Hike to Bathalegala and some attractions of Pilimathalawa

This is all about famous Bathalegala rock and some tourists attractions around Pilimathalawa.

Bathalegala / Bible Rock /බතලේගල (7.188574, 80.434758) (797.7m)

Directions: Colombo->Mawanella-> Aranayaka-> Gewalapitiya->Hathgampola->Bathalegala Road->Bathalegala

Bathalegala is one of famous destinations among travellers as it is an easy hike. It is nicely seen like Sigiriya when you drive up at Kadungannawa. My first visit to Bathalegala happened in 2009 and it was the first hike with Ashan. I still can remember the extreme wind we felt on top of Bathalegala.
This was my second visit to Bathalegala after 11 years. Our main objective was to travel to Nuwara Eliya and this was kind of on our way task.

How Bathalegala is seen to nearby other mountains
The unique appearance of Bathalegala made easy to identify from nearby mountains.

On our way to Samasara Kanda

View of Bathalegala from Ura Kanda

Early morning we have arrived to Mawanella town then turned to Aranayaka road. Google map gave clear directions to Bathalegala and we stopped at Hathgampola junction to buy some buns. As I mentioned above, the road condition was not that much good at Bathalegala road. Therefore we have parked the vehicle somewhere before the trail head and walked up. (It is about 3Km from Hathgampola junction to trail head)
It is almost an ascend from the trail head to top of Bathalegala. First it was stone steps and then cements steps aided by an iron bar. This foot path comes to a mid-point of the rock. If you follow the left side you will end up at view point of Bathalegala while the temple is situated at right side of the rock.
There were evidences of camping on top of the rock. As it was a gloomy day we were not able to view that much nearby structures. Samasara Kanda, Kukulpitiya Gala and Ura Kanda were identified through the haziness. In a clear day you can view Kabaragala, Rakshawa Kanda and Asupini Ella in addition to above mentioned mountains.

Different view of Bathalegala on our way up….

At trail head……500m from here to the top.

Trail head…mentioning it as a forest reserve.

Stones laid foot path

Cement steps

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Some more to go

Selfies at middle of the path

The junction. Evidences of camping

Ura Kanda

Foot path directs to view point

On top of Bathalegala

Estate roads

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One of the view points

Another view point

At drop

Selfie on top of Bathalegala with background of Ura Kanda

The drop

The drop

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This time the top was calm compared to my previous visit and it allowed me to fly the drone. We were able to view a different angle of Bathalegala.

Aerial view of Bathalegala

The top of Bathalegala. Foot paths and temple end are clearly seen here.

Different view of Bathalegala

Different view of Bathalegala

We are on top of Bathalegala

The drop

Another angle of Bathalegala

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Then we followed the same foot path and came to the other end of the rock which is occupied by the temple. There were a lot of constructions at this end and nobody was at the temple at that time. A sign board directed us to a “Len Wiharaya” (ලෙන් විහාරය) which is situated below the rock level. There were two caves at this path and one is converted to a shrine house.

A large excavation at top might be a work of treasurer hunters.

Directions to Len Wiharaya

Steps to Len Wiharaya

Cave-1

The cave temple. Cave-2.

Inside the cave temple.

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Bo tree and Stupa were situated closer to other end. It was a good place to view Kukulpitiya Gala and Samasara Kanda.

The Bo tree

The bell and Stupa

.	Towards Samasara Kanda and Kukulpitiya Gala.

We followed the same foot path in return journey to reach the trail head.

I would like to mention about following attractions under this report.

1. Ranawana Temple
2. Kadungannawa Rock Temple
3. Pahala Kadungannawa Ambalama
4. Gadaladeniya RMW
5. Lankathilaka RMW
6. Embakke Dewalaya
7. Nelligala International Buddhist Center

Ranawana Temple /රණවන පුරාණ රජමහා විහාරය (7.271480, 80.564194)

Directions: Colombo-> Kiribathkumbura-> Ranawana Temple

Ranawana Temple is a newly built one though it is mentioned as Raja Maha Wiharaya. It is situated about 1km from Colombo-Kandy road. Road condition is satisfactory and here are ample parking spaces.
The special feature is there are number of life size sculptures depicting the life of Lord Buddha and other Buddhist historical events. The foot path directing to the top of the rock lies between these sculptures. On top of the rock there is a giant Buddha statue depicts the walking posture, which is the only such type. In addition, there is a raw of sculptures of eighty Arahath Thero as well.
Ranawana temple is visited by a lot of pilgrims daily.

Ranawana RMW

Entrance to the temple

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Stairs

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Buddha statue with walking posture

Buddha statue with walking posture

.	80 Arahath Thero

80 Arahath Thero

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Kadungannawa Rock Tunnel / කඩුගන්නාව ගල විද්ද තැන
Kadungannawa tunnel was built by Engineer Captain W.F. Dorson in 1880 while building Colombo-Kandy road. In colonial period some say this mountain wall separate the law land from the Kandyan highlands of the country. It is the way to overcome Kadungannawa pass. Currently the road goes above this tunnel and it is kept as a monument.

.	Kadungannawa Rock Tunnel

Posing with the tunnel

The parking

Pahala Kadungannawa Ambalama /පහළ කඩුගන්නාව අම්බලම (7.252852, 80.497393)

Pahala Kadungannawa Ambalama is a historical wayside rest come across at Colombo-Kandy road just before Kadungannawa tunnel. It was built at 19th century and it was a popular stopover for horsemen and merchants travelling from low lands to Kandy. It resembles Kandyan era architecture and currently renovated by Ministry of tourism.

