In searching of Budupatuna /Budupatungala (බුදුපටුන / බුදුපටුන්ගල)

Budupatuna /Budupatungala (බුදුපටුන/ බුදුපටුන්ගල) is a place of three Buddha statues carved on a rock in middle of Kotiyagala Forest. All three Buddha statues are in Mahayana Buddhism style. The largest middle is Lord Buddha’s statue and two equal sized Bodhisathwa statues (Awalokitheeshvara and Maithree) are on either side. This structure of sculptures is similar to that of Buduruwagala. This might belong to 8-10 centuries A.D. According to Prof. Raj Somadewa this is kind of a tradition of ancient Ruhunu kingdom of worshiping Bodhisathwa statues.

1. The first documented exploration of these Buddha statues was done by a Japanese team from Hosei University in 1985. The team is led by Takashi Okamura.
According to Japanese team there were Bodhisathwa and Buddha statues, ruined Dagoba, corner stones and stone pillars.
Japanese have reported to department of archeology and left Japan. Though SL archeology department has sent expedition teams to discover the place it was unsuccessful and Kotiyagala was under the threat of LTTE attacks.

2. A joint visit happened in 1993 to rediscover the statues. In first Japanese article we can see full view of three sculptures and missing of heads of two sculptures were described by Japanese in their re-visit in 1993.

Complete three statues in first Japanese article in 1985. Taken from Amazing Lanka article.

Complete three statues in first Japanese article. Taken from Amazing Lanka article.

Site plan of Vila Oya Budupatuna. Published in Japanese article. Taken from Amazing Lanka site.

2. Neranjana (NG) has started the initial discussion on Budupatuna at Lakdasun based on Japanese article and Ashan was able to visit it in 2012.
According to his trip report Karakolagaspitiya Bandara Mama was his guide.

3. Since Ashan’s publication of Lakdasun report about Budupatuna, hundreds of travellers visited this place with Bandara Mama.

Our journey to Budupatuna
The journey to Budupatuna from Ethimale (ඇතිමලේ) along Vila Oya (විල ඔය) is a tiresome journey but can be done by one day. Bandara Mama (බණ්ඩාර මාමා) is the essential factor of this tour. Though it was not in my to-do list I was insisted by Kasun Lakmal to visit Budupatuna and recent updates by Tharindu Paththapperuma was really useful. Tharindu has visited the place with Bandara Mama few months ago.

This was a part of our three days journey to Ampara and Moneragala. We summited Wadinagala in first two days and spent the night at Siyambalanduwa. Indranatha was also interested in Budupatuna and he wanted to join with us for Budupatuna journey. He came all the way from Kandy with his three friends and joined with us at Kaluobba Junction (කලුඔබ්බ හන්දිය). Kaluobba Junction is the place you turn to Ethimale road from Siyambalanduwa-Moneragala main road. Time was around 6 am when two teams meet each other. All together it was nine travellers for the journey.

As I mentioned above, Bandara Mama is the key person of this journey. Usually he well plans it and he has regular helpers and a tractor for the tour. It is a must to start the walk early as possible to avoid afternoon heat. The distance from Kaluobba junction to Ethimale is about 10km along a concrete road with number of “Sapaththu Palam” (සපත්තු පාලම්). We have parked our vehicles at Bandara Mama’s place and got into the trailer. Bandara Mama and villagers have packed food stuff includes our breakfast, fruits and water bottles for the journey. Next few kilometers (about 4-5Km) was along gravel bumpy road by the tractor. We have passed large openings with Mana patches and Chena. Tractor has crossed Vila Oya and stopped for the breakfast closer to a water spring. We could notice some huts fixed at here to look after cattle.
Actually we were the first group came this much of distance by a tractor in this journey. Therefore we had less distance to walk.

By tractor

By tractor

Passing large area of Chena

One of the rocks we passed. Ibitillana Rock- ඉඹිටිල්ලාන ගල

Large open area. Might be abounded following Chena cultivation.

