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.....

Oh... Another Year........

Another year was almost finish. All the people try to have a party. I also. But due to studies I am unable to attend the party. Anyway be careful with all of those things.

Year is gone. We can be happy. But we have to say sorry for the past year. Because of the some things we have done in the past year. But most of the people says that the year was gone too fast. I thinks the same. For me 2012 January was like yesterday.

Today I have to do some little things like What I did in the past year. New friends, the things i got success. But there is also some things that I did wrongly. If I can correct them.... But it is impossible. I try to do the right things in the new year as much as possible.

Anyway this is the last post for this year. And I wish this will be a year that do not met with any kind of bad things for you all who join with my experiences blog. I try to make sure that my studies and the tours around Sri Lanka will be get more success in this year.

And wish your all thoughts may gone with Humanity and to make a world with good persons with Humanity.

Speedly on 18 bends road.....

All people who traveled from mahiyanganaya – Kandy road will go through the 18 bends road. In the mid of the 19^th centuary, British government build this road as a supply road. But now it was constructed and created with two ways. As my thoughts, it is a luxury way comparing with the old one.

 

In the past we have to spend 4 hours but now its only one and half hours journey. when the constructions goes on, one bend was removed. So there are only 17 bends from the old road. But when we travel we can count as a 18 because they connect another bend outside from the old bends.

After the opening I was traveled several times to kandy through the 18 bends. But the odyssey and the Happiest journey goes by my bike. Hero Honda Glamour-FI takes only 10 minutes to up and 9 minutes to down for the all 18 bends. Here is the video when I was traveled by bike to up and down. And go to this link for the more Photos I have taken.