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Palaithive-The Island of St. Anthony

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Year and Month  2017 March 19th
Number of Days  One day
Crew  05-Amila, Ashan, Neranjana, Nuwan and My self
Accommodation  Previous day night at Jaffna Patinam Hotel
Transport  Van and boat
Activities  Photography and just visiting
Weather  Sunny
Route  Kandy->Jaffna->Mankumpan Jetty (මන්කුම්පාන් ජැටිය)->Palaitivu (පලෙයිතිව්)->Back to Mankumpan Jetty->Jaffna->Polonnaruwa
Tips, Notes and Special remark
  1.  This is the only opportunity for the year to visit at Palaitivu island. It is the festival of St. Anthony church. Otherwise public can’t visit the island. Only a Naval base is situated there.
  2.  Usually Palaitivu island festival happens the following Sunday of Katchatheevu island festival. It lasts for one week. People from Katchatheevu island come here after the festival and camp there.
  3. This island has no drinking water or large trees. During festival season Navy will provide drinking water.
  4. There are number of shops to buy food, snacks, soft drinks and biscuits. Not like Katchatheevu, numbers of shops sell food and even meat stalls were seen. Therefore no need to worry about food. But prices are high.
  5. Carry a tent if you plan to stay overnight.
  6. This is not a kind of trip. A pilgrimage. Therefore behave accordingly.
  7. Mobile phone signals are varied.
  8. Don’t put garbage everywhere. Dump them at relevant places only.
  9. You can walk around the island and can bath at any place. Security eyes are less compared to Katchatheevu island festival.
  10. Transport: We were provided transport facilities from Navy but usually they don’t transport civilians. We have departure from Mankumpan jetty. (Jetty belongs to Navy only). Don’t know where fishermen boats start. But make sure you wear at least good life jacket if you travel by a passenger boat.
  11. The journey is around 1hours long from Mankumpan to Palaitivu. If you experience vomiting in the sea better have anti emetics before get into the boat.

Special thanks to Amila. If you wouldn’t have arranged things our journey would be difficult.
Hats off for Sri Lankan Navy. They have organized the annual festival well with necessary facilities for public.

Author  Niroshan
Comments Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread

St. Anthony is the saint of worship among catholic population at coastal areas of Sri Lanka. There are annual festivals to worship St. Anthony at Kochchikade, Katchatheevu and Palaitivu churches.
As Katchatheevu and Palaitivu islands are out of bound for general population, festival season is the only opportunity to visit there. Usually Katchatheevu festival occurs in March and Palaitivu festival would be held on following Sunday. As Katchatheevu is a debatable island, the festival last only for two days and south Indians also participate. But Palaitivu Island festival last for seven days and opened only for Sri Lankans.

Where is Palaitivu situated

 

History of Palaitivu Island church
It doesn’t have a long history like Katchatheevu. The church was established by locals 50 years ago.                       ( Source: Jaffna Bishop House)

Last year when I visited at Katchatheevu, got to know about Palaitivu Island and it’s festival. We were waiting for a year to do this visit. Ashan, Neranjana and Nuwan also joined with us for this journey.
Thanks for Amila, he has arranged everything nicely for this visit. Myself and Nuwan arrived Jaffna from Kandy and other two reached there from Colombo. It was a sleepless night for Amila as both parties arrived in early morning in two occasions. Our journey was planned at 5am and we have reached Mankumpan jetty at that time.
We had to travel by a water jet and we were only five civilians with two other government workers. It was the last day of annual festival and maximum crowd has reached the island to participate the morning mass.
The journey took around 1hour and surrounding was beautiful with rising sun. We have reached the island by 7’o clock and hundreds of boats were roaming around the Island.
According to the Navy officer total number of 5000-6000 devotees has come to the island for morning mass. Navy has supplied drinking water for all devotees. We spent few minutes at morning mass and started to hang around.
Palaitivu festival market was luxurious and can be seen large variety of goods. We also bought some Thosai and Chinese rolls. After walking through the market we decided to get into the island.
We had to cross a nice grassy land and human droppings were found there. After jumping over human droppings we reached the beautiful beach. This beach extends around the island and shallow sea was ideal for bath. A coral reef is margined the island about 500m away from beach. It creates a shallow sea around the island. After having the bath we again walked further around this island. Island doesn’t have large trees only bushes can be seen around.
We came back to Navy camp around 10.30am and had the breakfast they prepared for Navy officers and priests.
Our return journey also happened by same water jet but it spent much time as boat has to avoid fishing nets.
It was a nice short visit to Palaitivu Island.

Early morning view of Mankumpan jetty

Just before dawn

Team except me at Mankumpan jetty

Water jet has arrived to the jetty

Nicely woven mat

Happy faces

Sun rise

View of sun rise from the boat. Click credit goes to Amila.

I had nice clicks with sun rise

Going to hear morning mass

It is not safe to travel without life jackets.

Different kind of boats around the island

Different kind of boats around the island

Different kind of boats

They are sailing towards island

View of Palaitivu Island church from sea.

View of Palaitivu Island church from sea.

We have reached Palaitivu Island jetty

Boats around the island

SL Navy base at Palaitivu Island

St. Anthony shrine at Palaitivu Island

St. Anthony shrine at Palaitivu Island

St. Anthony shrine at Palaitivu Island

St. Anthony church at Palaitivu Island.

They were around the church.

They were around the church.

Devotees at morning mass.

St. Anthony church at Palaitivu Island

The place for light lamps…

Part of massive crowd around the church.

This little lady is also hearing the mass. Click credit goes to Amila

At Palaitivu festival market

At Palaitivu festival market

At Palaitivu festival market

At Palaitivu festival market

You can have a hot Thosai here

Colourful

Skinning of a chicken

Fun time of young crowd

Temporary shelter of devotees

Get into the grassy land.

They were captured over grassy land.

It made nice pictures in my camera.

It made nice pictures in my camera.

Beautiful shallow sea around the island. Bottom was full of live corals.

Beautiful shallow sea around the island. We have walked in the sea.

Corols

Corals at bottom of the sea

Found at beach

Found at beach

Found at beach

Found at beach

Found at beach

Corals

They are posing

Walking around the Island

Another special feature of this island is having shrines everywhere of the island.

Walking around the island

Walking around the island

Don’t know how it has reached here

Don’t know how it has reached here

Don’t know how it has reached here

Don’t know how it has reached here

Back to land side

Back to land side. Tractor path used by Navy.

Grassy land

The tower situated at Palaitivu jetty. This was renovated in 2009 by SL Navy. This tower also has the purpose of light house.

Similar tower situated at Mankumpan Jetty.

Google view of the island when we were there

Google view of the island when we were there

Thank you for reading. Have a safe journey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


වෙරළ දිගේ 2 – Walk along the beach from Godawaya to Kalametiya – 10 Km

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Year and Month  January 2016
Number of Days  One
Crew  Nishantha &  Myself
Accommodation  N/A
Transport  Public transport (Bus), Canoe, Walking
Activities  Beach walk, Sightseeing, Photography & Sharing fishermen’s experiences
Weather  Excellent
Route  Colombo –> Ambalanthota –> Godawaya –> Kalametiya –> Tangalle –> Colombo
Tips, Notes and Special remark
  1. Start the journey as early as possible.
  2. Apply a sun cream & wear a cap/ hat for sun protection
  3. Wear a top with long sleeves, if possible.
  4. Walking with sandals would be safe in some areas & walking barefoot help to keep your legs relax.
  5. Need about 2 ltr per person & enough food items.
  6. Do not ignore the fishermen during the walk & do not associate them with too much.
  7. Do not get into Walawe River as there are crocodiles roaming in that area.
  8. Sea area soon after passing Ussangoda fishery harbor is the safe place to have a sea bath.
  9. Be careful when crossing estuary of Kalametiya lagoon. It is risky to cross when the water flow is high.
Author Chamara123
Comments Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread

After passing about one year from my 1st beach walk I thought of doing another because, I wanted to have a change and diversify my traveling portfolio. Even though, the total length around our Country along the beach is about 1600+ km it was bit difficult to select a definite stretch but, finally decided to walk 10km from Godawaya to Kalametiya along Southern coastal border.

Nishantha joined me at Pettah bus terminal in mid night & got in to Kataragama bus. After 5 hour journey we reached Ambalantota at about 6 a.m., from there we had our breakfast, bought drinkable water & eatables as we know that we will not come across any shop during this 10km walk.

We walked about 2km towards southern coastal border from Ambalantota town till we come across Walawe River. We waited there till a canoe comes to cross the river by keeping in mind not to get in to water as we were advised by villagers saying that there are crocodiles roaming in that area.

Need to cross the Walawe river

The area belongs to DWC

Transport mode

halted

Crossing Walawe river

Stepped to Godawaya beach

After stepped in the Godawaya beach we noticed a set of fishermen who were busy with a Ma dela (මා දැල). We walked towards them, helped for their work while chatting with them in a friendly manner & they were humble enough to offer plain tea for us. We didn’t have much time to share their life experiences hence, decided to say good bye & start our walk towards Kalametiya.

Apart from the fishery harbours in Godawaya, Ussangoda & Kalametiya, we didn’t meet any human in most of the areas along this unpolluted coastal line. Although, Ussangoda beach is a famous bathing spot we didn’t notice too much garbage in the area.

We walked together, had some rests here & there and didn’t forget to have a superb sea bath at beautiful Ussangoda beach.

At Godawaya beach

At Godawaya beach

.

Hard life

Helped them

It is not an easy task

.

.

.

.

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.

.

.

Towards Kalametiya

Shining


My travel companion

Dead body

ඉකිරි

.

Ussangoda brake water is seen

At Ussangoda

At Ussangoda

At Ussangoda

.

Red color soil at Ussangoda National Park

Brake water seen from National Park


Ussangoda National Park

at
Ussangoda National Park

View towards Godawaya

Safe bathing place

.

.

.

ඉකිරි

Unpolluted beach area

මඩුවා

.

.

.

We reached Kalametiya within 4-5 hours but, stucked there for a while to cross the estuary of Kalametiya lagoon as the water flow was little bit high. Finally, a fisherman showed us the path to cross the estuary along a sand reef. We entered to a tar road by crossing the estuary and refreshed at nearby temple. We had to walk again about 1 km to catch the Tangalle bus which was the last one on that day.

Kalametiya

at Kalametiya

Nishantha & myself

Kalametiya lagoon

Need to cross

Looking back

Thanks for reading…

Greatest Lake of Polonnaruwa-Parakrama Samudrya

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Year and Month  2012-2017
Number of Days  Different
Crew  With my colleauges and friends
Accommodation  N/A
Transport By motor bike, car and walking
Activities Sightseeing, Archeology, Photography and Boating
Weather Excellent
Route Polonnaruwa->Parakrama Samudrya
Tips, Notes and Special remark
  • There are some paid boat rides at PS done by hotels around. But I went with couple of fishermen without safety jacket and taking my own risks.
  • It is good to have boat ride at evening hours.
  • Angamadilla NP has no jeeps like Minneriya or Kaudulla. So you have to get jeeps from Minneriya park if you go safaris.
  • Angamadilla Circuit Bungalow can be booked online.
  • Dry season (July-September) is the best opportunity to walk to Seetha Maligaya.
  • It was my dream to spend a night at Angamadilla NP before I left Polonnaruwa and it didn’t happen. Though I tried to get some pictuers from friends to include in report, it didn’t work.

Please note: Parakrama Samudrya  is referred as PS.

Author Niroshan
Comments Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread
  • Greatest Lake of Polonnaruwa-Parakrama Samudrya.
  • Related articles:  1. මහවැලිය හා එතිහාසික පොළොන්නරුව by Jayasingha Balasooriya. It can be bought from Polonnaruwa archeological museum.
    2. Amazing Lanka web site

It is almost six years I have lived and worked at Polonnaruwa and it is the high time to say good bye to this majestic city. I have written about different places at Polonnaruwa and hope it was helpful to the readers a lot and would be useful to future travellers. If I don’t write about the hallmark of this ancient city-Parakrama Samudrya, it would be a gap. This is the ideal moment to share my different visits at Parakrama Samudrya during last six years.
I have seen loads of travellers visit at Parakrama Samudrya but only give attention to Pothgul Wiharaya and statue of King Parakramabahu. But there are more places to visit and enjoy at PS.

History of Parakrama Samudrya
Parakrama Samudrya was built by King Parakramabahu I (1164-1196 AD).
“Not one drop of water must flow into the ocean without serving the purposes of man”-King Parakramabahu the great (1164-1196 AD).
To prove this statement he has built this giant lake Parakrama Samudraya / Sea of Parakrama.
Parakrama Samudraya is a collection of five lakes.

1. Thopa Wawa / Bandi Wewa-තෝපා වැව/බැදි වැව
2. Eramudu Wawa (Katu Wawa)-එරමදු වැව (කටු වැව)
3. Dumbutulu Wawa-දුබුටුලු වැව
4. Kalahagala Wewa-කලහගල වැව
5. Bhu Wewa-භූ වැව

It gets water from Amban Ganga (අඹන් ගග)-main tributary of Mahaweli River via 8km long canal called Akasa Ganga (ආකාස ගග).
The dam of Parakrama Samudraya is 8.5miles (14km) long and 12.2m high. The body of water covers 5350acres with an average depth of 25feet. It gives water to over 18000 acres of paddy fields.

