Laggala-Bakamuna-Elahera

Laggala-Pallegama is a newly developed area following Moragahakanda-Kaluganga project. Laggala town was shifted to a new place and new carpeted roads were built to connect with Bakamuna, Naula and Hettipola. Laggala-Pallegama (ලග්ගල-පල්ලෙගම) region became famous for gems recently and number of people visits the area to buy gems.
This was kind of a one day trip to Laggala-Bakamuna-Elahera areas in view of visiting some road side highlights and archeology places. We have hiked Lunumudagala (ලුණුමුඩාගල) in previous day and stayed at Prasad guest Haththota Amuna.
Some of these archeology places were visited by me in 2012 by a motor bike. It was my first writing to Lakdasun page.

List of places we visited around Laggala-Bakamuna-Elahera are

1. Kalu Ganga reservior dam
2. Kumara Ella archeology reserve
3. Buduruwayaya Archeology site
4. Orubendisiyamabalawa
5. Elahera Minneri Dewalaya
6. Elahera Gal Amuna
7. Moragahakanda Dam view point
8. Moragahakanda Reservior view point

We have exit the area at Naula and visited Nalanda Reservior to wind up the day.

The day began from Prasad guest Haththota Amuna (හත්තොට අමුණ). We had breakfast from a food stall situated closer to Haththota Amuna. I can’t remember the name of this place but it can be recommended as we have visited there at number of times. Then we drove towards Bakamuna and just crossed Amban Ganga to visit Kumara Ella archeology site.

1. Kumara Ella archeology site (කුමාර ඇල්ල පුරාවිද‍යා බිම) (7.733036, 80.834383)
Kumara Ella archeology site is a recently excavated archeology site at Kumara Ella on Dambulla-Kalagahawela new expressway. It is situated at one bank of Amban Ganga (අඹන් ගග). Here they have identified ruins of Jantagara (ජන්ථාගරය) / bath house for Buddhist Monks and a Bodhigara (බෝධිගරය). Excavation and renovation started in 2004 and currently ruins of two buildings can be seen here. When you look at Google map it would be nicely seen the road was built with a bend to preserve this archeology site.

There is a place at Amban Ganga called Kumara Ella where Amban Ganga flows through a narrow place to form a small waterfall. It is called as the narrowest place of Amban Ganga / Mahaweli Ganga. I have visited at this place in my last visit.

Dambulla-Kalagahawela road goes over Amban Ganga. They have built it with a bend to preserve the archeology site. Soon Amban Ganga joins with Kalu Ganga.

At Kumara Ella archeology site

Kumara Ella archeology site

Kumara Ella archeology site. This building might be Jantagara / Bath house.

Kumara Ella archeology site

Entrance to a building.

Gal Kotuwa at Janthagaraya.

Kumara Ella archeology site.

Buduruwayaya Buddha statue is situated closer to Kumara Ella archeology site towards further to Bakamuna side.

2. Buduruwayaya archeology site (බුදුරුවයාය) (7.741117,80.842627)

The site is said to be of the early Anuradhapura period. A large number of artifacts, which includes a small Dagoba built on a platform, the reclining Buddha image carved out from the parent rock, image house etc. found spread over the site.
(Quoted from Archeology board placed at Buduruwayaya site).

We have turned from main road to a by road to reach Buduruwayaya. The reclining Buddha statue is the main attraction here. They have built a shelter to protect the Buddha statue, but it was not there at my last visit.

Buduruwayaya Archeology Site

The stupa made on a platform. There are guard stones and moon stones as well.

The stupa

Stones lay on the ground of Stupa.

The reclining Buddha statue carved out of parent rock.

The reclining Buddha statue with shelter

Head end of Buddha statue

Moragahakanda-Kalu Ganga project is one of the major development projects of the country. This was done under Mahaweli development authority and it is the final reservior built under Mahaweli project.
Moragahakanda and Kalu Ganga reservoirs were built under this project in purpose of supplying water for irrigation and hydro power generation.

