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Trip Reports Archive » By Length » One Day » Evening at Nagalakanda (706m)

Evening at Nagalakanda (706m)

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Minneriya, Nagalakanda, Polonnaruwa, One Day, September, Dry Zone, History, 2012

Author: Niroshan (269 Trips)

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Year and Month September, 2012 (6th)
Number of Days Just one evening
Crew 02
Accommodation N/A
Transport Motor bike
Activities Sightseeing, Archeology and Photography
Weather Excellent
Route Pollonnaruwa -> Minneriya -> Nagalakanda
Tips, Notes and Special remark
  • Evening is the good time to visit there as you can see sun setting as well.
  • Just tell the watcher of the temple or Buddhist priest that you are climbing up.
  • Don’t disturb the activities of Buddhist priests as this is a meditation center.
  • Better avoid poya days.
Author Niroshan
Comments Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread

  • Evening at Nagalakanda (706m)

Next time when you visit at Pollonnaruwa, you can add Nagalakanda to your list. It is a nice place for sightseeing in the evening.

You can reach Nagalakanda from Pollonnaruwa archeology site. Once you pass the Minneriya town it is situated in about 200m towards the Colombo on right hand side. If you are coming from Colombo, it is in left hand side just before Minneriya town. Better to ask from villagers. But it is easy to find.

There are two ideas for the name Ngalakanda for this rock. In those days there were ample of Na trees in this area. Therefore this was named as Nagalakanada. During those days, a cobra has lived here with protecting of a gem. Then this was named as Nagalakanda.

We climbed up from the name board till we find the gate of the temple. You can drive or walk this 1km.There is a good tarred road towards this Buddhist hermitage.

Then we had a small chat with the watcher of the temple and climbed up. First we came across ruins of the ancient temple.

 

Ruins of Nagalakanda

It contains three image houses, two pagodas, one Uposathagaraya and a Tampiti temple. (But I couldn’t visit at all these ruins).Then researchers have found ruins of two ponds and one lake. The pond come across in “Udamaluwa” called “Namal pokuna” and other pond found in “Mada maluwa” called “Ramba Pokuna”. All these ruins belong to A.C 4, 5, 6 and 7. One view is King Mahasen has built this temple complex. Some thinks King 1V Agbo has built this. No stone inscriptions have been found here. They have found a lake which is situated in south of archeology site, called Nagalakanda Lake. (Reference-“Nagalakanda Gaweshanaya” by U.D Wijerathna and D.M. Wasanthi Disanayaka)

Image house 1

Image house 1

Image house 2

Image house 2

Image house at Udamaluwa

Image house at Udamaluwa

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Following visiting at ruins we stepped further up. Here we could see new temple. Then we took our way towards the “Balumgala”. (If you go towards the new temple, you can visit at more ruins)

Balumgala-Now occupied by a telecommunication tower

Balumgala-Now occupied by a telecommunication tower

A kuti for meditation

A kuti for meditation

 

A friend met in the climb

A friend met in the climb

Temple at Balumgala

Temple at Balumgala

When you stand on the Balumgala, you can view the Kawudulla Lake and forest (North), Hingurakgala (East), Dimbulagala rock and Nagalakanda Lake (South east), Pollonnaruwa ruins and Girithale lake (South) and Minneriya Lake (West).

Pollonnaruwa side-note the hill appearing in far is Dimbulagala. (Gunner’s quoin)

Pollonnaruwa side-note the hill appearing in far is Dimbulagala. (Gunner’s quoin)

Minneriya Lake. Low in water due to drought.

Minneriya Lake. Low in water due to drought.

Girithale  rock

Girithale rock

Kawudulla Lake and Medirigiriya side

Kawudulla Lake and Medirigiriya side

Minneriya forest and Mathale mountain range

Minneriya forest and Mathale mountain range

Kaduruwela town

Kaduruwela town

Sun setting over Minneriya mountain range

Sun setting over Minneriya mountain range

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Last glimpse of the day

Last glimpse of the day

After enjoying the surrounding beauty we went down. It is believed that King Mahasen (A.C 273-300) has climbed to “Balumgala” to observe the constructions of Minneriya Lake. It may be true as we can have 3600 surrounding view from here.

Thank you for reading.

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