After demise of Polonnaruwa Kingdom, this great creature was also abounded. Polonnaruwa was less populated area till Sir D.S.Senanayaka builds new colonies at Polonnaruwa in 1935 under British government. During this development they have built a temporary road to divide Kalahagala Lake and Bhu Wewa from rest of PS. Later it was permanent and nowadays you can see only three lakes forming Parakrama Samudrya.

What you can see at Parakrama Samudrya

1. Spill of Parakrama Samudrya / Dora Dahaya (දොර දහය)
Parakrama Samudrya has ten slice doors at spill and commonly called Dora Dahaya. It is an amazing thing to watch water spilling through this when it is opened during rainy season at November-December period due to North-East monsoon. If they say “Dora Dahaya” are opened that means Polonnaruwa or feeding lands of Mahaweli River has got heavy rain.
A lot of people gather to watch the overspill of water through ten gates when it is opened.

The road goes over the bunt and ten gates of PS.

Ten gates of Parakrama Samudrya

When ten doors are opened. Photo credit-Dr. Udara Jayasekara

Spill of Parakrama Samudrya

2. Angamadillia Ancient Stonewier (අoගමැඩිල්ල ඉපැරණි ගල් අමුණ)
Parakrama Samudrya gets water from Amban Ganga (main tributary of Mahaweli River) via 8km long canal called Akasa Ganga. Water diversion happens at a place called Angamadilla. You can see ancient stone weir where water diversion happened.
The road to Angamadillia goes parallel to Akasa Ganga. Special feature you can note is one side (left hand) of the road is Wasgamuwa NP and right hand side is Angamadilla NP.

Akasa Ganga-Canal feeds PS

Angamadilla in one side

First you will meet Angamadilla new anicut where large amount of water flows. This anicut is to filter mud and debris in river water and to prevent get into PS. Few hundred meters away the anicut you can see the entrance of Angamadillia NP. And there is a gravel road towards the forest and at the end ancient stonewier can be seen. This place has shallow water and it is an ideal for bath. A lot of nearby people come there at evening and mainly on holidays to enjoy. Current lake is called Angamadilla Yoda Ela and it slightly differs from the path of ancient Akasa Ganga.

Shallow slow water

Ancient stonewier

Angamadilla Anicut

Water flows to Anicut

Fishes are flown to one side with water flow. Then they jump back.

Angamadilla Anicut

Water flows in Akasa Ganga

After flowing through anicut. This anicut is to retain mud and debris flow along river water to prevent get into the lake.

After flowing through anicut

Crossing Angamadilla Yoda Ela -අoගමැඩිල්ල යෝධ ඇල

Parakrama Samudrya

Sun set over PS

3. Angamadilla National Park
This was declared as a national park in SL at 2006. Wasgamuwa NP is situated closer to this and Amban Ganga (and Akasa Ganga) separates them. There is a circuit bungalow and camp site situated at Angamadilla NP. You can arrange a jeep safari at Angamadilla NP. (Mainly Elephant watching).

4. Ancient Sluice (Sorowwa) at Bhu Wewa
Bhu Wewa is separated from PS and ancient sluice can be seen there.

Ancient Sorowwa at Bhu Wewa

Ancient Sorowwa at Bhu Wewa

View of Sorowwa from top

5. Swarnapali Temple (ස්වර්ණපාලී විහාරය)
On your way to Bhu Wewa you will come across this temple called Swarnapali Temple. There is a nice story behind it.(The priest at temple mentioned it, but I can’t remember)

Ruins at Swarnapali Temple

Ruins at Swarnapali Temple

Ruins at Swarnapali Temple

Ruins at Swarnapali Temple

Google map shows Swarnapali Temple, Sluice of Bhu Wewa and Kalahagala Lake

6. Boat ride in Parakrama Samudrya
This was just to hang around the lake by fishermen boats. Indranatha and myself went for a boat ride with two fishermen. The main lake is divided into different parts by the land but connected through narrow water columns. It was a nice experience to move from one part of the lake to another through these narrow water columns. Other side of PS is a good place to view elephants. Sometimes they come to Polonnaruwa new town by crossing the lake. There are few islands where you can watch some aquatic birds and have a rest during the ride. Though Angamadilla Yoda Ela is the main feeder of PS there are other feeding canals as well. Kaneyyiyan Ela (කනෙයියන් ඇල) is one of them mentioned as the old Akasa Ganga built during Polonnaruwa Era.

Get into boats

One part of the lake connecting with other side

One part of the lake connecting to other

Other side of the lake

Other side of the lake

Fishery at PS…Dimbulagala is seen at back drop

Dimbulagala and Akasa stupa is seen as a white dot

Folk of birds

Couple

It is a nice place for bird watching

Folk of birds…

Painted strokes and some other birds

Painted stroke and some other birds

Couple of Painted strokes

They are in action….

Folk of birds…Little Cormorant

Remains of bushes

කෝටු

Grown over water

Fishermen

Fishes

Landing…

Reaching a small island at lake

Boat landing at Island

Jumbo at other side of the Lake

Jumbo at other side of the Lake

Other side of the Lake

Jumbo at other side of the lake

Dumbutulugala and Dimbulagala over PS

Meeting friends…

Having fun

At the end

Sun set over PS

7. Seetha Maligaya (Cool Palace) සීත මාලිගය
The Palace built in middle of Parakrama Samudrya by King Parakramabahu to stay during warm season, called Seetha Maligaya. During dry season it can be approached by foot. Otherwise it is surrounded by water.
I have been there at one evening with a friend and our approach along the dry area of PS closer to common bathing place. The cool palace was well preserved by archeology department / Central Cultural Fund with renovation. This was a good place to enjoy sun set.

Seetha Maligaya at Parakrama Samudrya

Seetha Maligaya at Parakrama Samudrya

Awaiting

Shore of PS

Along PS to cool palace

Bund of Parakrama Samudrya

Evening at Parakrama Samudrya

Shore of PS

Sun set

This is not a part of Cool palace. It came across at bund of PS

Sun set over Parakrama Samudrya

Path to Seetha Maligaya

Seetha Maligaya over bushes

Seetha Maligaya

View of Rankoth Wehera from Seetha Maligaya

Enjoying the sun set at Seetha Maligaya

8. Poth Gul Wiharaya and the statue of King Parakramabahu (පොත්ගුල් විහාරය හා පැරකුම්බා පිළිමය)
This is the most attractive and well known place of PS. It can be reached by 1.5km drive along the bund of Parakrama Samudrya. This might be the statue of King Parakramabahu Great or Indian high priest called Kapila/ Pulasthi (කපිල/පුලස්ති). It is used as the symbol of Polonnaruwa.
The temple next to this statue called Poth Gul Wiharaya. This was used as a library complex during King Parakramabahu period. Some wall paintings still can be seen here.

Information about Pothgul Wiharaya and Parakramabahu Statue

Poth Gul Wiharaya-Considered as a library complex.

Poth Gul Wiharaya

Poth Gul Wiharaya

Poth Gul Wiharaya

Statue of King Parakramabahu / Pulasthi

Google map shows Pothgul Wiharaya and statue of King Parakramabahu

9. Dumbutulugala (දුබුටුලුගල)-7.887455, 80.975932
A small rock situated at Lake Bund of PS, actually at Dumbutulu Wewa. There are some ruins around the rock and traces of an ancient stupa can be seen on top of the rock. It is a nice place to enjoy the sunset at evening.

Where Dumbutulugala is situated

Get on to Dumbutulugala. Photo credit-Dr. Nileeka Kurukulaaratchy

On top of Dumbutulugala. Photo credit-Dr. Nileeka Kurukulaaratchy

Ruined Pagoda. Photo credit-Dr. Nileeka Kurukulaaratchy

Stone steps. Photo credit-Dr. Nileeka Kurukulaaratchy

View from Dumbutulugala.Photo credit-Dr. Nileeka Kurukulaaratchy

Towards Parakrama Samudrya. Photo credit-Dr. Nileeka Kurukulaaratchy

Thanks for reading.

First to visit Kala wewa National park

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Year and Month October, 2015
Number of Days One
Crew (Both of us & Theshantha’s family)
Accommodation N/A
Transport Pajero & Hilux
Activities Adventure drive, 4X4, Archeology, National parks
Weather Gloomy and drizzling
Route Chilaw -> Nikaweratiya -> Maho -> Madagalla -> Bulnewa -> Galnewa -> Kala wewa -> Andiyagala -> Kala Wewa NP -> Res wehera -> Awukana -> Vijithapura -> Returned back on the same route
Tips, Notes and Special remark
  • Carry water you will need it, also take some food stuff
  • Do not carry Plastic items (Minimize), Make sure you bring back everything you took
  • Best time to visit is during April or September
  • Follow the rules of the national park
  • The entrance is from Galkiriyagama side (7°59’17.96″N 80°33’21.21″E)
  • A camp site(for now you could camp close to the lake) and bungalow is been planned to be built at Kala wewa
  • The Road condition towards Ras vehera was terrible i
  • Don’t disturb wild life
Related Resources
Author Ashan
Comments Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread
The map - click to enlarge

The map – click to enlarge

It was totally random but we wanted to visit Kala wewa since it was named and opened to the public very recently. When we got there it was already drizzling and the lake was filled up to the brim. After getting in contact with the DWC officers and experienced “Ali Ananda” we went to get a ticket. We were surprised because we got to know that we were the first to visit the park since its opening. Feeling honoured we took the road towards Kala wewa reservoir. It was a muddy virgin road which was very slippery. This adventure was all about mud baths. When we reached the lake we noted that we had to abandon the idea of riding around the lake because the 20km path was covered with water. After a brief stay we came back to the entrance and took the road towards the fishing port and took a short boat ride before exiting this muddy park. Though we didn’t see any elephants it really didn’t matter because we enjoyed the muddy ride. We were told that there are 14 Tuskers and 12 young Elephants with tusk. Kala wewa is the only place in SL with such a high density of tuskers. So it’s a timely decision to announce this as a national park.

entrance at galkiriyagama

entrance at galkiriyagama

a beauty

a beauty

awaiting to be opened

awaiting to be opened

first ticket issued to public

first ticket issued to public – click to enlarge

honoured customer

honoured customer

 awaiting at the entrance

awaiting at the entrance

virgin roads

virgin roads

muddy

muddy

 the lake was full

the lake was full

 a bone

a bone

some mushrooms

some mushrooms

 end of the road

end of the road

ah play time

ah play time

kala wewa

kala wewa

note the bund

note the bund

young photographers

young photographers

ah got stuck

ah got stuck

he dug his way out

he dug his way out

halted

halted

lonely as usual

lonely as usual

no sun at all

no sun at all

 they loved the water

they loved the water

he decided to jump

he decided to jump

and it ended like this

and it ended like this

playing cricket with the paddle

playing cricket with the paddle

a boat ride

a boat ride

landing on a mini island

landing on a mini island

 living

living

evidence of a rock quary

evidence of a rock quarry

 at an ancient rock quarry close to the entrance

at an ancient rock quarry close to the entrance

interesting markings

interesting markings

 paradise

paradise

 petals with drops

petals with drops

floating solo

floating solo

 tag team

tag team

full group

full group

After visiting Kala wewa we wanted to visit few archeological sites in the vicinity so we returned back to Andiyagala junction and took few by roads and reached Bulnewa – Saliyagama road and from there we went towards Res wehera. It is located in Kahallapallekele sanctuary and the road was a muddy one through the wilderness. The visit was totally worth and we really appreciated that visit. We also climbed uphill to have a good panoramic view towards the land of the kings. The image house and its paintings were well preserved and lovely.

Quote

This is a colossal statue of Buddha lying close the famous Awkana statue, but not as popular. This statue is called Ras Vehera as well as Sasuruwa (or Sas-seruwa). The height of this statue is recorded as 39 feet 3 inches but according to the chief priest there its height is 42 feet 4 inches. The statue depicts the Abhaya Mudra ( freedom from fear). Like the Awkana the robe of the Buddha is clinging to the body but the final finishes doesn’t seems to have been done.

The pedestal on which the Buddha is carved is not decorated and it is only a square block of stone. One ear is also unfinished. All this indicate that this statue was never fished for a unknown reason.

According to chronicles The King Mahasen (276-303 AD) who ruled from Anuradhapura has built a statue called “Rahera” statue at the base of the “Rahera” cliff. It is thought that Ras Vehera is this statue and after his death the work on the site has also halted.

This statue also lacks the “Siraspatha” at the top of the head which is seen in the Awkana statue. But it is said that there has been a wooden “siraspatha” in early days. There also has been a housing structure around the statue for protection as the rock in which the statue is carved is fairly soft. All this has been destroyed during the North Indian Tamil invasion (of Kalinga Maga).

