| Year and Month | October, 2012 |
| Number of Days | 2 consecutive days |
| Crew | One |
| Accommodation | N/A |
| Transport | Public Transport, Trishaw |
| Activities | Archeology, Trekking |
| Weather | Overcast conditions |
| Route |
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| Tips, Notes and Special remark |
** SPECIAL THANKS ** to Niroshan |
| Related Resources |
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| Author | Ashan |
| Comments | Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread |
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map 1 – Click Image to Enlarge
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map 2 – Click Map to Enlarge
Since the focus towards Ampara has increased with next year’s big event and the possibility of a huge influx of visitors from each and every corner of the country, I thought of bringing forward some lesser known places to the attention of general public.
Piyangala Hermitage
On a peaceful day I arrived at Ampara and took the Maha Oya road towards Piyangala junction and got down near the temple. There were a fleet of steps which took me towards a well-built “Kutiya” with an inscription. At that time there were about 100 visitors howling around forgetting that this was a monastery where monks meditated. After climbing few more steps I reached a huge “Kutiya” which was abandoned long ago, there was a long inscription under the drip ledge and pieces of plaster could be seen here and there too. I decided to proceed further up through a path which was blocked by fallen trees. With some adventure I came across few drip ledge caves and a scenic open place where I could easily visualize Pulukunawa rock and Batticaloa region. This place is known to have many more caves but since the search seemed endless I decided to descend back. Piyangala is located on the same mountain range as Rajagala and there is a probability that it was once an extension of Raja gala complex.
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  Piyangala kutiya with inscription |
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another kutiya
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  what the monks used |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  these guys were every where |
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  the massive kutiya at Piyangala |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  its inscription |
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  this was found inside the kutiya |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  Door way to.. |
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  Two drip ledge caves |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  an inscription |
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  after climbing up i came across a nice cave with a good view |
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the plaster
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towards Batticaloa
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the lagoon
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the temple premises
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view towards Pulukunawa
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  more steps |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  a kutiya close to the pagoda |
Piyangala fresco cave
After getting back to the road and having something as breakfast I took a trishaw towards Maha Oya side passing Piyangala and just before the turn off to Pulukunawa I saw an archeology board directing towards the forest and decided to investigate it. 100 meters from the main road there was a huge cave with few “vedda” paintings remaining in it. I also noted at some places a violet coloured plaster. Locals call this “Nagas” cave because a terrorist called “Nagas” was found dead here, after been shot by the military.
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  name board |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  the Piyangala fresco cave |
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  hooded cave |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  cave paintings |
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  parts of plaster |
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  someone has done some research it seems |
Pulukunawa temple complex
Pulukunawa once was a place where no one could reach because of heavy terrorist activity in the region. To get to Pulukunawa one needs to take the left turn off just before Mangalagama. It was once a hermitage just likes nearby Rjagala & Piyangala monasteries. After traveling about 2Km the temple premises could be reached, there is a small “Awasa geya” where a friendly head priest and two police man resides. The monk is extremely helpful and will volunteer to show around and if he is not there the police officers will do so. Unfortunately when I visited the place a “Wandana nade” also arrived and the monk decided to give them and myself a full tour around the complex. Firstly we arrived at the huge “Asana garaya” which is the largest in Sri Lanka and nearby there was a huge pagoda which was vandalized by treasure hunters too. There were remnants of a building clearly seen on the road which was irresponsibly done recently; wonder if the relevant authorities were blind. Around the pagoda there were many monoliths and many more ruins of buildings which need to be unearth and excavated. From here onwards the monk led us towards the mountain and we reached the center of it where a huge dried out lake can be found. Around this lake there were few drip ledge caves (some even having “Vedda” paintings), remnants of many buildings, another pagoda and many more to be seen but the “Nade” didn’t like to go further. I was so disappointed that I had to cut short my exploration because of these clueless “Nade” people who didn’t like to proceed any further because they didn’t see anything like Anuradapura and Polonnaruwa. I really felt sad because the monk really wanted to show around. After thanking the priest and the officers I left the place towards Rajagala junction.
