Evening at Kawudagala (කවුඩාගල)/ Small Quoin (300ft)

Kawudagala is a rock of 300ft height situated at Polonnaruwa-Welikanda area. My first visit to Kawudagala happened 2 years ago and I didn’t spend that much time to explore it. This time I just visited there with my colleagues for an evening and this is to share my pictures with you.

Importance of Kawudagala/Small quoin
1. It is called this rock is a hiding place of Queen Sugala (සුගලා දේවිය) once she had a war with King Parakramabahu I (මහා පරාක්රrමබාහු රජතුමා). According to descriptions there are two caves with drip ledges at this area. One cave is situated closer to the rock and other one is situated on the rock. Both caves had some paintings but destroyed by treasure hunters. There is a stone bed used by Queen Sugala.

2. Kawudagala is an old Buddhist center belongs to 2 B.C. There is an inscription at one of a cave. And can be seen ruins of a Buddhist temple around this cave.

3. British have used Kawudagala for place of espial. Trincomale harbor can be seen clearly from there. It is situated along the border of Polonnaruwa and Batticalo districts.

I couldn’t find any traces of these caves or paintings in my visit to Kawudagala. We have noticed ruins of a pagoda on top of the rock.

Welikanda is situated in Polonnaruwa-Batticalo main road (A 11) after passing Manampitiya town. After few kilometers from Welikanda town you may notice a board in left hand side towards Aselapura. You have to travel about 5-6 km along this road to reach Kawudagala. This rock is not visible to Polonnaruwa-Batticalo road as it is not that much tall. It starts to appear in your right hand side when you go along Aselapura road. We turned to right towards Ransarathenna Lake to reach Kawudagala and that section of the road was gravel. We stopped the car on the bunt of the lake and climbed along the foot pathway next to the bunt.

Where is Kawudagala situated

Black star shows Kawudagala. Note it is the border of Polonnaruwa and Batticalo districts.

View of Kawudagala with Ransarathenna Lake (රන්සරතැන්න වැව)-Picture was taken 2 years ago.

Directions for climbing

View of Kawudagala over paddy fields

Gravel road

Ransarathenna Lake (රන්සරතැන්න වැව)

Ransarathenna Lake

Kawudagala is not a difficult climb. There are three sections of the rock and no proper foot pathway to reach the top. We always adhered to less steep sections of the rock and reached the top in about 45 minutes. We have noticed one ruined pagoda and few steps engraved in the rock. The view from the top was amazing. Greenish paddy fields were seen everywhere of the rock. There were only few hills, named as Dimbulagala (Gunner’s Quoin), Thoppigala and hills of Mahiyangana. It might be the reason for selecting this place by Queen Sugala as well as British.
Sunset was so beautiful from Kawudagala.

Starting the journey

A cave with some constructions. A monk has visited there a long time ago.

With bluish back ground

View of the lake. Note our car.

On our way up….

View of paddy fields….

Leading…

Though we thought this as the summit it was wrong. Some more to the climb.

Nearby giant-Dimbulagala (දිඹුලාගල)

Another cave with drip ledge

Evening sky

Awesome

View of Thoppigala (තොප්පිගල)

View towards Trincomale

The gap between the highest part of the rock and other section. This might be ruins of a pagoda.

The highest part of the rock.

Final ascend

Stone steps…..

Ruined pagoda on top…

Some has marked directions on top

The drop and view of the lake

Hills of Mahiyangana

Mahaweli River

Sun set….

Sun set….

In front of sun set

Over the sun set

Coming down….

Good bye Kawudagala

Sun set over the lake

We didn’t spend much time on the rock though it is a nice windy place. It was around 7.30 pm when we reached the lake bunt. We refreshed with a dip at Ransarathenna Lake and headed back to Polonnaruwa.

Thanks for reading