The Bo Tree in the site is a sapling of the very first 32 saplings (dethis Omaha bo Ankara) of the Sri Maha Bodhi in the Anuradhapura and is thought to be planted by the king Devampiyathissa (250 – 210 BC). It is said that on the day the tree was planted the area was lit by colourful rays of light (ras). Thus the name ‘Ras Vehera’ was attached to this site. The tree is protected by a 10 feet tall 4 layers of tightly packed stones. This is too is a unique feature of the unique feature comparable to bodigara seen in other temples.

This place is also called Sesuruwa (or Sas-seruwa) which could be interpreted as the “similar statue”. This could be due the proximity of the Awkana Statue and the similarities. Folklore also tells that the Ras Vehera statue was done by the same person and this was a trial before starting off the famous Awkana Statue.

There are 2 image houses in addition to the main Buddha image cut in to the stone. One is on the same path you climb to the rock statue but before the Bo tree. This image house inside a cave is called “Raja Maha Viharaya” and the stupa is said to be built by King Walagamba (89-77 BC). As you enter is a beautiful Makara Thorana and underneath is a beautiful seating Buddha statue.

The other cave image house contains a massive reclining Buddha statue. You can see several places in this statue where treasure hunters have broken in to and freshly repaired.

According to the priest of the temple this is 39 feet long and has some unique features not found in other shrine caves. It is possible to walk around this statue. Another feature is the robe on the statue has been hand woven and pasted. Then a hand woven cotton thread has been pasted all over to represent the waves of the robe. Then this has been plastered and painted. According to the chief priest this thread has been woven by single poor woman as a offering to the Buddha. The original thread and the robe is now visible in certain places, specially on the rear side of the statue.

In this cave there is finely woven bed donated by a wood craftsman during the King Rajasinghe (1797 – 1814) era. According the chief priest there is a very interesting story behind this offering. During these times only privileged people were allowed to sleep on beds. But the wife of this said wood craftsmen was nagging him to make her a bed.

Finally the craftsman gave in and made a bed for his wife. And of course there was no fun sleeping on a bed when nobody knows that there is a bed in your house. So the wife had to tell about her secret bed to their neighbors and news spread from house to house and finally to the king. So finally the the poor craftsman decided to offer the bed to the temple to avoid punishment by the king.

In this cave is a small burrow where a large Cobra lives. It is commonly believed that this cobra is a protector of the cave shrine.

Both these shrine rooms are generally kept locked to keep away thiefs. But the priests there will be happy to open them for anybody who wants to go in.

In addition to above there are 99 caves where the Buddhist monks lived in the pre christian era.

entering Kahallapallekele sanctuary

entering Kahallapallekele sanctuary

traversing the wilderness

traversing the wilderness

Res wehera statue

Ras vehera statue

 lovely

lovely

climbing uphill

climbing uphill

a beetle

a beetle

top of res wehera

top of ras wehera

the lake of res wehera

the lake of ras wehera

 ritigala as seen from the top

ritigala as seen from the top

lovely window

lovely window

Dethis maha bodhiya

Dethis maha bodhiya

a moonstone

a moonstone

 an image house

an image house

makara thorana

makara thorana

 inside the cave

inside the cave

paintings

paintings

lovely paintings

lovely paintings

the statue

the statue

more paintings

more paintings

main image house

main image house

 seated statue

seated statue

lovely paintings

lovely paintings

reclining statue

reclining statue

 inscription

inscription

path towards a cave

path towards a cave

Bhatiyatiss lena

Bhatiyatiss lena

From Ras Vehera we took off towards Awukana and paid this masterpiece a quick visit.

Quote

Our ancient sculptures in stone in the form of Buddha statues, sluices, guard stones , pillars and other such artifacts are over 2000 years old. Among the largest such standing Buddha statues is this famed Aukana Buddha statue lying amidst Raja Rata – the cradle of our ancient civilization. It is carved out of a rock boulder and lies close to the serene Kala Weva tank built by King Dhatusena of the 5th century AD.

The Aukana Buddha colossus in stone is also easily accessible through the Mahaweli System H, at Galnewa. This Aukana Buddha statue is 46-feet high, resting on a fine lotus stone pedestal. The symbolic gesture carved on the statue, called Mudra is in the form of Ashiva Mudra which signifies giving or blessing.

A few miles away from Galnewa via Magalweva in Mahaweli System H, lies a similar standing Buddha statue enclaved amidst a vast conclave of rock cave shelters and giant boulders in the folds of the jungle fastness. This Buddha statue is known by two names one is Ras Vehera and the other Sesuruwa.

Ras Vehera has its derivation that the patriarch Bo tree standing there had originated from a sapling that was brought from the Sri Maha Bodhiya in Anuradhapura. As when the Bo sapling was planted there, the rays (halo) of Lord Buddha illuminated around the place.

Awukana

Awukana

lovely

lovely

inscription at awukana

inscription at awukana

a kema

a kema

urinal stone

urinal stone

 guard stone

guard stone

From Awukana we took off towards Vijithapura to pay a visit to the historical Vijithapura Raja Maha Viharaya. After visiting the temple we returned back to our homes with some wonderful memories of this rainy day.

Quote

In the 2nd century BC the great warrior king Dutugemunu (161-131 BC) began his crusade to defeat the Indian Tamil King Elara in Anuradhapura and bring the country under one Sri Lankan king from Tissamaharama. On his way he destroyed many strongholds of Elara. The great chronical mahavansa describes the victories.

And finally he reached the Fortress of Vijithapura, the final and the mightiest of the strongholds of Elara before the Capital City of Anuradhapura. The victory of Vijithapura takes a special place in the Mahavansa.

This city is of Vijithanagara is today believed to be the Vijithapura off Kala weva although some historians believe that the Vijithanagara should lie close to Polonnaruwa. Legend say that king Dutugemunu built a temple embodying winning post which used to inform the victory and this temple is believed to be the Vijithapura Rajamaha Viharaya. Although there is no much historic evidence, the temple is littered with old ruins which are believed to be belonging to the Anuradhapura Era.

The most interesting out of these is the “Kadu ge Gala” the stone which believed to be used by the King Dutugemunu and his army to shapen the swards. This stone certainly shows very heavy use.

Vijitha pura temple

Vijitha pura temple

lovely kotha

lovely kotha

a guard stone

a guard stone

and another

and another

 urinal stones

urinal stones

and more

and more

image house

image house

where the king sharpened his sword

where the king sharpened his sword

Elephant visiting at Minneriya in different way

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Year and Month 2015 July 28th-Boat tour
2015 September 02nd– Visit at Dewalaya
2015 September 12th –Safari at Minneriya NP
Number of Days One evening
Crew Indunil, Siraj, Chamika, few fishermen and myself

 

Accommodation Not applicable
Transport Fishermen’s boats and Safari Jeep
Activities Elephants watching and photography
Weather Excellent
Route Polonnaruwa->Katukaliyawa (කටුකැලියාව) –Minneriya (මින්නේරිය)->back to Polonnaruwa in same rout
  1. If you go by boat, never step into the park as it is illegal.
  2.  Don’t get much closer to wild elephants as sometimes they may not like it.
  3. Minneriya Dewalaya (both old and Wawe Dewalaya) is opened only on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
  •      Minneriya NP
  • Ideal time to visit Minneriya NP is during dry season- July, August, September and Octomber till rain begins.
  • It costs about Rs 3000 for one safari tour at Minneriya. Separate fees for park entrance.
  • You can get a safari jeep from the entrance.
  • Early morning and late evening (most suitable) for elephant watching.
  • Like Kaudulla NP, no other major animals can be seen other than elephants.
  •  Don’t pollute the garden premises with garbage. I have watched a video clip shows foreigners really disappointed about garbage disposal within garden premises.
  • Don’t get panic or shout if elephants reach the safari jeep. Most of the times they are get used for jeeps.
Author Niroshan
Comments Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread

Minneriya National Park is a popular place for Wild elephants among local and foreign tourists. Usually elephants visiting treks lies at grass fields of the edge of Minneriya Lake. Elephants come for drinking and bathing at Lake in early morning and evening. Safari jeeps roam at Lake Pitch to view these herd of elephants at that time. This is usual way it happens.
If you come on Lake Side you can view these elephants without entering the park. My friend Indunil has visited the Minneriya Lake in few times and he had some known fishermen.
At one evening I went with Indunil by a fishermen’s boat to view elephants. This is a sharing of pictures of that short visit.

 

Minneriya National Park and Minneriya Lake
Minneriya Park was initially considered as a wild sanctuary and declared as a national park in 12-08-1997. It covers 88.89km2 areas and home for hundreds of roaming elephants, water birds, monkeys and bears.

 

Minneriya Tank
This is considered as a great creation of King Mahasen (276-303 BC). It gets water from Mahawali River by Elahara canal (48kms away). Total area of Lake is 237.5km2. The king has obtained the service of Yaksha tribe (demons) to build the tank. British rulers also participated in renovation of the tank.

We have reached fishermen’s port in the late afternoon and some of them have finished their daily work. As we were three in number we had to get two boats. (They usually carry maximum four people in one boat). Our target site of elephant watching was Koggala Bokka-(කොග්ගල බොක්ක) what fishermen called it. Few safari jeeps were roaming at the place but they left as there were no elephants. We spent a time at Koggala Bokka and moved to some other area by the boat. But elephants have roamed there yesterday evening. It was illegal for fishermen to get into the park. We were able to view some herd of elephants at next area. Fishermen sailed their boats much closer to elephants. I was able to feel the flow of a feeding lake of Minneriya Lake as well. After viewing wild elephants and water birds at Minneriya NP we came back to fishermen’s port.

These fishes are scattered over Lake Bank. Fishermen throw them away as it is useless.

These fishes are scattered over Lake Bank. Fishermen throw them away as it is useless.

Minneriya Lake

Minneriya Lake

 

Getting prepared

Getting prepared

In order

In order

 

Fishing at Minneriya Lake

Fishing at Minneriya Lake

Fishing at Minneriya Lake

Fishing at Minneriya Lake

 

Brahminy Kite

Brahminy Kite

White Bellied Sea Eagle

White Bellied Sea Eagle

 

White Bellied Sea Eagle

White Bellied Sea Eagle

My friend in the boat

My friend in the boat

 

Surrounding mountains of Minneriya Lake

Surrounding mountains of Minneriya Lake

Awaiting at lake edge

Awaiting at lake edge

 

Awaiting at lake edge

Awaiting at lake edge

 

Waiting for elephants at Koggala Bokka

Waiting for elephants at Koggala Bokka

A safari jeep at Minneriya Lake pitch….this area is called Koggala Bokka

A safari jeep at Minneriya Lake pitch….this area is called Koggala Bokka

 

Nagalakandawhere King Mahasen viewed constructions of Minneriya Lake.

Nagalakanda where King Mahasen viewed constructions of Minneriya Lake.

At Koggala Bokka

At Koggala Bokka

 

Good place for bird watching

Good place for bird watching

 

Minneriya NP

Minneriya NP

Great Egret

Great Egret

 

Grey Heron

Grey Heron

 

Good place for bird watching

Good place for bird watching

 

A jumbo at lake pitch.....

A jumbo at lake pitch…..

A jumbo at lake pitch.....

A jumbo at lake pitch…..

 

A jumbo at lake pitch.....

A jumbo at lake pitch…..

A jumbo at lake pitch.....

A jumbo at lake pitch…..

 

A jumbo at lake pitch.....

A jumbo at lake pitch…..

 

Flocks of Black Headed Ibis

Flocks of Black Headed Ibis

 

Alone....

Alone….

Flocks of Black Headed Ibis

Flocks of Black Headed Ibis

 

Flocks of Black Headed Ibis

Flocks of Black Headed Ibis

Flocks of Black Headed Ibis

Flocks of Black Headed Ibis

 

A feeding canal of Minneriya Lake

A feeding canal of Minneriya Lake

Other team.....

Other team…..

 

In his action……

In his action……

Brahmin Kite

Brahmin Kite

 

Brahmin Kite

Brahmin Kite

Fishing boats at Lake pitch

Fishing boats at Lake pitch

 

View of our vehicle at river bank

View of our vehicle at river bank

Woolly-necked Stork

Woolly-necked Stork

After death of King Mahasen he was considered as a local god by villagers of Minneriya. At the moment two Dewalaya can be seen for “Minneriya Dewiyo” -(මින්නේරි දෙවියෝ) -God Minneriya. One is old Minneriya Dewalaya and other one is famous Wawe Dewalaya (වැවේ දේවාලය). Wawe Dewalaya is situated over Lake Bunt where you can have nice view of Minneriya Lake and sun set between two mountains.
I have visited Wawe Dewalaya on a Wednesday for a Pujawa (පූජාව). Usually Dewalaya is opened on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Minneriya Wawe Dewalaya (මින්නේරිය වැවේ දේවාලය)

Minneriya Wawe Dewalaya

Minneriya Wawe Dewalaya

Minneriya Wawe Dewalaya

Minneriya Wawe Dewalaya

 

Minneriya Wawe Dewalaya

Minneriya Wawe Dewalaya

For Minneriya Dewiyo

For Minneriya Dewiyo

 

Getting blessings…..

Getting blessings…..

Jayanthi Sorowwa (ජයන්ති සොරොව්ව) at Minneriya Lake- It was named to commemorate 2500th Buddha Years.

