Trip to Embilipitiya

This was a long awaited trip to Embilipitiya for my personal matters. Then I decided to visit at some places on the way to Embilipitiya and following whole day was used to visit at places at Kollonna. Later I went in another separate day to visit at some places at Godakawela.

We got the Embilipitiya bus from Pettah at 4.15am and got down at Godakawela.

Godakawela was our first place to visit due to Mahindarama Tam piti Wiharaya (මහින්දාරාම ටැම් පිටි විහාරය) and Ammaduwa Katharagama Dewalaya (අම්මඩුව කතරගම දේවාලය).

Mahindarama Tam piti Wiharaya (මහින්දාරාම ටැම් පිටි විහාරය)

Mahindarama temple is situated in Godakawela town. Meegasthanne Adhikarama (මීගස්තැන්නේ අදිකාරම්) has built this temple under instructions of King Keerthi Sri Rajasingha කීර්ති ශ්රි රාජසිoහ (A.C 1747). Today you can see the image house of tampiti temple and Saman Dewalaya. It is hard to see a Tampiti temple in southern Sri Lanka.

Unfortunately we couldn’t go inside the image house as it was closed.

Image house of Tampiti temple. There are paintings of Saman and Vishnu on either side of the entrance

Tampiti temple

Then we visited at Ammaduwa Katharagama Dewalaya which is situated about 5km from Godakawela town. We got Ammaduwa bus from Godakawela town and got down right in front of Dewalaya. If you are going by Galkanda bus, you have to walk about 500m to reach Dewalaya. But that walk is worth as there are scenic views of paddy fields.

Ammaduwa Katharagama Dewalaya (අම්මඩුව කතරගම දේවාලය)

Ammaduwa Katharagama Dewalaya

Historical background

This was built during Kotte period (14th Century). A group of devotees have come to worship Uggal Aluthnuwara Dewalaya උග්ගල් අලුත් නුවර දේවාලය. (Refer the trip report on Visit to Uggal Aluthnuwara, (Balangoda), former Etharawa Koralaya in search of a fromal Traditional temple centered village in Sri Lanka. Its historical sites and other connected temples.) As they didn’t have accommodation at that place and got angry. Then they left their sacred things at Ammaduwa area. One of a regional leader got to know it and built this Dewalaya to worship those sacred things. Later King Parakramabahu of Kotte has allocated villagers for the service of this sacred place.

Main building is 88feet long and it has four parts as Kattaha Maduwa (කට්ටාහ මඩුව), Wattaram Shalawa (වට්ටාරම් ශාලාව), Diggeya (දිග්ගෙය) and Store room. The floor can be seen above Diggeya and store room, named as Maligawa (මාළිගාව). It is the place for ornaments of the god. There is another floor above that and nothing can be found there.

Image house, Kitchen, Kundasalaya (කුණ්ඩසාලය) and Paththini dewalaya (පත්තිනි දේවාලය) can be seen around the main building. There is a passage from main left exit of the Diggeya to Kitchen, named as Diga shalawa (දිග ශාලාව).

Kundasalaya is the place to watch dancing of Perahara.

Sinhasanaya (සින්හාසනය) is another room can be found near to main entrance and used to get a rest following Perahara.

There is a parapet around the Dewalaya for safety.

Main building of Dewalaya

First floor is Maligawa. Ornaments are there

Entrance to Kattaha maduwa

Kattaha Maduwa is closed

Kundasale is used to watch dancing at perahara season

Down view from Kundasalaya

Main entrance, Sinhasanaya, garden and surrounding environment

Sinhasanaya – used to get a rest following perahara

Scenic view met on the way

Current state

Every Wednesday evening they open doors of Dewalaya and have a puja to God Katharagama. Annual Perahara festival is in September month. Unfortunately we couldn’t see inside the Dewalaya as it was closed at morning time. Therefore better visit on Wednesday evening if possible.

After worshiping Ammaduwa temple we came back to Godakawela town and got a bus towards pallebadda. The road towards the Kamburugamuwa (කඹුරුගමුව) brought us to two places – Udagama Duvili Ella (උඩගම දුවිලි ඇල්ල) and Wavulpane (වවුල්පනේ) cave. Anura was our guide as well as driver for these places. (Later he became a good friend of us. T.P.0723577599)

Udagama Duvili Ella (උඩගම දුවිලි ඇල්ල) and Udagama Handapan Ella (උඩගම හදපාන් ඇල්ල)

To reach Udagama Duvili Ella, you have to go to Udagama junction in Kamburugamuwa road (2km) and then towards Udagama. There is a foot pathway towards the waterfall, first through the paddy fields and then within a forest patch. It is bit difficult to reach there without a known person.