3. Kalu Ganga Reservior (කළු ගග ජලාශය) (7.538801,80.855031)
Kalu Ganga is a tributary of the largest branch of Mahaweli River-Amban Ganga. Kalu Ganga is dammed at Pallegama area to build Kalu Ganga reservior. Construction of Kalu Ganga project began at April 2014 and maiden water was released in 26th December 2018.
Kalu Ganga dam is a large gravity dam with length of 546m and height of 67m. The purpose of building this reservior is irrigation. Kalu Ganga reservior and Moragahakanda reservior are connected by a connecting tunnel. Because of construction of this reservior Rambukoluwa village and old Pallegama town were isolated.
During this trip we were able to visit Kalu Ganga dam and this connecting tunnel. We got this opportunity as Isuru Lasan was working as a tunnel engineer at Kalu Ganga project. The access road to Kalu Ganga dam is situated on the way to Ranamure village. Therefore we have visited the dam on the day of Lunumudagala Hike. Wamarapugala, Katukithule Kanda, Lakegala and Kehelpothdoruwegala were rising beyond Kalu Ganga reservior. We have enjoyed the sun set from Kalu Ganga dam.

Evening at Kalu Ganga Dam

Kalu Ganga dam and reservior

Mountains seen beyond Kalu Ganga reservior: Wamarapugala, Katukithule Kanda, Lakegala and Kehelpothdoruwegala

Giant Wamarapugala

Mighty Lakegala. Bambugala is also seen just left to Lakegala.

Kalu Ganga dam

Spill gate of the dam

Kalu Ganga dam and isolated mountains of Pallegama area

On Kalu Ganga dam

Evening at Kalu Ganga dam

Sun set over Kalu Ganga dam

Sun set

Capturing

Silhouette

Silhouette

I had an opportunity to fly the drone over Kalu Ganga reservior.

Kalu Ganga reservior and dam

The view over the dam

Cross section of mountains of Knuckles. Yahangala also can be seen here

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The road over the dam

Access roads

Access roads

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.	Group photo…..

We were privileged to visit at connecting tunnel of Kalu Ganga reservior and Moragahakanda reservior. The purpose of this tunnel is to divert water from Kalu Ganga reservior to Moragahakanda. After wearing protective equipments we got into the tunnel by a cab. It was about 2 km from the out let to the tunnel end. Chinese workers were working at the tunnel end.

At the entrance of tunnel. It is essential to wear protective equipments.

Tunnel no 01 out let

Tunnel no 01 out let

Inside the tunnel. Illuminated by lights.

Selfies at tunnel.

Chinese were working at tunnel end. This machine is to expand the tunnel

End of the tunnel

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4. Moragahakanda Reservior (මොරගහකන්ද ජලාශය)
Moragahakanda-Kalu Ganga project is the last step of Mahaweli project. Construction of Moragahakanda reservior was started on 25th January 2007 and was completed in 2018. The maiden water of the dam was released in January 2017. A granite Buddha statue built opposite the Moragahakanda reservior was unveiled on 23rd July 2018. The Original Moragahakanda reservior was first constructed by King Wasaba 111 AD.
The Moragahakanda dam is a 65m high gravity dam. The storage capacity of the reservior is 521, 000,000 cubic meters. The purposes of building this reservior were irrigation, inland fishing, water supply and power generation. Moragahakanda reservior is used to power 25 MW electricity.
This was renamed as Kulasinghe reservior by President Maithripala Sirisena, in memory of late Dr. A.N.S. Kulasinghe.
There are two places to watch Moragahakanda reservior. Both places are open for the public.
1. Moragahakanda Dam view point (7.698776, 80.771374)
2. Moragahakanda reservior view point (7.698982, 80.758916)

Moragahakanda dam can be accessed by Naula-Elahera-Pallegama-Hettipola road. We have parked the vehicle at Vehicle Park and walked to dam view point. Here you can’t walk over the dam to other side where replica of Awukana Buddha statue and Moragahakanda power station are situated. Karagahathenna peak and Gammaduwa peak were seen over Moragahakanda dam.