Jayanthi Sorowwa (ජයන්ති සොරොව්ව) at Minneriya Lake- It was named to commemorate 2500th Buddha Years.

 

Bird parade

Bird parade

Sun set over Minneriya Lake

Sun set over Minneriya Lake

 

Sun set over Minneriya Lake

Sun set over Minneriya Lake

Sun set over Minneriya Lake

Sun set over Minneriya Lake

 

Sun set over Minneriya Lake

Sun set over Minneriya Lake

Sun set over Minneriya Lake

Sun set over Minneriya Lake

 

Sun set over Minneriya Lake

Sun set over Minneriya Lake

Elephant visiting at Minneriya NP in usual way
Though I have been at Polonnaruwa for three and half years I have never been at Minneriya NP for Elephant watching. One evening I had a chance to do routine safari at Minneriya NP. This is adding of pictures of it.

 54

Along jeep trek

Along jeep trek

 

Sudu Ela (සුදු ඇල)-Feeding lake of Minneriya

Sudu Ela (සුදු ඇල)-Feeding lake of Minneriya

Gathering to watch elephants

Gathering to watch elephants

 

Elephant Gathering

Elephant Gathering

Elephant Gathering

Elephant Gathering

 

Protection for baby elephant

Protection for baby elephant

Tusker

Tusker

 

It is the season

It is the season

Elephant Gathering

Elephant Gathering

 

Elephant Gathering

Elephant Gathering

 65

 

It's the play time

It’s the play time

It's the play time

It’s the play time

 

It's the play time

It’s the play time

It's the play time

It’s the play time

 

It's the play time

It’s the play time

In different actions

In different actions

 

Hurry to go

Hurry to go

Two baby elephants

Two baby elephants

 

At lake pitch

At lake pitch

Not good to shout there

Not good to shout there

 

Our shadow

Our shadow

Going for a bath

Going for a bath

 

Mother and baby

Mother and baby

Good bye Minneriya Park

Good bye Minneriya Park

 

Thanks for reading

 

 

 

 

 

Travel to Jaffna in Newly Brought S 13 Train & Visit to 2 Islands in North

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Year and Month  2019 February
Number of Days  2 Days ( February 01 – 03 )
Crew  3 (Between 9- 43 years of age)
Accommodation  Guest House in Jaffna
Transport  By Train Boat , Bus & Three wheel
Activities  Religious , Sight Seeing , Photography
Weather  Hot & Sunny weather
Route  Nawinna -> Colombo Fort -> Jaffna -> Kurikadduwan Jetty -> Nagadeepa Island -> Back to Kurikudduwan -> Delft Island -> Kurikadduwan Jetty -> Jaffna -> Colombo Fort -> Nawinna
Tips, Notes and Special remark
  • If you travel in “Uththara Devi” train reserve your seat early. Because heavy crowd for this train.
  • Most of the time you will miss the morning boats to Delft because lots of Delft villagers for these boats. First priority given to them. Be prepared for such situation & always keep plan “B”.   
Author Sanjeewa
Comments Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread
  • Travel to Jaffna in Newly Brought  S 13 Train & Visit to 2 Islands in North

Last month we saw news item that new train brought by Sri Lanka Railway Department & it deployed to Northern Line. This news item saw by our little one & on that time he wants to travel on this train. From 30th January this train starts his service to Kankasanthurei as “Uththara Devi”. We decided & arrange to visit to Jaffna  within very short period of time. We don’t have enough time to book seats. But we took the risk & we start our journey on February 01st. We thought there will be fewer passengers for this train & we can find seats. But we realize our thought was wrong when we came to the Fort railway station. Huge crowd waiting for this train. The train fully packed within few minutes & we were get in to the train but without seats. Luckily our little one received little space for sit offered by kind person. At 11.50 a.m train start journey to KKS. It reached to Jaffna station at 6.40 p.m. It took more than 6 hours to reach Jaffna ,but media mentioned that it takes lesser time than this. After reaching to Jaffna  first we search a place to stay. We found the place & after that  we went to “Naga Viharaya” in Jaffna. We spent some time there & came back to room.

Next day morning we got up with big plans. We decided to visit Delft Island & Nagadeepa Viharaya. We took 7.00 a.m bus to Kurikudduwan ( KKD Jetty ) from Jaffna town. We came to KKD jetty around 8.00 a.m. At that time also boat to Delft was fully packed only with villagers. Navy officers only allow 100 passengers for boat & not a single outside traveler able to get on to this boat. Also more than 30 villagers unable to get in to boat & waiting for next one. They informed that another boat at 9.30 a.m. So we waiting for it but this time also luck not with us. That boat also fully packed with villagers. Some hot arguments arise with navy officers & travelers. Because not a single traveler can’t get into these 2 boats. Navy officers mentioned that last chance was 1.30 p.m boat. Nearly 60 -70 foreign & local travelers waiting for Delft boat queue. Still 9.30 a.m & most of the people changed their plans & return back to other locations. We also changed our plan & first went to Nagadeepa Temple. At that time large groups came to KKD jetty to visit Nagadeepa temple. We managed to get into the large “Semi Luxury” boat. Around 10.30 a.m we came to the Nagadeepa Temple & we spent nearly 2 hours there.

Again we came to the KKD jetty around 1.00 p.m. Navy officers surprised when they saw us  when we in the queue in 3rd time.This time luck with us & can able get into the boat. After 50 minutes journey we came to the Delft island. Last boat leave from Deft on 4..30 p.m. Therefore we have  to visit all places & come back to jetty before 4.30 p.m.  We took three wheel near jetty & visit in the island. We manage to visit all important places in the island. After visiting all places finally we came to jetty 4.25 p.m. At that time passengers starts get into boat. Any how we were able to get into it. Around 5.20 p.m it reached to mainland. After came to jetty we walked around jetty & watch the nice evening views. We faced another big problem when we searched bus to Jaffna to KKD jetty. Soon after boat arrived to jetty last bus left from KKD jetty to Jaffna. Luckily one navy officer came to us & informs this to us. We don’t have any option other than get assistance from group of travelers came by vehicle. Luckily we found a trip bus returning to Jaffna. On that way we went to see monument in “Arali Point”. Around 7.15 p.m we came to our waiting place. After that we came to Jaffna town & had our dinner. Finally we came to bus stand & get into Colombo bound bus. It leaves 9.00 p.m from Jaffna & reached to Colombo at 3.30 a.m on next day morning. From Pettah we took a three wheel & get back home. We completed another memorable trip under lots of challenges. But finally we were able to complete it as we planned. Pls go through photos & share our experience. Will meet with another trip report in future.

Thanks for reading

Sanjeewa

Newcomer arrive to Jaffna station

Naga Viharaya – Jaffna

“Stupaya”

“Bodhiya”

Morning views – on the way to KKD

.

.

.

Kurikadduwan Jetty

.

Boat to Delft Island

She is leaving to Delft

.

Navy Gun Boat

“Semi Luxury” boat to Nagadeepa

Inside the boat

.

Nagadeepa Stupaya

.

.

,

“Sudu Bodhiya”

.

.

.

Nayaka Thero with Navy officer

.

.

Inside views of Museum

Inside views of Museum

Entrance to Hindu Kovil

.

.

Main jetty

.

.

View from the jetty

Getting into Boat

Boat to Delft Island

Inside view of controlling room

Engine room

View from lower deck

.

Delft Island can see from distance

Reaching to Delft Jetty

Delft jetty

.

Details of the Island

Walls made by coral stones

“Growing Stone”

.

“Baobab” Tree

.

.

Wild Horses in the Island

.

Foot print in stone

.

Dutch Hospital

.

.

.

.

.

Courts Building

Their Symbol

.

.

Tower of Pigeon Holes

.

.

Horses Stable

Ruins of the building

.

Views of the Fort

.

.

Beach

Beautiful sandy beach

.

.

She ready for return journey to KKD

Evening view at KKD Jetty

Monument in “Arali Ponit”

Remaining parts of the jeep

.

 

මස්විල ඇල දිගේ බොල්ගොඩ ගගට

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Year and Month November 2018
Number of Days  One
Crew  03
Accommodation  N/A
Transport  Motor Bicycles
Activities  Hiking, Nature Exploring, Photography, Fishing
Weather  Good
Route Colombo -> Bandaragama -> Maswila Road -> Wevita Lake -> Maswila Canal
Tips, Notes and Special remark
      • Be careful about mud
      • We did this just for time pass
      • Take enough water
      • Do not pollute the environment
      • Be aware of creatures
      • Do not wear shoes
      • Be careful always
Related Resources None
Author Ranshan Fernando
Comments Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread
  • මස්විල ඇල දිගේ බොල්ගොඩ ගගට

Along the Maswila Canal to Bolgoda Lake

When I went to Nirosh’s house one day he invited me to see the Maswil Canel and since I have little time we decided to walk along the Canal up to the Bolgoda River.

We started our walk from Wevita Lake and get into the Cancel and walked along the canal from the bushes aside. The area was bit dried but some places are muddy. The whole hike was about 5km and we took about 1 and a half hour and we reached the place where the canal joins with the River. Unfortunately, we didn’t walk further where the Bolgoda Lake situated. However, we were able to see some beautiful attractions of “Kadolana” and some birds too.

This is just a simple hike and we did this for time pass and to see some different places and have a different experience in a city near Colombo.

Thanks for reading!
Sobasiri Team © 2018/20

The Maswila Canel

Nature

Hike started

Beauty

Need to walk through challenges

Towers and Electricity

Common plants

Bit dried

 

Keep walking

Difficult to walk

On the canal

Getting dark

 

A boat house near to the cancel

Passing the evening

Nirosh is resting

Nature creations

Some more

Yes, need to walk further

Plants

Nicely captured

Greeny

Memories

 

Beautiful sunset

Boats over there

Enjoying

Its about 5.40pm

Little more to go

Near the end of the canal

The Canal meets the Bolgoda River

Thanks for reading!

Mattakkuliya to Hanwella along the Kelani River

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Year and Month  09-March-2019
Number of Days  One
Crew  02 (Me & Nirosh) Sobasiri Team
Accommodation  N/A
Transport  Motor Bicycle
Activities  Researches, Nature Exploring, Photography, History, and Culture exploring
Weather  Good
Route  Ja-ela -> Mattakkuliya -> Ferguison Road -> Nagalan Street -> Sedawatte -> Kelaniya Viharaya -> Kelanimulla -> Ambatale -> Welivita -> Kaduwela -> Malwana -> Nawagamuwa -> Avissawella Road (Low Level) -> Hanwella Rest House -> Samanabedda
Tips, Notes and Special remark
      • Plan your journey well
      • Draw a timeline with destinations
      • Start your journey early morning
      • Use GPS for by roads
      • Ask directions and folks and background stories from the villagers
      • Carry enough water
      • Be careful when you eat from outside (washrooms)
      • Give the maximum to your duty
      • Take all the necessary photos of the landmarks
      • Follow the guidelines from the locals
      • Do not enter private properties without permission
      • Be mindful when taking photos
      • Have a good conditioned vehicle
Related Resources Newspaper – Article 1

Newspaper – Article 2

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Author  Ranshan Fernando
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  • Mattakkuliya to Hanwella along the Kelani River

කැලණි ගඟේ උපත සොයා ගඟ දිගේ ගිය ගමනක්

කැලණි ගඟ නැතහොත් කල්‍යාණ නදිය (Kelani River) යනු ලංකාවේ බොහෝ ප්‍රසිද්ධ සහ සිව් වැනියට දිගම ගංගාව වේ. කොළඹ මට්ටක්කුලියේ පිහිටි කදිරාන පාලම යටින් ගොස් මහ සයුර සිපගන්නා කැලණි ගඟේ උපත සොයා කැලණි ගඟ ආශ්‍රිත ජන ජීවිතය සහ ජන සමාජය බැඳී තිබෙන අපූර්වත්වය සමග එහි උපත සොයා උඩුගම් බලා යන ගමන අපි මෙසේ දිග හරිමු. කාලයේ වැලි තලාවෙන් යට වුණු බොහෝ ජන දිවි සරි කෙරුණ මෙම සුවිසල් ගංගාවට සමාන්තරව කි​ෙලා්‍ මීටර් 160 ක පමණ දුර යතුරු පැදියෙන් ගිය කැලණි නදී වත අපි මෙලෙස ගෙන එන්නෙමු.  