It’s height is about 30m and origin is Miyanakoladeniya oya (මියන්කොලදෙනිය ඔය)

Where foot pathway starts

The way through paddy fields

A friend met on the way

Had to cross a water stream

Udagama Duvili Ella

Miyankoladeniya oya flows

Udagama Handapan Ella is situated about 100m away from the Duvili Ella. You have to cross the water stream and climb little bit up to reach this beautiful waterfall. It is 200feet height.

Udagama Handapan Ella

Water is collected for Hydro power project

After enjoying the beauty of two waterfalls, we moved towards Wawulpane lime stone cave.

Wavulpane lime stone cave

To reach wavulpane cave, you have to travel in Kamburugamuwa road towards Waulpane-about 15Km (Without turning to Udagama). If you use public transport, there is a van from Pallebadda to Wavulpane only on Mondays and Fridays. (Fair days). You can reach Wavulpane primary school by that van.

By a private vehicle, you can reach Wavulpane primary school and need to walk about 500m. It is bit difficult to travel there by a car. Four wheel or “three wheel” is ideal.

Anura guided us here as well. (Although his first visit to lime cave!) There are alternative routes to reach there as well.

This is the largest and oldest lime stone cave in Sri Lanka and only lime stone cave with an underground waterfall in the world. It is 457feet long and height of the cave differs from place to place. The forest patch surrounds the cave is called Wavulpane forest conservation. This cave is old as 50000 years and stones are belong to Cambridge era.

First we came to the entrance of the cave and changed our clothes.

The road towards the entrance. Board indicating that. The road in front of the board is to exit

On the way to entrance we came across hard water origin. It produces 26L per second contains CaCO3, Fe (OH)2, Mg salts. – Kiwul Diya Ulpatha (කිවුල් දිය උල්පත)

It’s yellowish in colour

People believe bathing of this water will cure skin diseases

This water stream flows in to the cave through a hole called “Andaraya” අඪාරය to make world’s only underground waterfall

Two parallel entrances

Halwini dola flows out through one entrance

Other entrance

Have to go through this to watch the waterfall

Underground waterfall, about 150feet height

This is the home for more than one million bats. About 7laks out of them are carnivorous

There are about 12 side caves inside the main cave. Most of the times need a ladder to reach them

Ample of cockroaches being food to bats

Coral formation outside the cave

Outer walls of the cave. Note stalactites formation. Stalactites are lime stone columns that hang from the cave roof

Need a superb flash light for this expedition. This is our guide

Another friend we met

After watching the underground waterfall, we came out and then walk towards the exit door.

Nice rock formation at exit – Stalactites

Halwini Dola flows into the cave

Exit

Getting down from the exit is hazardous. Droppings of bats with water make the floor extremely slipper

Note thousands of stars in the dark

They describe a small cave on right side of the exit as a labour room for bats. This is called Malwathu Room. (මල්වතු කාමරය

Rock formation

We didn’t forget bath at Yodaya Kapu Wala (යෝදයා කැපූ වල)

Then they describe about Madu Hen Yaya (මඩු හේන් යාය) which is situated about 2km from the cave. It has about 4000 Madu tress and reminds about Jurassic period. But we couldn’t go there.

Scenery I captured on my way back

Following Wavulpane cave we came back to Pallebadda town and had lunch.

Anura voluntarily dropped us at next destination, Pussadewa tomb. (ඵුස්සදේව සොහොන)

Pussadewa Tomb- ඵුස්සදේව සොහොන

It is in left hand side of the main road, few kilometers away from the Pallebadda junction towards Embilipitiya

The cemetery of great warrior of King Dutugamunu-Pussadewa

Then we stopped at Sankapala (සoඛපාල) ancient temple and we said good bye to Anura.

Sankapala temple (සoඛපාල)

This is one of a famous places found in Embilipitiya road, 7km from Pallebadda town. The great warrior of King Dutugemunu-Pussadewa has deposited his conch shell-“Jaya sankaya” (ජය සoඛය) in one of rocks found at this area. Therefore this area was named as Sankapala.

Following the war, King Dutugamunu has offered a village to Pussadewa. “Labadda” (ලබැද්ද) is that village. Later it becomes Pallebadda (පල්ලේබැද්ද)

Current temple and surrounding cave temples are belong to Kandayan era. There are caves with drip ledges in the mountain area belong to Anuradhapura period. Following Anuradhapura period, this temple was forested and King Rajadhirajasingha (රාජාධිරාජසිoහ) has donated this village to the great poet Korathota Dammarama Thero (කොරතොට ධම්මාරාම හිමි)

Entrance of Sankapala Temple

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New constructions

Stone pillars scattered within new constructions

Second and third image houses-paintings belong to Kandyan period

Drip ledge with cone shell

Newly built Stupa

A poem written by Korathota Dammarama Thero on the door of image house – Click Image to Enlarge

This temple carries another importance as famous poet called Gajaman Nona (ගජමන් නෝනා) also learnt poetry from Korathota Dammarama Thero at this temple. There are number of caves in the rock which is situated behind the temple, but I didn’t visit there.