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  largest asana garaya at Pulukunawa |
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Pagoda at pulukunawa
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  wash your feet |
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Parts of buildings scattered around
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  note the korawak stone and steps |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  the road running over the ruins |
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  more buildings |
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  these were every where |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  monk walking around the dried out lake on the mountain |
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  remnants of a another building |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  a pagoda covered with bushes |
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  showing us another interesting cave |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  another drip ledge cave |
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  vedda paintings |
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  it doesnt seems like it needs help |
Giri Kumbila Raja Maha Viharaya
Passing Rajagala junction (towards Ampara) I reached a functioning tile/brick mill and at this point there was a frame of an archaeology department name board which tempted me to take a trishaw and proceed towards an ancient temple which was 3km from the main road and located in the center of a paddy field. From the first sight one would never think this is an ancient place but if one looks around there are few ruins scattered around. There is a miniature pagoda which looks like a big bush and there is a huge dead “Siyambala” tree on the top of it. The main attraction is the huge rectangular stone pillar broken into few pieces. According to it, this place was done by King Lajjathissa and this is directly connected to Rja gala tenna. According to the head priest this place has served some purpose for Rajagala tenna monks as an intermediate place.
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  directions |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  a dead siyambala tree on the pagoda |
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parts of the stone inscription scattered around a paddy field
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  part of an inscription |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  pillar bases |
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  another pillar base |
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Raja gala as seen from Giri kumbila viharaya
Gonagolla Punchi Seegiriya
Next I took a bus towards Weranketagoda (28th mile post) junction and inquired about “Punchi seegiriya” from a trishaw driver who agreed to take me to the temple which was 5Km towards the east. This temple is well known by locals so it’s not difficult to find. When we reached this modernized temple there was only a young Buddhist priest who volunteered to show me around. There is cave which has a slab on the floor and it is said that there is a tunnel under it which connects nearby Raja gala. On the same rock there are two beautiful ladies fading out with time. These frescoes are identical to the ones at Seegiriya. Also if one walks around there are some stone pillars, a pagoda, remnants of a “watada geya” & two rock inscriptions.
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  Punchi seegiriya |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  the slab which covers the tunnel |
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  the protection chamber |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  similar to seegiri frescoes |
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  the pagoda |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  the chatra stones |
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Watada geya
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  towards the inscriptions |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  one of those inscriptions |
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  a drip ledge cave with inscription |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  vedda paintings |
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  looks like a monkey |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  use of different colours |
Samangala Hermitage
After thanking the priest at Punchi Seegiriya we left towards “Weranketagoda” and took the road towards the west. After traveling few Km’s the road conditions got worse, a 4WD is required to proceed any further from this point for about 5Km’s. After passing through a deserted forest patch we reached the CSD post at Samangala where we got permission from the civil defense officers who volunteered to show us around. There is a well paved foot path which will take one towards “Guru Lena” which has lot of space even to run around, from here onwards there are plenty of similar huge caves found uphill. “Ananda lena” and “Weera lena” are few of those huge caves which are modified so monks can meditate with not much of trouble. Passing these caves we arrived at the main cave which is the tallest cave in Sri Lanka. There was a nearby tall tree which was brushing upon the drip ledge inscription of this massive “Raja lena” cave. There were remnants of an ancient plaster which belongs to King Sadhdhathissa era preserved for further studies. After having a quick conversation with the head priest we decided to rush back because the skies were getting darker.
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  towards samangala |
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  the only lamp |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  broken clay statue |
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  a drip edge cave |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  Ananda lena |
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  Weera lena |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  first glimpse of the huge cave |
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  the tree was touching the drip ledge |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  the inscription |
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  2100 year old plaster |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  view from inside the cave |
Udegiriya Raja Maha Viharaya
After reaching Veranketagoda we hurried towards Udegiriya junction and took the temple road for about 2Km to visit the temple. The pagoda has been re built and altars and other ruins can be found rearranged around the premises. There were plenty of monoliths also in the surrounding area of this temple.