කිලෝ මීටර් 335 ක් දිගැති මහවැලි නදිය කොත්මලේ ජලාශය ආශ්‍රයෙන් සහ මහ එළියේ උල්පත් මගින් උපත ලබා මහනුවර සිට රන්දෙණිගල වික්ටෝරියා රන්ටැඹේ ආදි හෙල මහවැලි ව්‍යාපාරය සන්නද්ධ කරමින් සමස්ත නකල්ස් වන පෙතේම ජල කඳ රැගෙන මහියංගණය හරහා උතුරු මැද පළාත ඔස්සේ ​ෙගා​ස් ත්‍රීකුණාමලයෙන් මුහුදට වැටෙන්නේ ලංකාවේ දිගම ගඟ ලෙසිනි. එලෙසම දඹුල්​ෙලන් පටන් ගෙන මන්නාරම් ඉසව්වෙන් මුහුදට වැටෙන මල්වතු ඔය දෙවන දිගම ගඟ වන්නේ කිලෝ මීටර් 164 කට උරුමකම් කියමිනි.
තෙවන ස්ථානය හිමි වන්නේ ද දඹුල්ලෙන් පටන් ගෙන විල්පත්තු කැලය මැදින් ගොස් දියඹ සිඹගන්නා කි​ෙලා් මීටර් 148 ක් පමණ දිගැති කලා ඔයටය. ඉන් පසු සිව් වන ස්ථානය හිමි වන්නේ කිලෝ මීටර් 145 ක දුරක් හිමි කැලණි නදියටය. නමුත් අප මෙම ගිය ගමනේදී කැලණි නදියේ සැබෑ උපත පිහිටි ස්ථානයේ සිට මට්ටක්කුලියට දුර ලෙස ගණනය කළේ වෙනත් අගයකි.

උපත ලබන ස්ථානයේ සිට ගංගාවක් ආරම්භ වන්නේ නම් ගඟේ දිග එහි සිට තීරණය කළ යුතුය. නමුත් කැලණි නදිය උපත ලබන ස්ථානය පොල්පිටිය ප්‍රදේශය ද නැතහොත් හෝර්ටන්තැන්නේ කිරිගල්පොත්ත කඳු බෑවුම අසලින් ද යන වග අපට තිරණය කළ නොහැක. මන්ද පොල්පිටියේ දී කෙ​ෙසල්ගමු ඔය සහ මස්කෙළිය ඔය එකට එකතු එකතුවීම කැලණි නදිය ලෙස ගඟ පහළට ගලා යයි. නමුත් කෙසෙල් ගමු ඔය උපත ලබන්නේ හෝර්ටන්තැන්නෙනි. මස්කෙළිය ඔය උපත ලබන්නේ ගවරවිල කඳු වැටිය සහ සමනල කන්දේ දිය දහරාවන් තුළිනි. එවිට බලන විට මට්ටක්කුලියේ සිට හෝර්ටන්තැන්නේ අදාළ ඉසව්ව තෙක් ඇති දුර කිලෝ මීටර් 165 කට වැඩිවෙයි. නමුත් පොල්පිටියේ සිට මට්ටක්කුලියට ඇති දුර වන්නේ කිලෝ මීටර් 120 ක් පමණි. කෙසේ නමුත් ප්‍රධාන ලෙස ගංගාවක් නිර්මාණය වන්නේ විවිධ ඔය සහ දිය පහරවල්වල එකතු වෙනි. එලෙස බැලූ කල කැලණි නදිය පෝෂණය කරන ප්‍රධාන ඔය යුගලයෙන් ඈතින්ම පටන් ගන්නා කෙසෙල්ගමු ඔය කැලණි ගඟේ සැබෑ උපත නේදැයි අපට සිතුණි.

එලෙස මූලිකව ගූගල් සිතියම් (Google Maps) සහ මිනින්දෝරු සිතියම් අධ්‍යයන කර ගඟට සමාන්තරව යන මාර්ගය ද සටහන් කරගෙන ජීපීඑස් සහය ද සමගින් අප ගමන ආරම්භ කළේ කොළොංතොට සිපගන්නා ඉන්දියන් සයුරත් කැලණි ගඟත් එකතු වන මෝය කට අසලිනි. හිමිදිරියෙම අප පැමිණියේ කදිරාන පාලම මතට සිරිපා කන්ද දර්ශනය වන හෙයින් එය දැක බලා ගැනීමටයි. නැගෙනහිරින් මෝදු වන හිරු කිරණ කඳ සමනොළ කඳු යාය මතට වැදෙන විට කඳු පන්තිය හරිම අපූරුවට දිවයිනේ බොහෝ ප්‍රදේශවලට දැක ගත හැකිය. කෙසේ හෝ උදෑසන 6 පමණ වන විට අප ද යන්තමින් සිරිපා කන්ද දුටුවේ ගුවනත සරණ වලාකුළු ඈත් මෑත් වූ විටකදීය.

පසුව අප කාක දූපත පිහිටි ප්‍රදේශයට ගිය අතර ව්‍යායාම කරනු වස් එහි පැමිණ සිටි පිරිස බොහෝමයකි. කාක දූපත අතීතයේ මෙන් කාක්කන් පිරුණු දූපතක් මෙන් නොව ළමා උද්‍යාන සමගින් ක්‍රමවත් ලෙස සංවර්ධනය වී තිබේ. කාක දූපත උද්‍යානයට දකුණු පසින් පිහිටි කුඩා මාර්ගය දිගේ ඉදිරියටම ගමන් කළ අප දුටුවේ මාර්ගය නාවික හමුදා උප කඳවුරකින් නිමා වී ඇති බවයි. කැලණි ගං මෝය අසලට යාමට නම් අපට කඳවුරු භූමිය හරහා යා යුතුමය. එම නිසාම අපි අදාළ නිලධාරීන් සමග කතිකා කර අවසරය ලබාගෙන කඳවුරේ කෙළවරට ගොස් වෙරළට පිය මැන්නෙමු. කුඩා වෙරළ තීරයක් සහිත බිම් ඉදිරියෙන් කැලණි ගඟ සහ ඉන්දියන් සාගරය එකිනෙක හමුවේ. අප සිටින ස්ථානය මේ ඉවුර කොළඹ දිස්ත්‍රික්කය වුවද ග​ඟේ අනෙක් පස මහා ඉවුර ගම්පහ දිස්ත්‍රික්කයට අයත් විය. මෙම ස්ථානයේ පවා ගඟ අවම වශයෙන් මීටර් 120 කට වඩා පළල විය. මෝය කට අසල ගල් වැටියේ සිට බිලි පිති ආධාරයෙන් මාළු බාන පිරිසක් සිටින අතර ගඟට මුහුදට දැමූ දිරාපත් නොවන අපද්‍රව්‍ය රාශියක් වෙරළට ගොඩ ගසා ඇති බව ද අපි දුටුවෙමු. දකුණු පසින් කැලණි ගං කොමළිය බොහෝ දුර ගෙවාගෙන කඳු හෙල් මැදින් සොඳුරු ජන ජීවිත එකලු කරමින් ගාම්භීර ලෙස ගලා එන්නේ සමස්ත ගඟ තුළ හමුවන අවසාන පාලම වන මට්ටක්කුලිය කදිරාන පාලම යටිනි.

පාලම ද හරි අපූරුවට මෙම ස්ථානයට දැක ගත හැකි විය. මෙම ඉවුරු දෙක අවට සිටින ජනයා කැලණි ගඟ ආශ්‍රිතව මිරිදිය මත්ස්‍ය කර්මාන්තයෙන් යැපෙන අතර පාරු සහ බෝට්ටු ආධාරයෙන් ගඟට පැමිණ දියඹට ඇදී යයි. මෙම ස්ථානයේ තවත් විශේෂත්වයක් වනුයේ මීගමුව කළපුවට යන හැමිල්ටන් ඇළේ ආරම්භය ද කදිරාන පාලම අසල තිබීමයි. වත්තල ඇළකන්ද මත්ස්‍ය වෙළෙඳපොළට මසුන් රැගෙන එන බෝට්ටු සියල්ල දියඹට යන්නේ කැලණි ගඟ හරහාය. තවද හැමිල්ටන් ඇළ දිගේ පමුණුගම සේදවත්ත ප්‍රදේශයෙන් මීගමුව කළපුවට එකතු වන්නේ ද කැලණි ගඟේ ජලකඳමය. එක යායට බෝට්ටු සමූහයක් ඇති හැමිල්ටන් ඇළ යනු කුණු සහ අපද්‍රව්‍ය පිරුණු ස්ථානයක් විය.

මෝය කට පිහිටීම හේතුවෙන් කොපමණ ගංවතුරක් පැමිණිය ද මෙම ප්‍රදේශ ජලයෙන් යටවීමක් සිදු නොවෙයි. කදිරාන පාලම අවට පිහිටි මහල් නිවාසවල ජීවත් වන පිරිස පවා පැවසුවේ ගංවතුර කාලයට ගඟ ඉතා වේගයෙන් මුහුදට ඇදී යන බවත් ඉවුර සමීපය ගඟට යට වන නමුත් නිවාසවලට ගංවතුර නොපැමිණෙන බවයි. නමුත් ගංවතුර සමග පිරෙන හැමිල්ටන් ඇළේ ඇතැම් පහත් බිම්වල තිබෙන මාර්ග ජලයට යට වේ. එනම් ඇළ කන්ද මාර්ගයේ එක්තරා කොටසක් ජලයෙන් යටවන බව අත්දැකීමෙන් අප දැක තිබේ.

කැලණි ගඟේ කිඹුලන් ගැවසෙන නමුත් මේ වන විට කිඹුල් ගහණය මඳක් අඩුව තිබේ. මන්ද අතීතයේ කැලණි ගඟ පිටාරතැන්නේ පිහිටි මුතුරාජවෙල යනු කැලණි ගඟේ එක්තරා අතුරු ප්‍රතිඵලයක් බඳුය. මන්ද වත්තල සිට ජා ඇළ හරහා මීගමු කළපුව දක්වා ප්‍රදේශය වගුරු බිම් වී තිබුණේ ඇතැම් විට කැලණි ගඟේ බලපෑමක් නිසාවෙන් විය හැක. මන්ද ජා ඇළ ප්‍රදේශවල වගුරුබිම් තුළ තවමත් ගැට කිඹුලා වාසය කරයි. විවිධ කුඩා ඇළ මාර්ග ඔස්සේ හැමිල්ටන් ඇළට හෝ පැමිණ කිඹුලන් කැලණි ගඟට පැමිණීම සිදු විය හැක්කක් බැවිනි.

Sebastian Canal (Old Photo From Internet)

Paaru (Old Photo From Internet)

Hamilton Canal (Old Photo From Internet)

Thotalaga Paaru Paalama (Old Photo From Internet)

Black Bridge (Old Photo From Internet)

Hamilton Canal start from Kelani River ending point

Kelani River from Hamilton Canal Side

The Combining point, where Kelani River meets the Indian Ocean

View from the Kadirana Bridge

Early Morning view

Wattala Side

Crows

Exact point of Kelani River combining with the Ocean

kadirana Bridge seen from the “Moya Kata”

Under the Kadirana Bridge

Colombo view from the “Moya Kata”

This area protect by Naval army

Kelani Nadee Viharaya

හේනමුල්ලේ විශාල නිවාස සංකීර්ණයක් සේම බොහෝ ජනතාව ජීවත් වන ප්‍රදේශයක් හේනමුල්ල මාවත අසල පිහිටි ඇළ බෙහෙවින් අපවිත්‍ර වී අපද්‍රව්‍ය පිරී තිබුණු අතර එම අපද්‍රව්‍ය ජලය කැලණි ගඟට එකතු වන්නේ අඩි 10 ක් පමණ පළලැති ​ෆර්ගියුසන් පාර යටිනි. මේ අසලම කැලණි නදී විහාරය පිහිටා තිබෙන අතර කැලණි නදිය මනාවට දර්ශනය වන මෙම විහාරස්ථානය ඉතා උචිත නාමයක් භාවිත කිරීම පැසසිය යුතු කරුණකි.

මෙම ස්ථානය අසල මාර්ගය ගඟට යාබදව පවතින බැවින් කොන්ක්‍රීට් තාප්පයක් මගින් ගඟ හා මාර්ගය වෙන් කළ ස්ථාන කිහිපයකි. මෙම ඉසව්වේ ගඟ ඉතා පළල් වන අතර එහි ගැඹුර ද වැඩිය. විටින් විට සංචාරකයින් රැගත් බෝට්ටු සවාරි මෙම ප්‍රදේශයේ යන වන අපට පෙනුණ අතර ඉන් පසු අප ළඟා වූයේ ගාලුමුව දොර උද්‍යානය වෙතය. එය විශාල තට්ටු නිවාස සංකීර්ණයකි. කැලණි ගඟ දර්ශනය වන මානයේ පිහිටි මෙම සුවිසල් ගොඩනැගිලිවල බොහෝ පවුල් ජීවත් වන අතර එම නිවාස සංකීර්ණ ඉතා අලංකාර ලෙස තොටළඟ ජපන් මිත්‍රත්ව පාලම මතට මනාව දර්ශනය වේ. පසුව අප ළඟා වූයේ තොටළඟ පාලම අසලටය. එම පාලම නිම වා බොහෝ කාලයකි. තොටළඟ යනු වචනයේ අර්ථයෙන්ම තොටුපොළක් පිහිටි ප්‍රදේශයකි. අතීතයේ ගඟ හරහා ගියේ පාරු මගිනි. බ්‍රිතාන්‍යයන් පාරු බොහෝමයක් එක පෙළට ගඟ හරහා තබා ඒ මතින් ලී දමා පාලමක් ලෙස සකස් කොට අශ්වයින් මගින් ගඟ තරණය කළ බවට කතිකාවක් ඇති අතර වෙළෙඳාම හේතු කොට ගෙන අතීතයේ කැලණි නදිය තරණය කරමින් තොට ළඟ හරහා කොළොංතොට පැමිණි බව නොරහසකි. තොටළඟ යටින් යන්නේ ෆර්ගියුසන් මාර්ගය වන අතර ඊට යාබදව පිහිටියේ ලූකස් මාර්ගයය. පාලම නම් අතිශය දැවැන්ත කොන්ක්‍රීට් පාදම් යොදා කණු යොදා කස් කළ නිර්මාණයකි.