Following breakfast we restarted the journey by tractor and at one point it stopped and dropped us. Here onwards it was done by foot through the forest and then along Vila Oya. Bandara Mama and other villagers more cautious about wild elephants at forest section but we didn’t come across any. Two land marks of this walk were Kokumbe junction (කොක්කුඹේ හන්දිය) and “Kumbuk Puttuwa” (කුඹුක් පූට්ටුව). One of the difficult tasks is walking along Vila Oya when sun is up as sand gets heat. Wearing slippers on sand is a difficult task as foot gets stuck and walking on bare foot is again difficult on heated sand. When Vila Oya has water pockets it is a reward.

Journey by foot begin. A part of the team with Bandara Mama (center).

Initial walk within the forest. There were number of foot paths.

What he found.

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.	Under the shade of tree

Water pockets…..

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An elephant foot print

Reaching Vila Oya again

Their essentials

Walking along Vila Oya. It is difficult to walk with slippers as well as bare foot. I alternatively walked.

Old Elephant dung

Luckily Vila Oya had considerable amount of water. If it has less water sand gets hotter.

A place which has no water.

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Kind of human activities in dense forest.

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Having fresh water is another reward

“Kumbuk Puttuwa”. Two Kumbuk trees fix together over Vila Oya.

.	One Kumbuk Tree

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After 2-3 Km journey we came to the land mark of Budupatuna, called “Goyamkole Gala” (ගොයම් කොලේ ගල) (6.764323, 81.659562). It is a triangular shape rock situated at Vila Oya and Buddha statues are situated about 20m away from this rock (6.764309, 81.659853). It was around 10.30 am when we reached Buddha statues.
There were three Statues carved on a circular rock. Two of them were headless and heads were cut carefully by treasure hunters. There were carved umbrellas to give protection to the statues. The job of treasure hunters has extended under the statues as well. We didn’t notice the vandalized pagoda situated closer to statues.

“Goyam Kole Gala”/ ගොයම් කොලේ ගල

Statues of Budupatuna. The central statue is Lord Buddha and remaining two are Bodhisathwa statues. Two of these statues are headless.

One close up. Treasure hunters have dug the base of statues as well.

Budupatuna statues

Budupatuna statues

There were umbrellas to cover the heads of statues.

Pedals of statues

The team with Budupatuna statues.

Let me describe the dimensions of statues according to Japanese report in 1993.

1. Center Buddha statue: This is the largest out of three.0.75m wide and 2.5m high. It stands on three layered pedestal of 1.8m wide and 0.37m high. The head and feet have been despoiled by treasure hunters. Arms are also damaged.

2. Maithree Bodhisathwa Statue: This is situated left of Buddha statue and least damaged structure. 204cm high, 60cm wide and 40cm thick. Arms are preserved. Right palm is raised to the front and left is holding an uncertain object. The pedestal is two layered. Since he is crowned with some cone shaped object he can be Maithree.

3. Awalokitheeshvara Bodhisathwa statue: This is situated right of Buddha statue and head and arms are missing. It is 1.96m high, 0.65m wide and 0.3m thick. It stands on two layered pedestal.

It was the ultimate gain of this two hours walk along Vila Oya. We were back to Goyam Kole rock and refreshed with tea and watermelon. While others were listening to various stories of Bandara Mama I flied the drone to look around. I was able to look the course of Vila Oya towards Panama. When you look at the map Vila Oya / Wila Oya begins from Ethimale Tank and followed it’s course to Panama through Kotiyagala dense forest.

According to Bandara Mama, old village people of Kotiyagala found this place around 1887. Bandara Mama’s father also joined with Japanese expedition of Budupatuna in 1985.

On the spot tea.

Watermelon is the best fruit for these kinds of journeys.

Discussion with Bandara Mama

Return journey was uneventful and we followed the same trail to reach the place where tractor has dropped us. We have shared remains of food here, might consider as lunch of the day. It took only two and half hours to get back to Bandara Mama’s place. After saying good bye to Bandara Mama and villagers we have bathed at “Dosar Wewa” (ඩෝසර් වැව) at Ethimale to wind up the day.

Vila Oya

The course of Vila Oya towards Panama. Neelagiri Hela is seen far away.

Vila Oya in dense Kotiyagala forest

Two guys on “Goyam Kole Gala”

Return journey along Vila Oya.

Return journey along Vila Oya.

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“ගහේ පොත්ත”

“ලොකු තුඹස”

Thanks for reading