Tour Article Number Thirty One - Buddhangala Monastery

Buddhangala Monastery lies in the thick jungle about 7 kilometers off Ampara. Monastery covers nearly 1200 acres. We can see remains of the ancient monastery covering 5 rocks. This area was belongs to Digamandulla Kingdom which was started by Dighayu in the 4^th century BC. According to Ven. Ellawala Medhananda thero, this monastery was older than the Digamadulla Kingdom.

This area was covered by thick jungle for thousands of years and in 1964 by a brave Bikku called kaluthara Dhammananda was cleared this area and again started the monastery. When the escalations goes on the original Stupa, they found the relics that believe that belongs to Saripuththa and Moggallana who is the chief disciples of Buddha. But here the real name was unknown.

 

When the terrorist era they were trying to destroy the monastery. And tamils and muslims try number of times to destroy the monastery and to build a tank called “Hijra”. Because of the rock looks like Buddha’s laying position the tamils and musslims used to called it as “Buddhankalei” and then Sinhalease also called it as “Buddhangala”. Inside the jungle there are lots of ruins. But in my travels I am unable to travel for these ruins. But I will give details later for you.

Here you can see some photographs which I have taken.

Tour Article Number Thirty - Pareiyan Ella

I visited my blog after long time because of the second year final semester examinations in the university . Soon after exams I traveled seeking a place called Katugahagalge. That is a temple which has a historical value. But that day I was heared that Minister was there so we abort the journey and went to see this waterfall. My brother and one of my friend joined for the journey.

This waterfall is located in Buththala Badalkumbura road before 4 kilometers to Badalkumbura town. This is the board put by the provincial ministry of tourism in Uva province. After turning  from here and we went  through the cultivated lands to reach this place.

This is a nice and calm place to visit. First we climbed down some steps and found a small waterfall,  height of two feet. I thought what is this' But when we walked along the bank of river we found the waterfall that we were searching for.There, the waterfall is divided in to two. This is a nice place and I climbed rocks to reach the top of the fall. The view is fantastic and that was a just perfect place for see the waterfall.

However now this place is visited by lovers. But I must say don't do any undesirable things in here. Because sometimes these places will be visited by children. And also keep these places clean when yo visit. Welcome to see this places with great honer.
More photos from here......

Tour Article Number Twenty Nine - Owagiriya Rajamaha Viharaya - Pelwatte

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.

more photos.....

 My travels last post......

Tour Article Number Twenty Seven - Galabedda Biso Pokuna

When you ride from Monaragala to Ampara, after 10 kilometers you can see this notice and there was the pond located in.

This pond was belongs to Sugala Devi, who was a local princess in 12th century. The pond was made up on rock and there was a tunnel system to fill the pond. And there was a four Dragon mouths open to the pond to fill the pond. So because of these things this place was become as a very beautiful place. This was taken different art when we consider about the other ruins in this area.

And there was an ancient toilet which made from the rock caving. And this is also famous because of uniqueness. And there were signs for the rock columns around the pond.

Photos are here......

Tour Article Number Twenty Six - Samanabadda Old Cave Temple

This place is  located in 6km away  from Ampara in Ampara-Kandy road. we can see two boards beside the road. One for Cave temple and the other road is for Pirivena. But this two places were connected through the jungle. This place is famous as historical place in the area.

When we ask about history of the temple, there is no good answer for that. because all of the investigations by Department of Archaeology has been stopped in here at long time ago. But it has been said  that the history goes to the era of King Saddathissa who was the king in this area.

There is a  “Kataram” Cave with a  Buddha statue inside it  which is special for this area because of the different features that are not common to area . Ruins of Stupa, caves etc can be  found here and there in  the jungle area .There is a epigraph and it says “Nisimi” but I do not know what is the meaning of that.

 

In the cave there is a marble Buddha statue without  head and hands. But there are signs that they were connected to the statue. The notices that has been published by archeology department were also now ruined because they have stopped visiting this place a long time ago. But taking care of this place is important.

And I must say that there are lots of places which have been neglected  by the archeological department. But I am unable to search about those people because villagers do not trust strangers. And also I can’t describe and prove  my ambition to them properly. So they do not like to say any word about the places and the history about those places. But I will try to do my best to give details about some places which can be done with my capacity. Awubovan….. !

To other Photos.....