දිනකට දහ දහස් ගණනින් වාහන සහ කන්ටේනර් රථ එහා මෙහා යන තොටළඟ පාලම දැවැන්ත බවේ සංකේතයකි. තොට ළඟින් සමු ගත් අප මීළඟට පිවිසුණේ ෆර්ගියුසන් පාරේ අවසානයත් සමග පටන් ගන්නා නාගලන් වීදියටයි. නාගලගම්වීදිය යනු එළවළු, පළතුරු පදික වෙළෙඳුන්ගෙන් පිරි ඉසව්වකි. අබලන් මාර්ගයක් පවතින බැවින් උදෑසන සහ සක්‍රීය වේලාවන් තුළ මෙම ඉසව්වෙන් එහා මෙහා යාම තරමක් අසීරුය. වීදියේ ආරම්භය කිට්ටුවට වම් පස විහාරස්ථානයක් ඇති අතර එහි කොළඹ නගරයේ ප්‍රධාන ජල මාපකය ස්ථාන ගතව ඇත. පංසල් භූමියෙන් කෙළවර ගඟ ආසන්නයේ ඇති මෙම ජල මාපකය ස්ථම්භ 2 කි. අඩි ප්‍රමාණය අනුව උස දක්වා ඇති අතර ඒ අසලම ගඟේ සවි කරන ලද කුඩා මාපයක් ද ඇත.

නාගලගම්වීදිය වෙසෙන පැරණි වැසියෙකු අපට හමු වූ අතර ඔහු පවසන පරිදි 1980 දශකයේ පැමිණි ගංවතුරින් නාගලගම්වීදිය. ලුකස් පාර අතර සමස්ත ප්‍රදේශයට ජලයෙන් යට වී ඇත. ඉන් පසු තවමත් එවැනි බරපතළ ගංවතුරක් පැමිණ නැති වග ඔහු පැවසීය. තවද මීට වසර කීපයකට පෙර අතිශය ජරාජීර්ණ වූ තහඩු වෙළෙඳ සංකිර්ණය වෙනුවට වර්තමානයේ නවීන ගොඩනැගිල්ලක් තිබීම අගනා බව ඔහු පැවසීය.

නාගලගම්වීදිය තොටළඟ ආශ්‍රිතව ඇති ප්‍රධාන ඉසව්වක් වන අතර මෙහි සිටිනා වෙළෙඳ ප්‍රජාව බහුල වීම හේතුවෙන් ඔවුන් වාර්ෂිකව ඔවුන්ගේ විවිධ සමිති හරහා පුණ්‍යෝත්සවය කටයුතු ඉටු කරයි. වාර්ෂිකව වෙසක් තොරණ ඉන් ප්‍රධාන වේ. නාගලගම්වීදිය තවත් පසෙකින් වැදගත් වන්නේ කැලණි ගඟට එකතු වන තවත් ප්‍රධාන ඇළ මාර්ගයක් වන සෙබස්තියන් ඇළ නිසාවෙනි.

A small Henemulla canal meets Kelani River

Flood Measure point at Nagalan Street

Current measure of the water level

Nagalan Street Temple where the Measuring point located

Sebastian Canal

View of Thotalaga Bridge

Zoomed View from Kelani Nadee Viharaya

Black Bridge

A Train is coming

View of the morning on the way to Kelanimulla

බේරේ වැවෙන් යා වෙන ඇළ මාර්ග ඔස්සේ කොටුව පාවෙන වෙළෙඳසල් පිහිටි ඇළට එකතුවන ජලය සෙබස්තියන් ඇළ මාර්ගයට සමාන්තරව කෙත්තාරාමය, ග්‍රෑන්ඩ් පාස් හරහා දෙමටගොඩ ඇළ ද එකතු කර ගනිමින් නාගලගම්වීදියෙන් කැලණි ගඟට වැටෙන සෙබස්තියන් ඇළ කොළඹ නගරයෙන් ප්‍රධානතම අප ජලය හා දූෂිත සාන්ද්‍රික ජලය කැලණි ගඟට රැගෙන යයි. සෙබස්තියන් ඇළ මතින් නාගලගම් වීදියේ සිට දිවෙන මාර්ගය සේදවත්ත, අඹතලේ මාර්ගයයි. මෙම මාර්ගය සේදවත්ත, වැල්ලම්පිටිය, කොහිලවත්ත, කැලණිමුල්ල, මුල්ලේරියාව හරහා අඹතලේ ජල පොම්පාගාරය අසලින් කොළඹ අවිස්සාවේල්ල පහළ මාර්ගයට (Low Level Road) සම්බන්ධ වේ. ගමන ඉදිරියට ගිය අප මීළඟට නැවතුණේ නව කැලණි පාලම යටින්ය. මෙයද තොටළඟ මෙන් දිනකට දස මාසයකට අධික රථ වාහන සංඛ්‍යාවක් දරා ගනියි. මෙම පාලමින් සෘජුවම බේස් ලයින් මාර්ගය හා සම්බන්ධ වන බැවින් දවසේ බොහෝ අවස්ථාවල පාලම නිතැතින්ම තදබදයෙන් පවතියි. මෙතැනම මීට යාබදව නව කැලණි පාලමක් ගොඩ නගමින් පවතින අතර එය එල්ලෙන පාලමක් මෙන් පවතියි. රුවන්වැල්ලේ සිට කිතුල්ගල හරහා ඉහළට යන විට කැලණි ගඟ මතින් බහුලව ඇත්තේ එල්ලෙන කම්බි පාලම්ය. එවැනි ආකාරයට තැනන මෙම එල්ලෙන පාලම රුපියල් කෝටි ගණනක දැවැන්ත ජාතික ව්‍යාපෘතියකි. මෙම නව පාලම කලින් මාර්ග තදබදයට පිළියම් අපේක්ෂා කරන අතර මෙම නව පාලම හේතුවෙන් ඔරුගොඩවත්ත දක්වා පිහිටි දුගී පැල්පත් නිවාස ඉවත් කර ඔවුන්ට නව දෙමහල් නිවාස ලබා දීමට කටයුතු කර තිබේ.

මෙම පාලම මතට තොටළඟට පාලම පවා පෙනෙන අතර කැලණි ගඟේ මීටර් කිහිපයක් අතර පාලම් ත්‍රිත්වයක් සහ ද්විත්ව දුම්රිය මාර්ගයක් පිහිටි එකම ස්ථානය මෙය වේ.
කැලණි පාලම යටින් අප පිවිසියේ සේදවත්තටයි. සේදවත්ත අඹතලේ මාර්ගය කැලණි ගඟ අසලින් පිහිටි මාර්ගයකි. මාර්ගයේ සිට ගඟට අඩි 10 ක පමණ බැස්මක් තිබුණ ද පසුගිය වසරවල මෙන් ගංවතුර තත්ත්වයන්හි දී කොළඹ ආශ්‍රීතව ගංවතුරෙන් යට වන ප්‍රධානම ප්‍රදේශය මෙම ප්‍රදේශයයි. මීට හේතුව වන්නේ හල්මුල්ල ප්‍රදේශයේ දී කැලණි ගඟ දැවැන්ත වැලමිට වංගු දෙකක් දරන හෙයිනි.

ඉහළ සිට ගලා ගෙන එන දැවැන්ත ජල කඳ සේද වත්ත හල්මුල්ල ආශ්‍රිතව පවතින වැළමිට වංගුවෙන් වංගු ගැසී ගලාගෙන යාමට වඩා බලයකින් ජලය පැමිණෙන හේතුවෙන් එම ජලය සෘජුවම පිටාර ගලමින් සේදවත්ත හරහා යමින් නැවත අනෙක් පසින් කැලණි ගඟට එකතු වේ. මෙම ප්‍රදේශයේ පවතින භූමි මට්ටමට වඩා උතුරා යන තරම් සිවුසල් ජල කඳක් කැලණි නදියෙන් නිකුත් වන්නේ මෙම ඉසව්ව ගඟේ පිටාර තැන්න ද වන හෙයිනි.

ගඟක පිටාර තැන්න යනු සාමාන්‍යයෙන් සශ්‍රීක ප්‍රදේශයකි. විවිධ ඩෙල්ටාවන් පිහිටා ඇති හෙයින් ගඟක් අනිවාර්යයෙන් මුහුදට සමීප වත්ම පිටාර මට්ටමට පැමිණෙයි. මහවැලි ගඟේ පිටාර තැන්නේ ජනවාස පිහිටා නොමැති මුත් කැලණි ගඟ පිටාර තැන්නේ ජනාවාස බොහෝමයක් පිහිටා තිබේ. වසරකට වරක් අනිවාර්යයෙන්ම ගංවතුර සමග ගඟ පිටාර ගැලීමට ලක් වීම සේදවත්ත ආශ්‍රිත ජනයාට වාර්ෂිකව තවත් එක අංගයක් පමණකි.

කැලණි ගඟ මෝය පිහිටි ප්‍රදේශ තුළ ජන ජීවිතය තරමක සංකීර්ණ බවකින් යුතු ප්‍රදේශ වන අතර ඇතැම් ප්‍රදේශවල විවිධ නීති විරෝධී ජාවාරම් කරනුයේ සාගරය සහ ගංගාව එකතුවීමේ ස්ථානයේ පිහිටීම ඵලදායක හෙයිනි. අතීතයෙ​් බත්තල් සහ පාලම් පාරු යොදාගෙන භාණ්ඩ ප්‍රවාහනය සිදු කළ අතර හැමිල්ටන් ඇළ යනු මිනිසා විසින් තනන ලද්දකි.
කිලෝමීටර් 14.5 ක් පමණ දිගින් යුත් මෙම හැමිල්ටන් ඇළ වර්ෂ 1804 දී බ්‍රිතාන්‍යයන් විසින් ගොඩනගන ලද්දකි. කොළඹ සහ මීගමුව යා කරන මෙම ඇළ මාර්ගය මුතුරාජවෙල වගුරු බිමේ ලුණු ජලය පිටවුමක් ලෙස නිම විය. බ්‍රිතාන්‍ය ජාතික ගෙවින් හැමිල්ටන් (Gavin Hamilton) ගේ නාමය මෙම ඇළට යෙදවීය.

පෘතුගීසි සහ ලන්දේසීන් විසින් විවිධ කාලවකවානුවල මෙම ඇළ මාර්ගය විවිධ ආකාරයෙන් නිර්මාණයට දායක විය. මන්ද මෙම ඇළ මාර්ගය මීගමුව පමණක් නොව පුත්තලම දක්වා යාවෙන ඇළක් ලෙස සකස්වීමයි. වර්තමානය වන විට සමස්ත ඇළ මාර්ගය දෙසට කබොක් ගල් අතුරා ක්‍රමවත් ලෙස ඉවුරු උස් කර බැඳ තිබේ. මන් ද මෙම ඇළ මාර්ගය සමීපවම හේකිත්ත සිට බෝපිටිය දක්වා අතුරු මාර්ගයක් දිව යන හෙයිනි. තවද ඇළ මාර්ගය දෙපස ජනාවාස වී ඇති බැවින් ගංවතුර තත්ත්වයක දී අවම හානියක් ගෙන එන ලෙස හැමිල්ටන් ඇළ සකස් වී ඇත.

කැලණි නදියෙන් ඇළ පටන් ගන්නා ස්ථානයේ බෞද්ධ ජනතාව සංකේතවත් කරනු වස් බුද්ධ ප්‍රතිමාවක් ද කිතුනු ජනතාව සංකේතවත් කරනු වස් සා.අන්තෝනි මුනි ප්‍රතිමාවක් ද ස්ථාපනය කර ඇත. තවද එම ස්ථානය අවට බංකු අතුරා විවේකීව ගත කිරීමට සුදුසු ස්ථානයක් ලෙස සකසා තිබේ. තවද එම ස්ථානයේ අලංකාරවත් ගුවන් පාලමක් ඇළ මතින් තනා ඇති අතර සමස්තයක් ලෙස ඇළ හරහා කුඩා පාලම් දහයක් පමණ තනා තිබේ. මහ මුහුදට ගොස් රළ සමග හැප්පී මසුන් අල්ලාගෙන එන ධීවරයින් කැලණි ගං මෝය දිගේ හැමිල්ටන් ඇළට ඇතුළු වෙයි. හේකිත්ත නගරයේ ප්‍රධාන මංසන්ධිය මසුන් අලෙවි කරන ප්‍රධානතම ස්ථානය වේ.

