Welcome to Bibila!

Map 1 – Click Map to Enlarge

Map 2 – Click Map to Enlarge

Nayakadura Falls and the nearby waterfall

Bibila is a town located at an altitude of 240 meters bordering the mountains of Badulla district. It is one of the richest towns in terms of nature and heritage of Monaragala district. First of all let me start from a waterfall called Nayakadura ella which is located 50 meters upstream from the second bridge one meets after Alawaththagoda on A5. Though I have previously visited this place I paid another visit to experience increased water levels. There is a waterfall at the first bridge after Alawaththagoda too but it flows only during monsoons because it is been dammed.

Naya kadura falls

gushes down

yummy

view from A5

a cascade at Alawaththagoda

slow shutter speed

Mudiyala Kadura/Falls

After visiting Naya kadura falls we arrived at Kotagama junction and took the road towards Mudiyala and after about 1km we took another by road to the left which went in line with the paddy fields. Luckily a local person volunteered to take us to the waterfall along the Mudiyala stream. After a 500m upstream trek we reached the two step waterfall. This is an isolated place hidden in the Dorapoda forest.

lower cascades of mudiwela kadura

mudiyala kadura Ella

upper part

lower part

the base

Temgoda Raja Maha Viharaya

We returned back to the main road and proceeded towards Yalakumbura junction and from there onwards we took the Ayiwela road for few hundred meters and arrived at Temgoda ancient temple. This is a historically important temple with an inscription which helped in soughting out the number of ruling years of King Kithsirimega. With the aid of the inscription Prof Senarath Paranawitharana has cleared of the dilemma regarding the kings ruling era and declared it as 19 years. At this temple there is an ancient “Pirith mandapaya”, a “Poya geya”, few pillars here and there and a beautiful guard stone with a “Pun kalasa”. This temple was done by king Kavanthissa as I remember.

poya geya at temgoda

note the pun kalasa

the pagoda at temgoda

the inscription which changed history of king kithsirimega

library

korawak stone

at temgoda

pirith mandapaya at Temgoda RMV

patterns

dharma chkraya

Medapitiya Neelagiri drip ledge cave temple

We proceeded further along the road for more than 2km’s and came to Medapitiya where a Drip ledge cave can be found on top of a small mountain. This temple is said to be done by king Kavanthissa according to the only priest who lives there. Currently the drip ledge cave is not been used by the monk. One can easily climb up the cave and enjoy some stunning scenery around Bibila on a clear day.

the cave at medapitiya neelagiri drip ledge temple

inside the cave

katarama

the view towards kotagama

towards bibila

Panawla Falls

We hurried back towards Yalakumbura and left towards Unagolla. We came across a waterfall formed from Ibban oya close to the 185Km post of A5. The top of the waterfall is a famous bathing place and everyone in the region knows about it. This beautiful cascade plunges in to a deep pool which has taken many lives.

top of panawala falls

the best view

the base zoomed

slippery edge

Unagolla the trigger point of the Uva Rebellion

There is a rock with a statue of “Rate rala” who arrowed down Sylvester Douglas an agent of the governor of Uva at Unagolla temple. Also by the side of the road there is a monument erected by the English government in memory of their dead counterpart at the location where he fell dead.

Bit of history….

Quote

By October the Resident at Badulla Sylvester Douglas received information that a relation of the exiled King with the support of Wilbawe and some members of the clergy, accompanied by their supporters, were planning to start a rebellion against British rule. But by that time the Kandyan chiefs and holders of other subordinate positions under the British had not got together and discussed their plans and strategies to overthrow the British regime. When Wilson heard about the disturbances in Wellassa, he sent the newly appointed Muhandiram to investigate into the situation and report to him the ground realities. The disgruntled people caught Hadji and killed him. When Wilson received this information he himself set off from Badulla to inquire into the incident at Wellassa. While returning to Badulla, Wilson was shot and his team of soldiers were caught and detained by the rebels. The place where this incident occurred is today known as Wilson Plains.

Day 2 started with a drizzle and I sincerely wished that it didn’t pour down. As usual I arrived at Bibila as early as possible since my list of places to visit was so long.

ancient temple of unagolla where the wellassa rebellion started

few pillars

rate rala who shot sylvestar duglas and initiated wellassa rebellion

where sylvestar duglas dropped dead

Badulla Gammana Purana viharaya

There is a road which leads towards Badulla gammana from Bibila which crosses Gal oya. After crossing the river one needs to take the road towards the right which will lead you to the temple. The main attraction is the ancient image house with statues and paintings. Unfortunately it is not been maintained properly and there are plenty of flying mammals around. The paintings seem like they belong to Kandyan era. We also heard that there is a nearby ancient bund built across Gal oya at this point but we didn’t have time to go in search of it.

