Random visit at Seethawaka and Galapitamada

This is a continuation of some historical places of ancient Seethawaka Kingdom plus waterfalls at surrounding area. I have visited the same area in 2013 in view of visiting archeology sites. Some of places I have revisited at this time. Let’s list the places I visited this time.

Day 01
1. Salgala Hermitage
2. Manella Falls-Revisited
3. Lenagala Cave Temple
4. Paradeniya Suspension Bridge
5. Theli Ella
6. Dedigama Kota Wehera-Revisited

Day 02
1. Dutch Fort and premises of Seethawaka palace of King Rajasinghe-1
2. Brandi Kovil-Revisited
3. Rathnapura National Museum

Day 03
1. Goraka Ella

Day 04
1. Tomb of King Seethawaka Rajasinghe
2. The sacred foot print at Thimbiripola

Day 01
Anupama, Nuwan and Myself were the members of this journey. Nuwan and I came by bus to Galapitamada town and Anupama came by his bike. Our first place of visit was Salgala Buddhist Monastery.

Salgala Hermitage (සල්ගල ආරණය) (7.122707, 80.250822)

Direction: Colombo-> Warakapola->Galapitamada-> Salgala

Salgala Buddhist Hermitage is situated 2.5 miles from Galapitamada junction. The forest reserve belongs to the Buddhist hermitage is called “Katangilla Mukalana” (කැටන්ගිල්ල මූකලාන) (Katangilla Forest-86.2 ha) and it spreads over 600 Acers. This Buddhist Hermitage was started in 1939 and it has 18 caves for meditation. Some of these caves have Sanskrit names as well. The stone door frame seen here was donated by Hon. D.S.Senanayake.
The history of Salgala forest goes back to King Walagamba reign (103 B.C.). This is one of the places King Walagamba has hidden during Chola invasion. Mutaseewa and Mahanaga who were two ministers of King Walagamba have offered two drip ledge caves to Bikku. One of the viewpoints of Salgala Forest is called Belumgala (බැලුම්ගල) which was used by troops of the king to watch around.
There are well paved foot paths at Salgala Buddhist Hermitage. It was the time following breakfast we have visited the place.

Notice to public

Notice to public

Salgala forest reserve

Paths within the hermitage

Entrance

Buildings of Salgala Buddhist Hermitage

Foot paths

Foot paths

A drip ledge cave

“Ethu Bandi Lena”-ඇතුබැදි ලෙන

“Wehara Lena” – වේහාර ලෙන

A meditation cave

The drip ledge and Brahmin letters

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A small Stupa

Sal tree at Salgala

Buddha statue at shrine house

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Foot path to Belumgala

At Belumgala

View from Belumgala

View from Belumgala

“Sakman Maluwa”/ pleasure garden

Stone door frame donated by Hon.D.S. Senanayake.

“Dathu Mandiraya”

After visiting Salgala Monastery we came to Weragala road by a short cut and reached Manella waterfall.

Manella Waterfall-Revisited (මානැල්ල) (7.1119033, 80.272392)
Manella has two waterfalls as Kuda Manella (කුඩා මානැල්ල) (upper fall) (6m tall) and Maha Manella (lower fall) (20m). Manella is formed by Puhuwala Ela. The name Manella derived as God Manella lives here. First we visited Maha Manella (මහා මානැල්ල) (lower fall) and crossed the stream. Then ascend the stream in it’s right hand side to reach Kuda Manella (upper fall). Top of Kuda Manella is a famous bathing place. Manella also had low water level compared to my previous visit.

Maha Manella Falls. Low water level.

Maha Manella Falls. Low water level.

The base pool of Maha Manella Falls. Don’t know it is safe to bath here.

Crossing the stream to other side.

Kuda Manella / Upper falls

Kuda Manella / Upper falls

On top of Kuda Manella Falls.

The Banyan tree situated adjacent to the stream.

Lenagala Cave Temple (ලෙනගල ලෙන් විහාරය) (7.116111, 80.264033)

Directions: Colombo->Galigamuwa->Kannanthota-> Lenagala

Lenagala cave temple was built during the period of King Walagamba. It has a shrine house divided into three chambers. One shrine room has a sleeping Buddha statue and other has a seating Buddha statue. There is an inscription below the drip ledge of the cave and it says “Arya Dhutha” (ආර්ය දූත) has made this cave temple.
The shrine house with sleeping Buddha statue was closed when we visited there. You can reach top of Kondagala (කොණ්ඩගල) which is a view point but we didn’t try it.

Lenagala Cave temple is situated at base of “Kondagala”.