Sirinaga temple (සිරි නාග විහාරය)

Our last place of visit of that day is Sirinaga temple (සිරි නාග විහාරය). It is situated at Walawe junction (වලවේ හන්දිය). (Where Udawalawe road meets Embilipitiya road). If you are going by bus, get down one bus halt before the junction.

King Mahanaga (මහානාග රජතුමා) has built this temple and there are evidences of a Tampiti temple.

Today it has only few stone pillars and otherwise completely a new temple.

Remaining stone pillars

That day evening we reached Embilipitiya and stayed at Sarathchandra guest house

Day 2

After finishing my personal activities at Embilipitiya, we started the journey for second day. This day I decided to visit at few places in Embilipitiya-Kolonna (කොලොන්න) road.

Panamure Elephant Kraal (පනාමුරේ ඇත් ගාල)

Panamure is situated at 5km from Embilipitiya in Kolonna road. You can reach there by any bus going to Kolonna. To reach Elephant Kraal, you have to get a three-wheeler from Panamure junction to Ethgala (ඇත් ගාල).

There was a famous elephant kraal at this place during British colonial period. You can notice a perennial spring here. Elephants came to drink water there because of mineral tasty. Then people captured elephants and tamed them.

Famous Panamure Elephant is not a tusker (although called giant tusker), were also captured here. But it was so furious (Literature says because of a mating elephant). In that case, this huge elephant was shot and killed. This made a big issue in the country and parliament has banded the kraal. This ends the last elephant kraal of the country (1896-1950).

Nowadays you can see the Kraal restricted to a small land which consists of a museum, monument of Panamure elephant (to be opened) and water spring.

“Diya bubula’’ දිය බුබුල water spring

It flows behind the kraal

Monument to be opened

Panamure Elephant

This is he

Old Kraal was like this

When this elephant was shot. Thanks for the person who is looking after the place for supplying these photos

Then we came back to Panamure and travelled till 8th mile post to visit at Sri Sandagala Temple-Botiyawawa. You have to get a three wheeler from 8th mile post to reach this temple and road condition was not too bad. It is about 3km to the temple. The importance of this temple is, it has the highest wooden Buddha statue of Sri Lanka. It has no historical value and made on 2005.

Sri Sandagala temple-Botiyawewa (ශ්රි සදගල විහාරය බෝටියවැව)

.	It was made by Rukkaththana (රුක් අත්තන) wood

27 feet high

Our next attraction was famous architecture during colonial period, Maduwanwela walawwa. The bus dropped us in front of Walawwa.

Maduwanwela Walawa (මඩුවන්වෙල වලව්ව්)

This was started to build in 1700 by Wijayasundara Abayakoon

Ekanayaka Mudalithma (විජයසුන්දර අබයකෝන් ඒකනායක මුදලිතුමා).There was a fight between a cobra and a mongoose here and Cobra won. As result this land was selected to build it. Following him, others have expanded this bungalow and J.W.Maduwanwela Disawe ජේ. ඩබ්. මඩුවන්වෙල දිසාවේ (1844-1930) has made current one. Maduwanwela Disawe was very famous at that time.

Stone entrance to the land

Parapet around the Walawwa and garden

Second entrance

Maduwanwela Walawwa and garden

The Bo tree was used to worship

Pioneer of the Walawwa-Wijayasundara Abayakoon Ekanayaka Mudalithuma

View of a courtyard. It had 21 courtyards and now can see only 7

This upper floor is named as Burutha Maligaya (බුරුත මාලිගය) as Burutha wood has been used for it’s constructions

Tile designing

It had a labor room as well. It had 121 rooms

Ancient bath tub

Ruins

Stone inscription found there

Pirith Mandappaya පිරිත් මන්ඩප්පය

Grinding stone

Moon stone

A great part of walawwa is in the process of restoration by the archaeology department.

The ancient well

Following enjoying this great mansion, we came to the main road to visit at our last place of the trip- Maduwanwela Duvili Ella.

Maduwanwela Duvili Ella (මඩුවන්වෙල දුවිලි ඇල්ල)

You have to follow the road in front of Maduwanwela Walawwa to reach this waterfall.

Following the cart road, have to follow the foot pathway which goes through paddy fields and then parallel to the Araporuwa River (ඇරපෝරුව ගග). You will come across three significant waterfalls, but third one is usually named as Duvili Ella-25m high.

Maduwanwela Lake

Foot pathway goes through the paddy fields

Cascade 1 -10m height

Cascade 2- 12m height

Foot pathway to down

Cascade 3 named as Duvili Ella

Araporuwa Rive continues her flow and makes Neralu Ella (නෙරළු ඇල්ල) which is situated about 3km away from Duvili Ella. This foot pathway continues towards the Neralu Ella and then to Ranchamadama. We didn’t have a time to follow it. After having a bath at Araporuwa River we finished our journey.

Thanks for enjoying it.