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Clik here to view.![a siri pathul stone at the entrance]( "81 a siri pathul stone at the entrance")
- a siri pathul stone at the entrance
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  a small shrine |
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  Udegiriya pagoda |
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pillars every where
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  mixed together |
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  flower altar |
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  here comes the rains |
Samanabedda Gal len viharaya
After getting back to the main road I proceeded towards Ampara passing Uhana and just before reaching the Ampara sanctuary we came across a name board saying “Samanabedda gal lena”. One needs to be careful while walking along the path towards the temple because sometimes there are wild elephants roaming around. At the temple there is an ancient rock caved image house which has been modified and an old rock statue of Buddha can be seen in it. There is a pagoda near the bell tower which has been vandalized and passing few monoliths near the pagoda will take one to an open rock plateau where remnants of few buildings can be found, the view towards Namal Oya sanctuary is the most spectacular thing one can witness at this point.
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  entering the rock image house |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  ancient statue |
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  a moon stone |
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  the pagoda |
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  pillars near the sthupa |
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pieces of buildings washed away
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rains are coming from Namal Oya
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gloomy view
Since it was dark I decided to return back to Iginiyagala and plan my next day. Next day plan was very simple, I had only two places to visit for the whole day and guess what it took the whole day:-D
Buddangala Hermitage
The bus to Buddangala leaves Ampara at 8.30am. So after taking a short bus ride which passed a huge forest I got down at a road which led towards the rare entrance. All of the visitors must keep in mind that this is a hermitage where monks meditate. Usually during weekends there are loads of buses seen in the premises. The pagoda is a newly constructed one over the old one and it is surrounded by few pillars on four sides. There was a place where altars and etc were stacked up together. There was a round plate called “Padalas Sheelawa” which was once worshiped (before the Buddha statue era) by citizens. There are few large ponds between rock plateaus and there are mini bridges to cross them. To walk around and explore it would take few months because the temple complex is so vast. I came across three drip ledge caves and one did have a long inscription. I also enjoyed the walk through the “Thapowanaya” alone enjoying the silence and the coolness. One needs to be careful when wondering about because the hermitage is surrounded by the Buddangala forest filled with jumbos. If one needs there is a good bookshop with plenty of interesting books too.
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rock ponds around buddangala
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pieces of bricks washed away
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Buddangala sthupa as seen from the road
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  pillars of a building |
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another building
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weeragoda lake
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  Padalas sheelawa |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  the pagoda |
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  all stacked together |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  pieces of a moon stone |
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  korawak stones |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  statue in the image house |
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rock pond between the rocks
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replica of Polonnaru gal viharaya
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nicely sculptured
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  modern day creation |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  one of those pots |
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the suthra
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  my favourite |
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stay away buddy
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splendid view
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  its all about me |
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  no this is not hunnas hotel |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  steps towards the pond |
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  the seat at the rock pond |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  let me crunch |
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the drip ledge kuti
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exhibits at the museum
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  skull of a tusker |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  found scattered around the monastary |
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  towards the thapowanaya |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  streams were filled with aquatic life |
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  a drip ledge kutiya |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  its inscription – Click Image to Enlarge |
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  another kutiya |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  foot print of a jumbo |
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  Thapowanaya |
Mayadunna Raja Maha Viharaya
After walking around for hours I decided to get back to Ampara where I took a bus towards Gonagolla and got down at Mayadunna junction (30th mile post Uhana road). From here onwards it was a 3Km walk until I reached historical Mayadunna temple where there was an important inscription found protected by bars. Also I came across few altars a rock pond and few more ruins at this place. Unfortunately the head priest was not there to gather further information. So I started walking back enjoying the surrounding scenery until I reached the main road where I headed back towards Ampara
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  Mayadunna pagoda as seen from the road |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  image house and the pond |
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remnants from the past
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  bricks of a building |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  the inscription |
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note the siri patul stone
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  a pillar base |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  colours of nature |
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  time for a snap |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  age is not a barrier |
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  smiling while at work |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  awaiting more showers |
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  they were every where |
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  waiting patiently |
Ali Oluwa lake
From Ampara i took a bus towards Inginiyagala and got down at Ali Oluwa tank before I departed towards my resting place to end my long awaited quest.
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ali oluwa lake with namal oya mountains
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  glassy Ali oluwa |