This is a Historical place which is located in Horabokka village. To visit this place you have to go to Pelwatte junction of Uva province and turn to Passara road. After traveling nearly 3 kilometers, you will find the place. History of the temple goes up to the king Dutugamunu period , that was 128 Cristian era. Yudaganawa is located only 6km away from this area. I will tell about Yudaganawa from another post. It believes that Yudaganawa was the battle field for the war between Dutugamunu prince and Saddhatissa Prince. History says that “Arahath” monks was meditating on this rock and they saw the war among the princes. Then they advised prices from here. In sinhala "Owa" means advice and "Giri" means rock. From that this place got the name as "Owagiri".
It is said that there were three roads made with steps to the top of rock earlier and there was a “ Ektam geya” type temple building which was built on rock columns to be protected from the animals. But in here I am very sad about behavior of the people. First, the environment here has been polluted by people. Also some ruins which has a archeological value has been covered with jungle.and new buildings have been constructed on the old places. So these archaeologically valued places are destroyed without proper investigations.
I was heard that the people who developed roads destroyed a epigraph which was on the rock. and also there plants have been grown. some thing here. This plants will destroy the steps soon. But people put them in here recently.
However my university identity card helped me to prove my identity to the chief monk. If it was not there, definitely they could have refused to tell anything to me. because of the thieves. But this was not the first experience I have met with this kind of situations because of treasure hunters.
I would like to thank Mr.Janaka Srimal who told me about this place. And also the people who helped me to find this place.