Front view of Pahala Kadungannawa Ambalama

Side view of Pahala Kadungannawa Ambalama

Renovated by Ministry of Tourism

Passengers are resting at Kadungannawa Ambalama

Gadaladeniya RMW /ගඩලාදෙණිය රජමහා විහාරය (7.257521, 80.556064)

Directions: Colombo->Pilimathalawa->Gadaladeniya Road->Gadaladeniya

Gadaladeniya RMW with an ancient monastery is found on the flat rock at Diggala in the district of Kandy. Gadaladeniya temple is situated in 1km from Kandy-Colombo road.
This temple was built by King Buwanekabahu IV in the year 1344. This temple was built according to South Indian architecture. Though this temple is known as “Gadaladeniya “today, an inscription identifies this temple as “Darmakeerthi Wiharaya” which is the name of the founding monk.
The main shrine room has seated Buddha statue under a Makara Thorana and four standing Buddha images.
Next to the shrine room is a Devale dedicated to God Vishnu. By the side of the Vishnu Devale is a Stupa made on a rock. This believed to have been made by King Parakramabahu V. Four smaller satellite stupas are built on small shrine rooms around the main Stupa. This structure is called the Vijayothpaya or Vijayantha Prasada which is a mythical palace of God Indra.

The inscription mentioning the temple was found by Darmakeerthi Thero in 14th century.

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Another inscription

What it says

The main shrine room is under cover of steel sheets for protection.

Main shrine room

Seated Buddha statue under Makara Thorana. Note four standing Buddha statues around it.

Close up of Makara Thorana

Vishnu Dewalaya

Main Stupa and four satellite stupas around it.

The Bo tree

Other entrance

Lankathilaka RMW / ලoකාතිලක රජමහා විහාරය (7.234069, 80.564947)

Directions: Colombo->Pilimathalawa->Gadaladeniya Road-> Pamunuwa->Lankathilaka Temple

Lankathilaka RMW was built in Gampola Kingdom at the crest of a large rock named “Panhalgala” which overlooks Hanthana Mountain Range. King Buwanekabahu IV who reigned from 1341 to 1351 A.D chose Gampola as his Kingdom and constructed this Wiharaya with help of a South Indian architect Sthapati Rayar.
There is a preaching hall thatched with flat roof tiles at the entrance. The main Wiharaya was built using granite with a plaster covering, has three stories built on natural rock. Inside the wall and ceiling of the main image house are decorated by paintings belong to Kandyan Era. There is a rock inscription at temple premises. There are five Devale can be seen around the image house.
The main temple was closed at the time of our visits. It is situated about 5km from Kandy-Colombo road along the same line of Gadaladeniya Temple road.

Hanthana range is seen to Lankathilaka RMW

The preaching hall at entrance

The rock inscription at Lankathilaka RMW

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Lankathilaka Temple

Makara Thorana at entrance of the temple

Makara Thorana at entrance of the temple

Wishnu Dewalaya

Embekke Dewalaya /ඇම්බැක්කේ දේවාලය (7.218005, 80.567716)

Directions: Colombo-> Pilimathalawa->Gadaladeniya Road->Embekke->Embekke Dewalaya

Embekke Dewalaya is famous for it’s wood carvings, pillars and other structures. This Dewalaya was built in Gampola period of King Wickrama Bahu II. Embekke Dewalaya was dedicated to God Katharagama and built as a three-storied building. Currently it has one floor with two segments named the Digge (Dancing Hall) and Drummers Hall (Hewasi Mandappaya). There are about 514 total wood carvings found at Embekke Dewalaya.
Embekke Dewalaya is situated about 6.6km from Colombo-Kandy road along the same line of Gadaladeniya and Lankathilaka Temple road.

Entrance of Embekke Dewalaya-Hewisi Mandappaya

Embekke Katharagama Dewalaya –Diggeya

Embekke Katharagama Dewalaya-Diggeya

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.	Wood carvings of Embekke Dewalaya

Katharagama Dewalaya

Monarageya of Embekke Dewalaya.

Buddha statue

Nelligala International Buddhist Center (7.302237, 80.560151)

Directions: Colombo-> Pilimathalawa-> Godamuduna->Muruthalawa->Nelligala

Nelligala International Buddhist Center is a new addition to tourist attractions of Pilimathalawa. Road condition from Pilimathalawa to Nelligala Buddhist Center is good and distance is about 8km. Nelligala was started to build in 2015 but still constructions going on.
This is situated on top of a mountain with 360 views. There are Buddha statues (some of them are golden plated), stupas and a shrine house at this premises. The new addition of the place is the statue of God Saman.
You can view Alagalla, Bathalegala, Ura Kanda, Belumgala, Peacock Hills, Ambuluwawa, Piduruthalagala, and Hunnasgiriya Mountain from Nelligala in a clear day.

Entrance of Nelligala

Following steps….

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Golden plated Stupa

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Statue of God Saman

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.	Shrine house

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Towards Piduruthalagala range and Peacock hills

Sun rise from Nelligala

Alagalla

Bathalegala and Ura Kanda

Kabaragala

Ambuluwawa and Sri Padaya

Weheragala Ancient temple and Kadungannawa Belumgala

Kandy-Colombo road at Pilimathalawa

More and more mountains from Nelligala.

Thanks For reading