gala ancient temple (  6°23’10.58″N  81° 2’52.28″E)

From Udawalawa road we took the Mahagalwewa road and at one point (close to Mahagal wewa) we took a road to the left to reach Padikem gala temple. When we reached the temple we noted that archeology excavations were underway. There were plenty of guard stones and a Buddha statue. There is also a Bodhigaraya which has a carving representing the event of “Sujatha offering kiripindu dhana to Siddartha Gauthama”.

entering පඩිකෙම්ගල පුරාණ විහාරය

ගල් පඩි

pride

view towards Sooriya wewa cricket stadium

cactus

a kema

slow mover

pillars

Urinal stone

Bodhi garaya

A close-up of the Bodhigara which shows Sujatha offering ‘Kiripidu’ dana to Siddhartha Gautama

plenty of guard stones

another

Uru sita wewa (6°19’41.14″N  80°56’12.36″E)

From Migahajandura we took off towards Sevanagala to see the famous 7 headed cobra guard stone which is now used as the symbol of the irrigation department. This is one of the best places to observe an ancient sluice gate from our forgotten past which shows the irrigation’s technology which we once had.

This sluice gate made of polished black granite had become a popular site for visitors owing to the seven hooded cobra carved on it.

the logo of irrigation department

the canal runs below these rocks

uru sita wewa

Thammanagala temple

From Migahajandura we headed towards Mattala and from there we took the Lunugamwehera road. About 1Km from the junction we came across a board towards the left directing towards a temple. With the help of the locals we reached this small temple. There is an ancient rock with ruins of a washed off pagoda on top of it. There was a rock cave below the rock but the overgrown bushed didn’t let us explore and the nearby pond didn’t come across our attention until we met the head priest. (If one wishes to help this temple please contact the head priest on 0711103653)

Thammennagala

on top of thammennagala

ruins of the pagoda been washed away

what we missed

classical hut

Mal asna buduruwagala hermitage (  6°20’26.70″N  81° 6’7.09″E)

After reaching Mattala tank we took off towards Beddegama to visit a hermitage located in the forest. There was one caved image house and many kuti build for the residing monks. You need a 4wd or a van to reach this place and beware of wild elephants while riding. For the first time in my life I saw 10+ monks let to decay in a small compartmentalized room after their demise. (If you want offer dhane to this hermitage contact the head priest on 0717020321). On the way back to Uda mattala I did visit another branch of this hermitage.

trying to blend in

found at mal asna buduruwagala meheni ashramaya

road to mal asna buduruwagala main hermitage

where bodies of the monks of the monastery could be found

a body

tikirimalee

cave image house

inside the image house

a kema

view from the top

Orukem gala (6°19’31.08″N  81° 7’57.93″E)

At Uda mattala I reached the main road. At this point I did cross the main road and headed southwards until I came across an ancient temple with two “Kemas’. These were shaped like canoes and that’s the reason the temple got its name. A ruined pagoda also could be found at this location. (Stay away from the rock ponds because there is a mugger residing in these ponds)

cave at Oru kema gala

Oru kema

another oru kema

pagoda

Sadagala aranya – Amarananda Buddhist center (6°21’22.07″N 81°15’3.48″E)

Next we took to Lunugamwehera bund road and proceeded along the Kataragama new road until we reached Amarananda Buddhist center at Padikepu hela of Beralihela. After speaking to the head priest we started climbing up with a four legged companion. Since it was mid-day the climb was bit exhausting but the end result was worth the trouble. On the way up we did come across few drip ledged caves and on the summit there was a pagoda which provided some shade for us. The scenery from the top was breathtaking and we cherished the moment while seated below the pagoda. (To contact the head priest use these numbers – 0473479732, 0716923273)

Lunugam wehera reservoir

wow

Sandagala hermitage – note the pagoda on the summit

our destination – note the caves

at the entrance

this cave was found close to the summit

and this too

up we go

view from the top

Yatala wehera

a pano

Wedihiti kanda seen

wow

Paddy and banana

Lunugam wehera reservoir

the pagoda

she followed us , so deserved some water

her cubs

Mahawapi RMV (6°17’58.34″N 81°14’3.61″E)

Next stop was Pannangamuwa where we had a quick lunch. Just before the town was a board directing towards Mahawapi temple where few monoliths could be found.

Sthupa at Mahawapi RMV Pannangamuwa

flower alter

pieces of pillars

Anjaligala archaeology site (6°19’23.35″N  81°14’33.68″E)

On our return journey towards Lunugamwehera we noted a black board to the east and decided to follow it. After a 3km ride we reached a temple with plenty of ruins including a ruined pagoda and two rock inscriptions.

note the two inscriptions been caged at Anjali gala RMV

may be an image house

pagoda

an inscription

Lunugam wehera RMV ( 6°20’29.32″N  81°12’5.94″E)

At lunugamwehera and opposite the police station there is an ancient temple where a restored pagoda could be seen on a rocky plateau. There were few scattered ruins to be seen too in the temple premises.

Lunugam wehera PRMV

a pillar base

a kema

a flower alter

Unatuwewa temple (6°21’57.19″N  81°10’2.32″E)

Passing the junction where the Mattala road begins and heading towards Thanamalvila we came across a name board to the west which we decided to explore. After a 500m ride we came across a temple which had a ruined pagoda.

we decided to pay a visit

pagoda at unatuwewa

Dewram wehera archaeology site (6°23’42.58″N  81° 8’56.46″E)

While traveling towards Thanamalvila we came across a road side archaeology site. There were few buildings in ruins plus a restored pagoda.

Pagoda at Dewram wehera

alter

buildings in ruins

the newly built sthupa

Nalagiri pabbatha aranya – Kivul ara (  6°27’32.38″N  81° 6’37.02″E)

Passing Thanamalvila and heading towards Kuda oya we came across a name board towards the west directing towards a hermitage. After a 2 1/2km ride we reached a cave hermitage. There were few monks residing at this hermitage where few drip ledge caves could be seen.

steps towards the pagoda at Nalagiri pabbatha hermitage

the pagoda

drip ledge caves been occupied by monks

another one

view of the lake

main cave

Walaskanda aranya (  6°28’39.97″N  81° 7’7.81″E)

At Kithulkote we took a road towards the west and after traveling 1 1/2km’s we reached a mini hill top hermitage called Walaskanda.

steps at Walas kanda hermitage

the bo tree

image house

the view

Kurudana Gangathilake RMV (6°32’4.12″N  81° 8’8.76″E)

This is a road side temple at 36^th mile post at Kuda oya. The temple is fairly new but to reach the ruins one needs to cross the hanging bridge across Kirindi oya and take the path which lies southwards.

After a tiring day we returned back to Monaragala with some pride in our hearts. These are rarely visited ancient sites of Magama kingdom which shows the glory of the yesteryear’s. Keep in touch for the next two episodes of Magama kingdom.

new pagoda

across kirindi oya

a pagoda

hidden

pillars

base of a statue

more buildings