Gal oya at badulla gammana

ancient image house at badulla gammana P V

inside the image house of badulla gammana purana viharaya

note the paintings

bana maduwa at badulla gammana purana viharaya

pagoda with a fallen altar

Kotasara Piyangala Raja Maha viharaya

It is believed that the tooth relic was once kept here during king Sugala devi’s era. This temple which lies at the base of Madulsima mountain range has been modified and by many kings over the years and it’s considered as one of the most valuable locations in Monaragala district. There is a huge “Padanagara”, a “Poya seemamalakaya”, rebuilt pagoda, ancient “Awasa geya”, a well dug by a giant and out of all of these a fascinating “Tempiti viharaya”. The “Tempiti viharaya” is a beautiful creation and for the “Makara thorana” they have used green and red which is quite unusual. I was lucky enough to have a glimpse inside the image house before the police officer started objecting. Please note that the notorious police officer who is appointed to this temple will not let you take any images so try and get prior permission from Bibila police station. This is the second “Tempiti viharaya” I came across in this district, as I remember the other one is at Buttala Alutwela.

Kotasara Piyangala RMV

newly built pagoda

ruins at Kotasara Piyangala

read – Click Image to Enlarge

the padanagara – Click Image to Enlarge

again read – Click Image to Enlarge

tempiti viharaya

makara thorana at Kotasara tempiti viharaya (photograph belongs to NG)

more info – Click Image to Enlarge

the well

the seemamalakaya

Berry’s Falls

From Kotasara we took the road that led us towards 5th mile post junction on Mahiyangana road and travelled further towards 6th mile post school. Close to this school there is a road on the left hand side leading towards Helagama. After proceeding about 2km’s along this road we came to a paddy field where we needed further assistance. Up to this point locals directed us as they can but we were still confused on how to get to this mysterious waterfall called Berry. Finally when we asked directions from a house the parents of a grade 7 boy did let him guide us and his stubborn grade one brother also did accompany his brother  We had to cross the stream and enter another paddy field where one can enjoy a breathtaking view of Dehigala Falls which is easily over 100 meters in height and been the tallest waterfall of the district it plunges down from Mini worlds end and ends at Karagahawela village. This is the second time I saw this waterfall after first seeing it from the top of Ussagala. From this paddy field we descended back to the stream which we previously crossed to get to the base of mysterious Berry falls. It is said that a woman named Berry has drowned and died at its base pool hence the name Berry has been given to it. According to locals recently also one person has drowned here. It resembles Makeli falls by drooling down a rock wall in to its base pool. Just before we got out of the forest patch we had to remove some leeches and wash the mud off. We thanked our little guides and got in to the trishaw and hurried back to Bibila where I ended my trishaw hire.

crossing a stream

cascading down from mini worlds end

Dehigala ella

close up

guiding us

berry falls

and it falls

note the deep base pool

hel malu

Potubandana Raja Maha viharaya

Potubandana and Kotasara are the first few temples that were formed in Bibila and Potubandana has got its name because the “Tripitakaya” was partly written here (“Poth Bandi Sthanaya”). To get to Potubandana viharaya one needs to get to Ayiwela and proceed 1.5km along the temple road. The head priest is extremely helpful just like in Kotasara and is ever so willing to give any information if required. I came across few pillars, an inscription, some “Chatra” stones and altars in the surrounding area. The pagoda, “Poya geya” and “Awasa geya” was modified in recent times.

at Potubandana RMV

pagoda at Potubandana RMV

ruins at Potubandana RMV

statues at Potubandana RMV

an altar

modern day inscription

inscription at Potubandana RMV

plenty of pillars

Nannapurawa Ahugoa Drip ledge cave temple

From Ayiwela I took off towards Nannapurawa Welipitiya junction and proceeded 2km towards the east from this junction and arrived at a temple where one can find a pagoda built on a rock plateau. This place with stunning scenery simply amazed me! On the side of the rock there is a drip ledge cave with inscriptions and according to the recent translation it is believed to be done during King Devanam Pyathissa era.

pagoda at Ahugoda drip ledge cave temple

view from the top of Ahugoda drip ledge cave temple

spooky

the drip ledge cave

an inscription

the translation – Click Image to Enlarge

the image house

Malwessawehera Sthupa

From Nannapurawa I went towards Medagama junction where I hired a trishaw and proceeded towards Thimbiriya. Just before Thimbiriya right on the side of a river with a causeway there was an Archeology board saying Malwessawehera. At this place a newly built sthupa and few stone pillars can be found. For me the most interesting finding was a rock plate believed to be used by King Dutugemunu to rest while he was traveling pass this area and this plate can be found at the base of a tree in the middle of this river.