Dam of Moragahakanda reservior. It is a gravity dam.

Other side of the dam

It was renamed as Kulasinghe Reservior-Moragahakanda

Spill gates and power station. The Buddha statue is also situated at this end of the dam

Close up of spill gates

The reservior

The monument

When you look at spill gates from below

With Moragahakanda Dam

View of Karagahathenna and Gammaduwa peaks

Karagahathenna peak (left) Gammaduwa peak (right)

Moragahakanda Reservior view point is also situated at Naula–Elahera-Pallegama-Hettipola road. A large part of the reservior is seen to this place except the dam. A different set of mountains are seen here.

Moragahakanda reservior and mountains

Moragahakanda reservior and Wamarapugala

Pathangala and Riverstone peaks

Karagahathenna, Gammaduwa and Sandamadala peaks

Moragahakanda reservior and the circuit bungalow

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It is not hard to find ice cream sellers at this view point

Elahera Gal Amuna, Orubendisiyamabalawa and Elahera Minneri Dewalaya are situated at Elahera.

5. Elahera Gal Amuna and Parakrama Inscription (ඇළහැර ගල් අමුණ සහ පරාක්රම සෙල් ලිපිය) (7.704878, 80.783119)

It is situated half a kilometer inside Wasgamuwa National Park. Historical evidence records that the Amban Ganga, a tributary of the Mahaweli Ganga was diverted by the construction of a stone weir across it and water channeled to paddy fields through the Elahera Ela by the reign of king Wasaba (65-109). Later king Mahasen (276-303) extended the Elahera canal to carry water to Minneriya and the Kaudulla reservoirs. King Vijayabahu (1070-1110) and King Parakramabahu (1153-1186) too had carried out renovations to this irrigation system. Elahera Ela (canal) is sometimes referred to as Yodha Ela. The British too had carried renovations and built a new weir near the ancient weir. 20 km away from this weir the canal branches off carrying water to Minneriya and Girithale reservoirs at a place called Diyabeduma. (Quoted from Amazing Lanka site)

Diversion of Mahaweli River at Elahera is one of the milestones of Sri Lankan irrigation history.

We have stopped at new Aban Ganga anicut which is situated at side of Naula-Elahera-Pallegama-Hettipola road. Here we have crossed new Amban Ganga anicut and followed the foot path into the forest. The pillar inscription called Parakrama Sel Lipiya came across on our way to Elahera Gal Amuna. This pillar inscription mentioned about the irrigation canal made by King Parakramabahu 1.
Then we have walked on a long stretch of concrete wall over Amban Ganga to reach Elahera Gal Amuna. The ancient Elahera Gal Amuna was situated at the other end of this concrete stretch. Nowadays you can see slices of stones belong to Elahera Gal Amuna.

New Elahera anicut to divert water into Elahera Yoda Canal

Crossing new Elahera anicut

Follow the foot path within the forest

Pillar inscription-Parakrama Sel Lipiya

There was a clear foot path into the forest

Walking over large concrete stretch

Amban Ganga- Largest tributary of Mahaweli River

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Remains of ancient Gal Amuna

Elahera Gal Amuna….Slices of nicely cut rocks

With Elahera Gal Amuna

Elahera Gal Amuna

6. Ancient Minneri Dewalaya at Elahera (පුරාණ මින්නෙරි දේවාලය ඇළහැර)

Elahera and Minneriya areas are blessed with Minneri Dewiyo.
We have noted the board mentioning Ancient Minneri Dewalaya Elahera when we drove parallel to Elahera Yoda Canal. It was situated on the other side of Elahera Oya. A small country type Dewalaya was there with a Bo tree. Don’t know the history of this place.