පසෙකින් වත්තල ප්‍රදේශයත් පෑලිය​ගොඩ ප්‍රදේශයත් අතරින් ගලන කැලණි නදියට අවට පිහිටි නිවාසවලින් එක් කරන අපජලය සහ අපද්‍රව්‍ය නම් බොහෝය. මන්ද අප දුටු ආකාරයට බොහෝ ස්ථානවල ඉවුර අසල කුණු සහ අපද්‍රව්‍ය රැස් වී තිබුණි. කැලණි ගඟ අතීතයේ පාලම්පාරු මගින්ද, බත්තල් මගින්ද වර්තමානයේ දැවැන්ත පාලම් හරහා ද ලක්ෂ ගණනින් කොළඹට පැමිණෙන ජනතාවට උපකාරි වූවා සේම ගුවන් තලයට යාමට ද කැලණි ගඟ උදව් වන්නේය.

එනම් පෑලියගොඩින් ගුවන් ගත මුහුදු ගුවන් යානා (Sea Planes) තිබීමයි. මෙම මුහුදු ගුවන් සේවය පුද්ගලික හෝටල් අංශයට හිමි වූවක් වන අතර කැලණි නදියේ බොහෝ ඉඩ කඩ පිහිටි දිගු ප්‍රදේශයක මෙම කටයුත්ත සිදු කෙරේ. මෙහිදී ගුවන් ගත වන කුඩා ගුවන් යානා දිවයිනේ විවිධ ප්‍රදේශවලට පියාසර කරනුයේ දෙස් විදෙස් සංචාරකයින් රැගෙනය. කැලණි නදින මෙලෙස ගුවන් ගමන්වලට ද බෙහෙවින් උපකාරී වන්නකි. මහ වැලි නදිය ලංකාවේ කෘෂි කර්මාන්තයට බොහෝ ලෙස උපකාරි වනවා සේම කැලණි නදිය ලංකාවේ වැඩියෙන්ම වාණිජ කටයුතු සඳහා උපකාරී වෙයි.

​ෙකසේ හෝ තවත් දිනයක අපට අපූරු අවස්ථාවක් හිමි වූයේ කැලණි ගං මෝය සිට තොටළඟ ආසන්නයට බෝට්ටුවකින් ගමන් කිරීමටයි. එහිදී අප දුටු පරිදි බොහෝ වාණිජ ව්‍යාපාර කටයුතු සඳහා ගඟ උපකාරි වනවා සේම ගංගාව ආශ්‍රිතව දිවි ගෙවන ජනතාවගේ රෙදි සේදීම, ජල ස්ථානයට පවා ගංගාව උපකාරි කර ගන්නා බව පෙනිණ. කඳු වළලු මැදින් ඉපිද බොහෝ දුරකතර ගෙවා ගෙන විවිධ හැලහැප්පීම්වලට ලක් වෙමින් විවිධාකාරයෙන් ජල දූෂණයට ලක්වෙමින් මුහුදට එකතු වන ස්ථානය ආසන්නයේ ජල ස්නානය පවා කිරීමේ කටයුත්තේ ඵලදායි බව ඒ මොහොතේ අපට සිතුණි.

ඊළඟට අප පිවිසියේ කාක දූපතේ සිට කදිරාන පාලම වෙත පැමිණ හැඳල ආසන්නයේ සැරිසරා පසුව ගංගාවට සමාන්තරව මාර්ග ඔස්සේ ඉදිරියට යාමටයි. කදිරාන පාලම යනු සිය දිවි හානි කර ගැනීම් රැසකට බඳුන් වූ ස්ථානයක් බව අවට පිහිටි නිවැසියන්ගෙන් දැනගැනීමට ලැබුණි. හිරු බැස යන සන්ධ්‍යාවක අප මෙහි සුන්දරත්වය දැකීමට පැමිණි අතර ධීවර රැකියාවට යනෙන බෝට්ටුවල අලංකාරය හිරු බසින සමයේ අපි දුටුවෙමු. තවද සඳ බටහිර මුහුදට පෙනෙන සමනොළ කන්ද අලුයම් වරුවක අපි දැකගත්තෙමු. කැලණි ගඟේ දිගේ ඉදිරියට යාමට අප පර්ගියුෂන් පාරේ සිට පිටත් වූයේ තොටළඟ වෙතය.

View near Kohilawatte

Water Level Measuring point at Kelani Viharaya Bridge

A small battal

This was use to Battal transportation

විවිද ආකාරයේ පසුබිම් මූලාශ්‍ර මගින් අප ලද තොරතුරුවලට අනුව ඇතැම් නිවැසියන් ගංවතුර සමග ඔවුන්ගේ ආර්ථිකයේ ඉහළ නැංවීමේ කාලයක් ලෙස සලකයි. ඔවුන් වැසි සමය ආරම්භ වත්ම රටේ නිසි ලෙස සුදානම් වෙමින් සිටිය ද ආධාර සහ උපකාර අපේක්ෂාවෙන් ඊට ද මනා සූදානමකින් කටයුතු කරයි. නමුත් ඇතැමුන්ට ගංවතුර මහත් පීඩනයකි. කෙසේ වුවද වර්තමානය වන විට වර්ෂා සමය ළංවත්ම මෙම ප්‍රදේශවාසීන් ගංවතුරට සූදානම් වන අතර පසුගිය කාල වල දී අනපේක්ෂිත තත්ත්ව වලදී ඔවුන් අත් විඳි ව්‍යාපාර සහ නිවාස අලාභහානි හේතුවෙන් ඇතැම් පුද්ගලයන් ප්‍රදේශය අත හැර පවා ගොස් ඇත.

වැල්ලම්පිටයි ආදී ප්‍රදේශවල අප යන විටත් ගඟ පිහිටියේ මාර්ගයේ මට්ටමින් අඩි 10 කට වඩා පහළිනි. නමුත් වර්ෂා කාලයේ ගංවතුර හේතුවෙන් ජල මට්ටම් මාර්ගයේ මට්ටමත් වඩා අඩි කිහිපයක් තරමට පිරෙන බව පසුගිය අවුරුදුවල අපි අත්දැක්කෙමු. මෙම මාර්ගයට සමාන්තරව පෑලියගොඩ සිය කැලණි විහාරය හරහා බියගම මාර්ගය පිහිටා ඇත. සාමාන්‍යයෙන් ගංවතුර සමයේ දී කඩුවෙල සිටම මාර්ගය හා ප්‍රදේශ ගංවතුරට යට වෙමින් පවතින අතර ​ෙස්ද වත්ත අඹතලේ මාර්ගයට යනු සම්පූර්ණයෙන්ම ගංවතුරෙන් යට වන මාර්ගයක් වේ.

​ෙස්දවත්තේ පිහිටි ද්විත්ව දුම්රිය මාර්ගය යනු කැලණි ගඟ මතින් දිවෙන එකම දුම්රිය මාර්ගය වේ. මේ හැර අන් කිසිඳු ස්ථානයකින් කිසිඳු දුම්රිය මාර්ගයක් කැලනි ගඟ හෝ එහි ප්‍රධාන අතු ගංගා යුගළය මතින් දිව යන්නේ නැත.

​ෙමහි පිහිටි එක් දුම්රිය මාර්ගයක් මෑතක දී නිර්මාණය කළ අතර අනෙක් දුම්රිය මඟ කළු පාලම ලෙස හඳුන්වයි. එය බ්‍රිතාන්‍ය සමයේ ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ දුම්රිය මාර්ගය ආරම්භ වීමත් සමගම නිර්මාණය කරන ලද ප්‍රථම දැවැන්ත දුම්රිය පාලම වේ.

වර්ෂ 1865 දී මෙම දුම්රිය මඟ නිර්මාණය කිරීමට පටන් ගත් අතර 1867 වන විට ප්‍රථම දුම්රිය මඟ නිර්මාණය කිරීමට පටන් ගත් අතර 1867 වන වන ප්‍රථම දුම්රිය මේ මතින් ධාවනය වුණි. මෙම දුම්රිය මහ වසර 150 ක් මුළුල්ලේ දකුණු වෙරළ බඩ සහ කැලණි වැලි දුම්රිය මාර්ග හැර අනෙක් සියලුම දුම්රියයන් ධාවනය කළ ලංකාවේ පැරණිතම සහ එකම දුම්රිය ​ෙපාළ වේ. කොළඹ කොටුවෙන් ලංකාවේ දසතටම දිව යන දුම්රිය සියල්ලන්ගෙන්ම සියයට අනූවක් පමණ දුම්රිය කළු පාලම උඩින් ධාවනය වන අතර එදා මෙදා තුර පාලම දැඩි ශක්තියකින් යුක්ත විය. තවද කළු පාලම මතින් කැලණි ගඟට පැන දිවි නසා ගත් පුද්ගලයන් සහ ආදරවන්තියන් බහුලය. මේ සියල්ල දරාගෙන කළු පාලම මතින් අදටත් යකඩ යකා ධාවනය කරයි.

කෙසේ හෝ කැලණි ගං පිටාර තැන්නේ අසිරියත් ගංවතුර හා සබැඳි අත්දැකම් සහ සංසිද්ධි ආශ්‍රයෙන් සන්නද්ධ වූ අපි මීළඟට කැලණිමුල්ල හරහා කැලණි විහාරයට යාමට සූදානම් වීමු. මෙම ප්‍රදේශවල කැලණි ගඟේ ස්වභාවය දැඩි සංසුන් බවක් උසුලන නමුදු ගඟේ පළල හා ගැඹුර ඉතා විශාලය. ගඟේ කිඹුලන් ගැවසෙන ඉසව්වක් වුවද ප්‍රදේශවාසීහු ජල ස්නානය හා රෙදි සේදීම වැනි කටයුතු තවමත් සිදු කරනු ලබති. සේදවත්ත හරහා යන මාර්ගය කළු ගල් බැම්මක් යොදා විශේෂයෙන් ආරක්ෂා කොට ඇත්තේ ඉවුරු ඛාදනය වළක්වා ගනු පිණිසය. කෙමෙන් කෙමෙන් අප කොහිලවත්ත පසු කරමින් ඉදිරියට ඇදුණේ කැලණියේ පිහිටි කැලණි විහාරය අසලින් ගලන කැලණි ග​ෙඟ් තවත් රසබර තොරතුරු සොයා ගෙනය.

Silent View of Kelani River

Expressway Bridge of Kaduwela

Expressway Bridge over the Kelani River

Rakshapana Rock

කැලණි ගඟ ඇතැම් අවස්ථාවල අංශක අනූවකින් හැරී තම ගමන් මග වෙනස් කරගන්නා අතර ඇතැම් අවස්ථාවල අංශක හැටක පමණ කෝණයකින් හැරී ගමන් මග වෙනස් කරගනී. ඇතැම් විට මෙවැනි නැමි දෙකක් එක ළග පිහිටීම නිසා ඉහළින් ගඟ නිරීක්ෂණය කරන්නෙකුට ඉංග්‍රීසි ඉසෙඩ් අකුරේ හැඩය පෙන්නුම් කරනු ඇත. මල්වාන රක්ෂපාන ගල ආසන්නයේදීත්, කඩුවෙල පාලම ආසන්නයේදිත් පෙන්නුම් කරන්නේ අංශක හැටක පමණ හැරවුමකි. එවැනි ස්ථානයකදී නැම්මේ ඇතුළු පැත්තෙන් ගොඩබිම ඩෙල්ටාවක් පරිදි පිහිටනු ඇත. මේ ඩෙල්ටා ප්‍රදේශ සංරක්ෂණය නොකළහොත් හෝ ඒ ආසන්නයේදී ගඟට බාධාවන් යෙදුවහොත් හෝ ගං ඉවුරු මත අධික බරක් යෙදුවහොත් හෝ ගඟෙ නැම්මේ පිට පැත්තෙන් ඉවුර තව තවත් පළල්වීමට මෙන්ම ඇතැම් විට ඩෙල්ටාව කඩාගෙන ගග ගලා බැසීමටද ඉඩ තිබේ. අද රණාල ප්‍රදේශයේදී මෙම අනතුර දක්නට ඇති අතර පසුගියදා කඩුවෙල පාලමේ කොන්ක්‍රීට් කණුවලට පිටින් ගොඩබිමේ කොටසක් ඛාදනයට ලක්ව ප්‍රධාන මාර්ගය ගිලාබැසීමේ තත්ත්වයකට මුහුණ දුන්නේද මිනිසුන් සොබාදමේ රීති හඳුනා නොගෙන හිතුවක්කාරී ලෙස පරිසරය වෙනස් කිරීමේ ප්‍රතිඵල ලෙසය.

අංශක හැටක පමණ හැරවුමක් සහිත මල්වාන රක්ෂපාන ගල අසළදී ගඟ ගලායාමේ මාර්ගය වෙනස්වීමේ අවදානමක් අද මතුවී තිබෙනවා. ස්වභාවික පිහිටීමේ පවතින විශාල ගල් පර්වතයක් නිසා ගඟ පටුවීමත් එයට පෙර ගඟේ විශාල නැම්මක් සහිත වීමත් නිසා විශාල ජලකඳක් ගෙන එන අවස්ථාවලදී ගලට ඉහළින් ඉවුර කඩාගෙන ගඟ පළල්වෙලා. දැන් එය මහපාර අයිනටම කඩාගෙන ඇවිත් තිබෙන්නේ.

