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Degal Hela Temple, Kandakebellegoda, Kandanketiya Temple, Katupelellegala, Kongaspitiya, Manabarana Raja Maha Viharaya, Monaragala, Neuwgala, Neuwgala Devalaya, Neuwgala Lion Carving, Pansalgoda Ruins, Ruppebedda, Sandakebella Temple, Siyabalanduwa, Sugala Devi Lake, Weherapudama, One Day, September, Dry Zone, History, 2012, Photograhy, Trekking

Author: Ashan (209 Trips)

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Map one – Click Map to Enlarge

Map two – Click Map to Enlarge

Degal Hela Temple

While I was at Buddama i got a wonderful opportunity to visit some ancient places which were hardly known by the public. So one day I got together with Nishantha and decided to visit few places. We arrived at the 2nd mile post junction on Siyambalanduwa-Ampara road and took the road towards the Degal hela mountain and after passing few km’s we reached the ancient unoccupied temple at the base of the mountain. There were plenty of monoliths in the surrounding area and also there was a drip ledge image house which was under construction. One of the locals we met said that there are two huge drip ledge caves found on this mountain but we were not prepared to climb and explore at that particular moment.

Degal hela at Siyambalanduwa(zoomed)

Degal hela temple with ruins (helamulla temple)

towards the image house

image house at helamulla

Kataram lipi

සිරිපතුල් ගල

Pansalgoda ruins
Next place of interest was a hidden temple within a forest patch 3km’s away from Degal hela temple and we needed a guide to show us the way to this place. A local named Sunil volunteered to take us to that location. We proceeded on a 4WD road through cultivations until we reached the forest patch with ruins. There is a pagoda which has steps and korawak stones to enter in to its “weli maluwa” and remnants of the rock wall also can be seen at some places. On top of the pagoda there is a huge hole dug by treasure hunters sometime back. In the vicinity there were many pillars alters and even remnants of an image house. The guard stones and Korawak stones still can be seen scattered here and there. Out of all of these the most fascinating finding was the “ගල් පාත්තරය” similar but smaller in size to the Rajagala one.

Towards Pansalgoda close to degal hela

the pansalgoda dhageba covered with bushes (note the orange line)

rock wall of the pagoda

ruins at pansalgoda

note the steps and the korawakgala towards the sthupa

this is not a well, this a big hole dug by treasure hunters right on the middle of the sthupa

note a fallen monolith and a type of alter

monoliths(ruins at pansalgoda)

ගල් පාත්තරය

guard stones

Manabarana Raja Maha Viharaya

After thanking Sunil the local guide we returned back to 2nd mile post junction and took the road towards the left and after five hundred meters took another left turn to reach the historical temple done by king Manabarana. Recently they have done some excavation on the pagoda and exhibited what they found to the general public; unfortunately I couldn’t pay a visit at that time. If one looks around there are many ruins scattered around this temple premises but none of these seem to have any carvings. The picturesque lake makes this place much more special. The largest relic (Karanduwa) in Sri Lanka is found at Manabarana temple according to the head priest that is.

what they found – Click Image to Enlarge

more paper articles – Click Image to Enlarge

pillars

මල් ආසනය

modern and ancient

reciprocal

white lotus

drops

Katupelellegala ruins

After thanking the head priest of Manabarana temple we traveled back towards Siyambalanduwa a bit and arrived at the newly built nonfunctioning court house. Opposite the court there is a small road leading towards Degal hela. We had to find a guide to visit Katupellelegala ruins site because it was located in a chena. After tackling few ‘mana” bushes we reached a rocky plateau, on this rock one can identify “kotta Peduru gal” and conical holes which is suggestive that once this was a monastery. In addition there was a fleet of steps few rock ponds been vandalized by treasure hunters. Since the area is cleared for cultivation the rock is getting continuously exposed and decaying.