The board of ancient Minneri Dewalaya at Elahera

Elahera Yoda Canal

.	Bo tree at Dewalaya premises

Ancient Minneri Dewalaya at Elahera

The Bo tree

7. Orubendisiyamabalawa Dewalaya (ඔරුබැදිසියඹලාව දේවාලය) (7.760065, 80.803566)

This ancient Tamarind tree which is situated closer to Elahera Yoda Ela was used to tie boats transported from Minneriya to Elahera. King Mahasen (276-303) who frequently travelled from Polonnaruwa to Elahera by using this canal used to tie his Royal Barge to this Tamarind tree. Therefore this Tamarind tree was named as Orubendisiyamabalawa and the area was also got this name.
Orubendisiyamabalawa Tamarind tree was rediscovered by three engineers in 1850. At the time of it’s discovery it was 26 feet and two inches girth. The old Tamarind tree was died later and a new Tamarind tree can be seen there.
Hon.D.S. Senanayake has built current Dewalaya (Minihiri Dewola) (මිණිහිරි දේවාලය) next to Tamarind tree at Orubendisiyamabalawa.

Ancient Tamarind tree at Orubendisiyamabalawa

New Tamarind Tree

Tamarind at Orubendisiyamabalawa

Orubendisiyamabalawa Ranmini Dewola

Coin box at Ranmini Dewalaya

The statue of Ayyanayaka Dewiyo

We have noted a hanging bridge over Elahera Yoda Ela while we drove back to Elahera from Orubendisiyamabalawa.

Hanging bridge over Elahera Yoda Ela at Orubendisiyamabalawa

Elahera Yoda Ela

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There was a nice grassy area closer to Elahera Yoda canal next to the road. We didn’t forget to stop over there.

The grassy area shaded with large trees

The grassy area shaded with large trees

.	Official vehicle partner having a rest

After spent hours and hours at Laggala-Elahera-Bakamuna area we have reached Naula in view of going to Colombo. Nalanda reservior was in my bucket list for a long time and it was the high time to visit Nalanda reservior.

Nalanda Reservior (නාලන්දා ජලාශය) (7.670355, 80.623772)
Nalanda Oya which is a tributary of Amban Ganga is dammed at Nalanda area to build Nalanda reservior. It is situated at quite high attitude-400m, which is the highest reservior of Amban Ganga. Therefore the road to Nalanda reservior is steep. We have turned at Hungawela (After Naula) in A9 road and drove along a steep road to reach the reservior. Last 2-3km of the road is not suitable for low ground vehicle. There was about 500m walk from the parking point to the dam.
The Dam of Nalanda reservior is considered as the first concrete dam in Sri Lanka. It was built in 1950 by department of irrigation. The dam was built in 9 months having a dam crest length of approximately 125m and a maximum height of about 36m. The spillway consists of: (1) a low-level uncontrolled ogee-crested horseshoe
section with a crest length of 46m, and
(b) a high-level broad crested weir with a crest length of 43m.
It was designed and constructed according to the standard practices adopted throughout the world.
Over the years, Nalanda dam has been showing signs of deterioration which is suspected to be Alkali-Aggregate Reaction (AAR). The dam was also shown to be deficient with respect to the stability levels required by modern standards. Under a program of dam safety improvement of the dams throughout Sri Lanka, it was decided to stabilize Nalanda dam as the first step in addressing a series of issues affecting the dam. Then it was renovated in 2013.

Nalanda Reservior

Walking to the dam after parking the vehicle

.	Monument placed after renovation of the dam in 2013.

Nalanda reservior and dam. 1st concrete dam in Sri Lanka.

Steps on the rock to reach the dam

Nalanda dam. You can walk over the dam. But there was a board mentioning not to walk.

Close up…

Nalanda Reservior.

Fishing at Nalanda Reservior

View of Gammaduwa towers from Nalanda Reservior.

Gammaduwa towers.

Selfie with Nalanda.

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