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Year and Month | December, 2012 (30th) |
Number of Days | One Day Trip |
Crew | 2 |
Accommodation | N/A |
Transport | Public transport – by bus and Three-wheeler |
Activities | Archaeology and Photography |
Weather | Excellent |
Route | Ibbagamuwa -> Arankale -> Kumbukgate -> Egodagama -> Hakwatunaoya |
Tips, Notes and Special remark |
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Author | Niroshan |
Comments | Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread |
My objective of this journey was to visit at important historical places in Ibbagamuwa-Madagalla(මඩගල්ල) road. (B62 ) As usual I started the journey in the early morning. We came to Ibbagamuwa around 7.00am and got a bus towards Madagalla.

Ibbagamuwa in the star and the arrow showing Ibbagamuwa- Madagalla road – Click Image to Enlarge
Our first place was Arankale (අරන්කැලේ) ruins and got down in front of Archeology board. From there it was about 3km towards Arankale. Therefore we got a three-wheeler to travel.
Arankale (අරන්කැලේ) forest hermitage.
As we came to Arankale hermitage first, we had to go through the hermitage to enter ruins.
Maliyadeva was a monk who is said to have lived in Sri Lanka during the 2nd century BCE and to have attained nirvana.
According to the Mahavamsa, part of Theravādin tradition, Maliyadeva was the last well-known arhat in Sri Lanka and Buddhism in Sri Lanka declined after this period. A legend says he brought four Buddha statues from India to Sri Lanka.
His meditation chamber may be seen at Arankale and his dwelling place at Guharamaya. – Taken from Wikipedia
Arankele Monastery
This is a monastery in Padanagara style for the monks who devoted themselves for meditation. According to literacy evidence origin of this monastery belongs to early Anuradhapura period. Remains of buildings can be dated to 8-10 centuries A.D. This monastery was properly functioning during the Gampola period. Jantagara, Chankamangaraya, ponds, Boodhigara, Pathways, flights of steps made of polished stones, urinal stones are found here. – Taken from Archeology department board
Our next place was Rangirimada (රන්ගිරිමඩ) cave temple which was situated near to Dolukanda (දොලුකන්ද).We called for a three wheeler and went there.
Rangirimada (රන්ගිරිමඩ) cave temple
Then we came back to main road (Ibbagamuwa-Madagalla road) by foot. It was about 1km walk. Then got a bus towards Madagalla and got down at Kumbukgate (කුම්බුක්ගැටේ) junction.
The left hand side road directed to Wariyapola. We got a threewheeler and went to Kombuwa Rajamaha Wiharaya (කෝම්බුව රජමහා විහාරය) which is situated in that road. (About 3km)
Kombuwa Rajamaha Wiharaya (කෝම්බුව රජමහා විහාරය)
This temple belongs to King Detuthis (දෙටුතිස්) era and number of ruins and few caves were found there.
After seeing newly built stupa we entered into the forest to seek caves with drip ledges. After climbing about 50m we found a cave with drip ledge.
After having our lunch from that temple (Thanks for the chief priest) came back to Kumbukgate junction and moved about 100m towards Madagalla. In the Left hand side we found Kasagala cave temple.
Kasagala cave temple (කසාගල ලෙන් විහාරය)
During King Dewanampiyatissa (දේවානම්පියතිස්ස) time, a regional leader called Kassaka (කස්සක) has built this temple and donated to priests. Therefore it was named as Kasagala. Old stupa has been destroyed and two caves can be seen. A reclining Buddha statue (31feet long) can be seen in one cave.
Unfortunately we couldn’t worship it as the chief priest was not at temple at that moment.
Then we got a bus towards Madagalla and got down in front of Kaballa Lena (කබල්ලෑ ලෙන් විහාරය) temple at Egodagama. It is situated before Egodagama town.
Egodagama Kaballa Lena temple. (එගොඩගම කබල්ලෑ ලෙන් විහාරය)
It has number of caves. The main cave has been converted into a shrine house and old Buddha statues can be seen inside it. The Important feature of this cave is, it has an extra area for a Dramashalawa (ධර්ම ශාලාව) .Other caves are in the forest. Old stupa also can be seen.
Next we came to Egodagama junction and got a three-wheeler towards Hakwatunaoya (හක්වටුනාඔය) reservoir. On the way to reservoir we visited at two archeological places.
Rawa ala Maligathanna (රාවා ඇල මාලිගාතැන්න) archeological site
This archeological site has ruins of two buildings. Unfortunately this site has been forested
Our next interest was Naindanawa Rajamaha Wiharaya.
Naindanawa Rajamaha Wiharaya (නයින්දනාව රජමහා විහාරය)
There is a seven hooded cobra carving in this temple and it brings the name Naindanawa. This carving belongs to the pre historical era and a “Bahirawa”
(බහිරව) statue also can be seen nearby.
It has caves with paintings and Buddha statues. There is a statue of Lajjithissa (ලජ්ජිතිස්ස) arahath thero. (Lajjithissa Arahath thero comes in King Dutugamunu period).Thanks for the small priest for the guidance here.
Our last place of visit was Hakwatunaoya reservoir. It is nice to have an evening at Dam of Hakwatunaoya reservoir.
It was built by King Mahasena and later King Kashapa III and King Parakramabahu I contributed to it. In 1954, Sir John Kothalwawala has converted old lake into this reservoir.
Hakwatunaoya reservoir (හක්වටුනාඔය)
At the end I would like to note three kind of cobra statue found in this journey.
Thanks for reading