Brahmin letters

What inscription says

Makara Thorana to main shrine house

Gets light into the shrine house

Seated Buddha statue

The shrine room with Stupa

Ceiling paintings

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Paradeniya Suspension Bridge (පරදෙනිය සoගිලි පාලම)
Paradeniya Suspension bridge connects Paradeniya to Maththamagoda over Gurugoda Oya.

One end of the bridge

Paradeniya Suspension Bridge

Gurugoda Oya

Paradeniya Suspension Bridge

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Theli Ella (තෙලි ඇල්ල) (7.169323, 80.273204)

Directions: Colombo-> Nelumdeniya->Thunthota Junction->Aranya Road->Theli Ella

We have followed the Aranya road from Thunthota junction about 4-5km. This concrete road becomes a gravel road and ends at Gurugoda Oya. Flat area of Gurugoda Oya makes 3m tall Theli Ella at this place. Gurugoda Oya has law water level when we visited. Theli Ella is kind of a popular bathing place among villagers. In 2013 when I visited Thunthota area I tried to visit Theli Ella but we couldn’t find the exact place of the fall.

We have reached Gurugoda Oya and proceed down stream

We came to top of Theli Ella

3m tall Theli Ella. It had law water level.

3m tall Theli Ella.

.	Gurugoda Oya after forming Theli Ella

After visiting Theli Ella we were back to Thunthota Junction and visited Kota Wehera at Dedigama.

Dedigama Kota Wehera-Revisited (දැදිගම කොට වෙහෙර) (7.208576, 80.262905)

Directions: Colombo->Nelumdeniya->Dedigama->Kota Wehera

Dedigama Kota Wehera comes across in 3km from Nelumdeniya junction at Dedigama. There are two stupa here; Soothigara Stupa (සූතිඝර ස්තූපය) / Kota Wehera and small Stupa. This is considered as the birth place of Great King Parakramabahu (1153-1186). Kota Wehera has three basal rings and dome only.

.	Kota Wehera

Kota Wehera

Dedigama Kota Wehera-Three basal rings and dome

Basal rings of Kota Wehera

About small Stupa

Day 02

This was one and half day trip to Seethawaka and Rathnapura area in view of hiking Rajjurugala at Kuruwita. The day before the hike we have visited Seethawaka palace and Berandi Kovil.

Dutch Fort and premises of Seethawaka palace of King Rajasinghe-1 (6.953034, 80.224350)

Seethawaka city is originally built by King Mayadunne in 1524 A.D and functioned as a kingdom during the reign of Rajasinghe 1. Ancient palace was situated at the land called Bandarawaththa. What archeologists found at here belongs to ancient Seethawaka kingdom but hasn’t identified as belongs to Seethawaka palace certainly.

Dutch has built a fort in 1675 A.D. which was situated south to this premise. They have used the remains of the palace to build the fort but it was abounded in 10 years. Later English has used this as their provincial administrative center.

The premises of Seethawaka palace of King Rajasinghe is situated next to archeological office at Awissawella.

Well informative display of Dutch fort and premises of Seethawaka palace

What they identified as remains of ancient Seethawaka city

Remains of Seethawaka city, most probably belong to the palace

Remains of Seethawaka city.

Remains of Seethawaka city.

Remains of Seethawaka city.

Yakahatuwagala is seen to Seethawaka Palace premises

This nice stone sculpture can be seen at outside of Archeology office. It was shifted from Brandi Kovil.

Berandi Kovil-Revisited (බෙරණ්ඩි කෝවිල) (6.955256, 80.224165)
The great king Rajasingha (The last king who has brought the Sri Lanka to one canopy in 16th century.) has built this kovil under instructions of “Aretha keewendu Perumal” (අරිඨ්ඨ කී වෙන්ඩු පෙරුමාල්). This was built as seven stories building to worship devil Kala or god Shiva. Rajasingha I has killed his father and later worried about it. The person Aretha Keewndu came from India and instructed the king the only way to come out of the sin is to build a Kovil by diverting the Seethawaka River.
Later Portuguese have destroyed it.
Now we can only observe the basement of this building. This land is boarded by Seethawaka River from three sides. (Quoted from my previous report Random visit at places in ancient Seethawaka Kingdom)
Berandi Kovil is situated at Thalduwa town. Parking available at Kovil area. When you look at Google map, Berandi Kovil is situated at one bank of Seethawaka River while the palace is situated at other bank.

Basement of Berandi Kovil

Basement of Berandi Kovil

Berandi Kovil

At Berandi Kovil

Stone sculptures at Berandi Kovil

Where shrine was placed

At Berandi Kovil

National Museum Rathnapura (රත්නපුර ජාතික කෞතුකාගාරය) (6.684423, 80.399574)
This is one of the national museums of Sri Lanka. Rathnapura National Museum is opened on 13th May 1988 at the building called Ehelepola Walauwa (ඇහැලේපොල වලව්ව). Ehelepola Walauwa belongs to Ehelepola Nilame who was the Disawe (local Governor) of Rathnapura under the reign of Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe.
The museum includes exhibits on prehistoric archeological inventions, natural heritage, geological, anthropological, zoological artifacts and models relating to the Sabaragamuwa Province.
The grounds of the museum contain a palaeobiodiversity park, with life sized animal sculptures of species believed to have existed in the region.