a direction board

serene

Malwessawehera pagoda

the rock plate where king dutugemunu rested

Thimbiriya temple

Few hundred meters passing the river the ancient temple of Thimbiriya can be found. This temple which is believed to be done by king Lajjathissa was once one of those rich places with history and heritage. The head priest of this temple is extremely helpful and will show you around even though you didn’t request. Currently this place is used as a Pirivena and there are plenty of young monks running around. At this site one can appreciate the ancient pagoda with few “Chatra” stones in the vicinity, steps with guard stones and “Korawak” stones, stone pillars, Image house with the classical “Makara thorana” and paintings belonging to Kandyan era, “Poya geya” and “Bana maduwa”. It was almost 5pm when I left Thimbiriya and the final rays were kissing the summit of Dorapoda range creating some stunning scenery.

image house at Thimbiriya RMV

makara thorana

wood carvings

the path towards…

frescoes in the image house

roof paintings

more frescoes

steps with guard stones at Thimbiriya RMV

pillars at Thimbiriya

pagoda at Thimbiriya

pagoda zoomed

daily activities at a pirivena

a chatra gala

a siri patul gala

a yanthra gala

an inscription

dusk over dorapoda range

final rays

Ussagala Vedda Paintings

Ussagala is a rocky hill close to Radaliyadda on Padiyathalawa road. And I never knew that there were vedda paintings on it until my friend Niroshan mentioned it to me. Though I didn’t visit this place during this trip I thought of adding it to this report because it is located at Bibila. After passing Radaliyadda temple one need to take a road towards the left and when you get to the village you will need a guide. Since we attempted to climb this rock during the monsoons the task was extremely difficult due to the slippery nature of the rock. Somehow with some difficulty we got to the top of it and found a small hooded cave with some vedda paintings on it. There was another cave with paintings but we couldn’t get to it because the rock was slippery. The view from the top of the rock was simply stunning, one can easily view the whole of Bibila walled from one side with the eastern slopes of the central hills of Sri Lanka. From these mountains the tallest waterfall of Monaragala district plunges down forming Dehigala falls and this was the first time I saw this beauty. Far away many lakes can be seen out of them Meegaha arawa was the closest.

Ussagala where the vedda drawings can be found

the helpful guide in action

towards Gal oya side

plenty of paddy

Elamanna worlds end covered with mist also note the two towers at Bibile city

Dehigala falls

a vedda cave

a painting

more paintings

towards bibile

another cave

Welcome to Bibila

wow again

here comes the rains

peaks at Makare gal oya

towards Randenigala

Meegaha arawa lake

Uda Thambana Devagiri Raja Maha Viharaya

On day 3 I had planned to visit two very rural places so early morning I got in to a Thambana bus and arrived at Thambana at around 8am. From here I had to walk about 2kms towards Uda Thambana to get to Devagiri RMV. This ancient temple is located at one of the remote most places of the district. Archeologically important findings at this place were the ancient pagoda with many altars, the “Na bodhiya”, fallen pillars of a building and etc. the view from the “balum gala’ also was so unique. After visiting the temple I did head back to Thambana to find out that there were no buses or trishaws for hire so I had no other option other than walking 5Km’s towards Deliwa.

drops on paddy

lush green thambana

framed within

expressions

view from the balum gala at devagiriya

ruins at devagiri RMV at thambana

fallen pillars

Paththaraya

na bodhiya

towards the pagoda

the pagoda

an altar

oil lamp

flags were every where

colouful

plenty of these beauties

Therapuththabaramaya Drip ledge caves Deliwa

After getting to Deliwa I hired a trishaw and headed towards Ruwalwela Pitatalawa in search of a caved hermitage where a “mehenin wahanse” resided. This is a hermitage with few drip ledge caves believed to be done by the Therapuththabaya and at one cave there is a drip ledge inscription too. The main cave is a long one and on the top of it there are seven “bo” trees. There is a foot path towards the forest which will lead one towards a drip ledge shrine and a Cobra hooded drip ledge cave which has been abandoned. I found an interesting “balum gala” where I rested a bit before proceeding towards Monaragala to end my adventure in search of heritage around Bibila. Thank you for reading!

a cave at theraputtabaramaya hermitage

with an drip ledge inscription

main cave

note the drip ledge

inside a kutiya

path towards the forest

drip ledge place of worship at theraputtabaramaya hermitage

cobra hooded cave

inside the cave

view from the balum gala