a pond at Katupelellegala

කොට්ට පැදුරු ගල at Katupellellegala

Kotta paduru gala and a conical hole indicating that this place once was a monastery

a drainage at Katupelellegala

fleet of steps

Sandakebella Temple & Hermitage

Next attraction was a place close to the 7th mile post on Siyambalanduwa-Ampara Road. After walking about 500m from the name board one can reach this temple. There is a fleet of steps which will take you uphill towards an ancient site with a newly build pagoda. This place is a very scenic location. I heard that there were some drip ledge caves where once monk’s meditated. To get to this place one need to take a foot path which starts at the left hand side towards the north from the rock with the sthupa and travel about 750m’s towards Kandakebellegoda rock.(coordinates for the starting point of the path is 6.9959N 81.5359E)

steps towards Sandakebella

gazing at the sky

towards the kuti

the path

one of those kuti

parts from the past

inside a kutiya

a drip ledge

natural caves

another kutiya

beautiful yet poisunos

kandakebellegoda where the caves can be found

what they play with

colourful petals

Kandanketiya temple

On the other side of the huge rocky hill of Kandakebellegoda is another ancient temple called Kandanketiya. One can easily take the road passing Sandakebella temple towards Ruppebedda. Kandanketiya temple once had an ancient pagoda which few ruins of it still can be seen around the newly built one. Also there are few pillars in the temple premises. When we inquired from the only monk at the temple he said he knew nothing about the place since he arrived few weeks back.

Kadanketiya ancient temple

Hungry, greedy birds

Kadanketiya sthupa

Remnants from past

ancient bo tree

on the look out

Neuwgala Lion carving

We somehow got back to the main road and moved towards 6th mile post which is also called “Kanda uda panguwa’ from here we took the road which led towards Kongaspitiya and reached the village of Neuwgala in search of an interesting carving of a lion on a rock. We took a by road to the right which begun at a primary school and proceeded few Km’s until we reached a four way junction. From here onwards we got the help of a local to guide us towards this location. According to folklore there is a rock close to a lake and below this rock there is gold weighing equal to a ship load hence it’s called “Neuwgala”. Initially we couldn’t spot the lion but after walking around we noted a 3 feet long 1.5 feet tall lion carving, actually it looks like a cat.

newgala with its lake

having a rest and saying good bye to the guide

Neuwgala devalaya

Not so far away there are some ruins of an ancient “Pattini devalaya” which once was a fully functional place according to Mr. Punchihewas book. Now only few rocks pilled together and two “yanthra gal/Nidhan gal” can be seen at this location. There was another nearby hill with ruins but we didn’t have time to consider.

close up

yanthra gala

 

Weherapudama ancient site
Next site was a location I noted down from the maps and barely anyone new about this place. From Neuwgala we had to travel about 12km’s towards Kongaspitiya which is one of the most rural places at the boarder of Monaragala district. After passing Kongaspitiya school we took a road towards the right and again took another left turn according to directions given by locals but somehow since the directions were not clear and nobody was around to inquire we got lost and after a hour or so we met a CSD soldier who guided us towards the rocky plateau with ruins. On top of the rock there was a pagoda which was almost flattened to the rock. And there were many more ruins scattered around too, out of them the stone pillars which were still standing tall was a wonderful sight at dusk. Here are the GPS coordinates (7.0447N, 81.6076E).

katarama for drainage of water

Weherapudama ruins on top of Weherapudama rock

enjoying the dusk

some ruins

remnants of the dhageba

pillars hidden in bushes

the drop

remnats of past

ඇටඹ (Mangifera zeylanica)

scattered pillars

Sugala Devi Lake

While returning back towards Neuwgala we took a turn towards Sugala devi lake to enjoy some breathtaking scenery at dusk. The sight of Westminster abbey at the backdrop made the scenery simply special. The sun set at a lake was the best way to end our journey in search of hidden heritage.

the pointed rock of westminister abbey

simply love this photo

diyakawas

Govinda hela framed