We have visited Rathnapura National Museum following the hike of Rajjurugala. This place has a good educational value, especially suitable for school children. It takes about 2 hours to visit the museum with Biodiversity Park.

Ehelepola Walauwa was converted into National Museum of Rathnapura.

Details of Ehelepola Walauwa.

Inside the Museum. Well displayed and informative.

Inside the Museum. Well displayed and informative.

Some drawings of Sabaragamuwa Dancing Tradition.

Sculptures at Biodiversity Park.

Sculptures at Biodiversity Park.

Sculptures at Biodiversity Park.

Paved paths at Biodiversity Park.

Details of an extinct Elephant

Extinct Elephant

Day 03

Goraka Ella (ගොරකා ඇල්ල) (7.019190,80.195105)
Goraka Falls is situated at Thalduwa- Meewitigammana road (B408). There is a foot path from main road to the waterfall by crossing paddy fields and streams. This foot path ends up at bottom of the fall. Goraka Ella has different sections and there is another foot path parallel to the stream on left side to reach top of the waterfall. There is a pool at top of the waterfall. The water has diverted from top of the waterfall for cultivation and drinking purpose. Therefore usually it has low water level.

My visit to Goraka Ella happened in an evening on my way to Balangoda to hike Pettigala. As this is a famous bathing place crowd and pollution would be more.

Goraka Ella falls from Bottom. Note it has different sections. This is low water level of the fall.

Goraka Ella

Goraka Ella falls from Bottom.

After forming the waterfall

With Goraka Falls

With Goraka Falls

A middle section of the fall

A middle section of the fall

The foot path lies on left side of the fall

Reaching top of the waterfall

The view from top of the waterfall

The pool at top of the waterfall. This is suitable for bathing.

A tank is built to collect water

On top of Goraka Falls

Day 04

Tomb of King Seethawaka Rajasinghe (රාජසිoහ සොහොන) (6.976031, 80.217819)

The place is considered as the site of King Rajasinghe I body was buried. Seethawaka Rajasinghe / King Rajasinghe I had his last battle with Knapped Bandara (later he became King Wimaladarmasooriya I) and lost his army at Balana. Then he withdrew his army to Royal Park at Pethangoda. King Rajasinghe lost his life at Pethangoda garden due to stuck of a fatal bamboo splinter and his body was brought back to Seethawaka kingdom and buried here.

According to folklore Rajasinghe’s viceroy of Kandy Weerasundara Bandara mentioned at Rajawaliya died at this spot.

It is situated in 2km from Talduwa along Meewitigammana road.

Historical information

The path

Tomb of Seethawaka Rajasinghe

Tomb of Seethawaka Rajasinghe

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The sacred footprint at Thimbiripola (තිඹිරිපොල සිරිපතුල) (6.956527, 80.254380)

There is a sacred footprint engraved on a rock situated at bank of Seethawaka River at Thimbiripola area at Awissawella. This was published in an archeology site at face book and I was interested in visiting the place. According to the discussion was at that site this was done at the time of King Seethawaka Rajasinghe. The princess of King Seethawaka Rajasinghe got an intense like (දොළ දුක) to visit at Sri Pada when she was pregnant. The king has sculptured this foot print on the rock and accompanied the princess in a long way to the place at night to persuade it as sacred footprint.
This was bit tiresome journey to find the exact place of the foot print. We first inquired from a three wheel driver at Thimbiripola junction (6.965481, 80.255195) and he guided us very well. The car was parked at Thimbiripola suspension bridge (6.957278, 80.252721) and we followed the foot path in left hand side. According to the details he provided the foot print is engraved on a rock closer to the bank. But the river bank was highly covered with forest and there were some tea plots next to the bank. Somehow we met a villager and he said it is situated at the land next to this tea patch. But this bare land had heavy Mana growth beyond my height and luckily I noticed a foot path through the Mana (someone has created it on that day or a day before it) and it brought us to the small rock where footprint was situated. Here our luck was tested as someone has visited the place very recent. This rock is sheltered by a bamboo bush and there are bamboo bushes at the bank of River.

We have parked the car near the suspension bridge of Thimbiripola. Followed the foot path directed by arrow.

Seethawaka River and bank

The rock situated at bank of the river

The foot print on the rock

Thimbiripola sacred foot print

Just to compare the size

Thimbiripola sacred foot print

Closer look

Thanks for reading