View of the river

On the top of Rakshapana Rock

Silent River

River Bend

Pano view of the bend

Pano view with the Rakshapana Rock

Silent Beauty

Life Jackets and boats are here, because this is a dangerous bathing point

Rakshapana Rock with from the Thotupola

Beautiful Rock and remember this rock will be fully covered during a large flood

The bathing Point (Thotupola)

Boats parked

Keep in your mind please

Malwana Sorowwa

Close view of it

Direction to the Malwana Fort

Map of Malwana Fort

Path to the Fort

There are only a foundation and other ruins

හංවැල්ල ඕලන්ද බලකොටුව

කැලණි ගං මිටියාවතේ ඉදිකරන ලද පැරණි පෘතුගීසි බල කොටුවක ලන්දේසින් විසින් අල්ලා ගැනීමෙන් පසුව වැඩි දියුණු කෙරිණ.  මෙහි ඕලන්දයින් යනුවෙන් සඳහන් වී ඇත්තේ ද ලන්දේසීන්මය. ඕලන්දයේ වාසය කරන්නන් යන අරුතින් ඕලන්දයින් නම් වේ. ඕලන්ද වාසි ජාතිකයින්  ලන්දේසීහුය.  කැලණි ගඟේ දකුණු ඉවුරේ ඇළක්  කපා නිර්මිත ජල දුර්ගයකින් හංවැල්ල කොටුව වට වී ඇත. ශක්තිමත් කළුගල් බැම්මකින් කොටු පවුර ඉදිකර ඇති අතර එහි මුර කුටි පහක් පමණ තිබිණි. මෙහි බිම් සැලැස්ම පංචාස්‍රයක හැඩයෙන් යුක්ත වේ. ඒ තුළ බැරැක්ක හා ගබඩා ද පිහිටුවා තිබිණි.  වර්තමානයේ හංවැල්ල තානායම පිහිටා ඇත්තේ හංවැල්ල කොටුව අසලය. අද මෙහි නටබුන් පමණක් දක්නට ලැබේ.  වර්ෂ 1761 දී ලන්දේසීන්ට නතු වීමෙන් පසු හා වර්ෂ 1803 දී බ්‍රිතාන්‍ය ප්‍රහාරවලටත් වරින්වර සිංහල ප්‍රහාරවලටත් ගොදුරු වීම නිසා  මෙම බලකොටුව විනාශ වී ඇත.

Dutch Fort at Hanwella Town

Main Entrance of the Rest House (This is the old Hanwella Fort)

Inside of it

Outside view from inside

Stone Seat

Its magnificent

Declared by

The ancient Jack tree

Its beautiful and made from a single stone

Jack

Another View

Diya Agal

Sealed rooms

Old Boiler

Old Marks

The backside of the fort

Ancient Items

Front View

Another view

Side buildings

Pano photo of the Fort

The Sand Treasure under the Hanwella Bridge

View from it from Samanwatte

This was made by the real

The only evidence of King era related to Kelani River

Article 1

Article 2

Article 3

Article 4

Article 5

 

 

Part 1 Map

Part 2 Map

Part 3 Map

 

Next Articles of the series –

  1. Along the kelani river from avissawella to kithulgala
  2. Exploring the Birth of Kelani River

Thank you for reading !

Sobasiri Team ©


Tree Planting at Gurugalla Bridge

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Year and Month  26-March-2017
Number of Days  One
Crew  20+
Accommodation  N/A
Transport  Public and own transportation
Activities  Tree planting, Boating, Conservation, River bathing
Weather  Good
Route  Colombo -> Avissawella -> Thalduwa -> Amithirigala Road -> Gurugalla Bridge
Tips, Notes and Special remark
      • Carry enough water
      • Do not try in rainy days
      • Have a clear and clean plan
      • Collect Kumbuk plants
      • Gather many volunteers
      • Ask the directions from local
      • Do not disturb to the villagers
      • Do not litter
      • Leave only footprints
Related Resources  None
Author  Ranshan Fernando
Comments Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread
  • Tree Planting at Gurugalla Bridge

This was an idea and an initiative of one of our trip colleagues Dr Aruna Chaminda at Negombo Base Hospital. He was a participant of our Sobasiri hiking events and this Tree Planting programs not a new thing for him. Because he has done a big save for our mother nature by planting many trees in different areas.

He wanted our support to grab volunteers and get support from our Sobasiri trip participants, hence we have published a Facebook event and were able to gather around 20-30 people on that day. Everything was arranged by Dr Aruna and we just have to plant the Kumbuk trees on the river beds of Kelani River.

We started planting from Gurugalla bridge and walk upward of the river for about 2km, as I remember we planted more than 300 Kumbuk trees and all of us given our full energy to get this success on that day. We were also happy, as we received an opportunity to this useful event for mother nature.

Facebook Event

Discussing

Plants are ready

Other stuff also ready

Getting ready for the first one

Dr Aruna carrying plants

Planted the first Kumbuk tree under the Gurugalla Bridge

Keep planting

Another one

Water for them

Another one

Another one

Planting more

Other items

Getting some water

Bit tired

Planting

Participants are on their duty

Gurugalla Bridge

Plants

Carrying plants

They will be for Kelani River

Chatting

Carrying some plants

This is the save for our nature

Treat them

Kelani River

Hard Working

Boating

Madusanka carrying plants

The team participated

Thank you for reading !

Sobasiri Team ©

Kukulagala/ Diyatalawa Hike (1532m)

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Year and Month  26-September-2016
Number of Days  One
Crew  04
Accommodation  N/A
Transport  Motor Bicycles
Activities  Hiking, Nature Exploring, Photography, Sightseeing
Weather  Good
Route  Colombo -> Kandy -> Rikillagaskada -> Kukulagala Mountain -> Nuwaraeliya
Tips, Notes and Special remark
      • Carry enough water
      • Do not try in rainy days
      • Ask the directions from local
      • Do not disturb to the villagers
      • Start your hike early in the morning
      • Use caps on dry season
      • Do not litter
      • Leave only footprints
Related Resources  None
Author  Ranshan Fernando
Comments Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread
  • Kukulagala/ Diyatalawa Hike (1532m)

Kukulagala mountain is situated near Rikillagaskada and it also is known as Diyatalawa mountain in Metric Map. We have noticed this mountain on the way to our Loolkandura. After a few months,  we planned this hike and it was much easy for us since one of our friend is living at Nuwaraeliya.

We came from Moratuwa to Rikillagaskada around 7 am and wait for Madusanka. After he came he took the lead to the footpath of this mountain. Hence we were able to come to a place where we can keep our bikes too. We start this hike as much as earlier in the morning and was able to achieve the summit within a few hours.

Kukulagala mountain marked in Metric Map as “Diyatalawa”

Satellite view of the Kukulagala Mountain Range

Upper Mountain is Kukulagala, seen on the way to Loolkandura Estate from Delthota

Kukulagala saw at the top of Randenigala Mountain Range

Here is the full view of Kukulagala Mountain Range

On the way

Randenigala

More Views

Reservoir again

So far away.

Nearby

Reaching to the top

Little more to go

Surrounding view

Nearest Villages

Environment

Another side

Mountains

Some more

Survey Marks

Few more

Date mentioned

River

Dotulugala, Nawangala and Yahangala Seen

Namunukula Mountain Range

Mahakudugala Mountain

Piduruthalagala covered by Mist

Randenigala Reservoir

Rikillagaskada Town

Victoria Reservoir

After the hike, we headed to Nuwaraeliya to spend the night at Madusanka’s home. Since we have more time, we visited Geogery Park and enjoyed walking and engage in some activities. Read more about Nuwaraeliya in Deep

Waiting for a ride

The Lake, Piduru is in back

Swan Boats

Nicely paved

Boating, Kayaking

I was there

We were there

Beautiful

Flowers

Boathouse

Flower Fence

Another Flower Fence

The path

Thank you for reading !

Sobasiri Team ©

Roaming in Arugambay and Panama beaches

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Year and Month 30-September-2017
Number of Days  Two
Crew  04
Accommodation  N/A
Transport  Motor Bicycles
Activities  Hiking, Nature Exploring, Photography, Sightseeing, Ocean
Weather  Good
Route Colombo -> Ratnapura -> Beragala -> Wellawaya -> Buttala -> Monaragala ->
Siyambalanduwa -> Lahugala -> Pottuvil -> Arugam bay -> Panama ->
Tips, Notes and Special remark
      • Carry enough water
      • Do not disturb to foreigners
      • Maintain your behavior
      • Be careful on bathing
      • Beware of sea snakes
      • Try to be there in the morning or evening
      • Do not litter
      • Leave only footprints
Related Resources  Other activities
Author  Ranshan Fernando
Comments Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread
  • Roaming in Arugambay and Panama beaches

We went a two day journey to the Eastern side and have visited few places with in the limited time. As we have seen Okanda and Kudumbigala later we was roaming around Arugambay. This is a very beautiful beach and it is also famous for Surfing.

Arugam Bay (Tamil: அறுகம் குடா), known locally as “Arugam Kudah”, is a bay situated on the Indian Ocean in the dry zone of Sri Lanka’s southeast coast, and a historic settlement of the ancient Batticaloa Territory (Mattakallappu Desam). The bay is located 117 kilometres (73 mi) south of Batticaloa, 320 kilometres (200 mi) due east of Colombo, and approximately 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) south of the market town of Pottuvil. The main settlement in the area, known locally as Ullae, is predominantly Muslim,[1] however there is a significant Sri Lankan Tamil and Sinhala population to the south of the village, as well as a number of international migrants, largely from Europe and Australia. While traditionally fishing has dominated the local economy, tourism has grown rapidly in the area in recent years. Arugam Kudah’s literal Tamil translation is “Bay of Cynodon dactylon”. Tourism in Arugam Bay is dominated by surf tourism, thanks to several quality breaks in the area, however tourists are also attracted by the local beaches, lagoons, historic temples and the nearby Kumana National Park.

The nearby (4 kilometres (2.5 mi)) Muslim village of Pottuvil is the center of commerce and transportation while tourist accommodations lie along the beach to the south of Pottuvil Arugam Bay (4 kilometres (2.5 mi)) is also the gateway and the only road access to the Yala East National Park. In 2.2 kilometres (1.4 mi) distance there is Pasarichenai Beach. This area is known as Kumana (44 kilometres (27 mi)), to be reached via the Tamil/Sinhalese settlement of Panama (Sri Lanka) (17 kilometres (11 mi)) and the Tamil shires at Okanda (32 kilometres (20 mi)). The local area is home to a number of elephants, often travelling between Lahugala and Kumana national parks.

Arugam Bay is the most popular surf spot and is also the only international surf competition venue in Sri Lanka. It is also rated as one of the top ten surf destinations in the world. It has also hosted most of the international surfing competitions in Sri Lanka since 2004. It also hosted the So Sri Lanka Pro 2019. (Wikipedia)

Heading to Arugambay

Beauty on the way

Two toners

Green paddies

Here we came but still dawn

Sun rising

Sun rise seen

How it rising

Over the ocean

Beautiful beach

Another view

Milky Sea

Waves

Light o the sky

More to view

See the sea

Sand

Small huts

Indian Ocean

Surrounding

Beauty of under the water

For tourism

Surfing started

Surfing

He has no fear

Walking over the milky

Environment

The sufers

Its a enjoyable game

More in the sea

Ready for it

Got into the ocean

We saw this for few hours

Line of the sea

Tourists

Boats and surfers

Cabanas

Panama (Tamil: பாணமை, Sinhala: පාණම) is a coastal village in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka, located 126 kilometres (78 mi) south of Batticaloa and 12 km (7.5 mi) south of Arugam Bay. It is the last populated settlement in the southernmost part of the province, within the Ampara District. Kumana Bird Sanctuary and Heritage park starts southwards from Panama.

Panama was the capital of the Colonial Panamapattuwa of Mattakkalappu Desam. This ancient village can be seen in the historical maps of Portuguese and Dutch as Panao, Panova, and Paneme. Panama’s inhabitants are mixed people of Sinhalese and Tamils. Panama is known for its Pattini Cult.

The village’s name has been a cause for mix-up by Sri Lanka Post resulting in local mail being wrongly redirected to the Central American nation of Panama and vice versa for international mail.

Panama Beach

Diamond Ocean

Over the sea

Nature creations

Life

Enjoying

The Ocean

Environment

Sand and beach

Rocks

Milky

Life

Their life

Sand island

Sand and Ocean

Types of blue

Surrounding

Styles

Land side

Final capture

Thank you for reading !

Sobasiri Team ©

Visit to Galle Fort

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Year and Month  Last visit – September 2019
Number of Days  One
Crew  04
Accommodation  N/A
Transport  Hired Vehicle
Activities  Archaeology, Photography, Sightseeing, History
Weather  Good
Route  Colombo -> Galle Road/ Southern Expressway (Pinnaduwa Exit) -> Galle -> Galle Fort
Tips, Notes and Special remark
      • Carry enough water
      • Be responsible
      • Do not disturb to the foreigners
      • Do not harm to the ancient buildings
      • Do not go during heavy rainy days
      • Beware of heavy wind
      • Be careful on walking on the edges
      • Do not litter
      • Leave only footprints
Related Resources  Article from AmazingLanka
Author  Ranshan Fernando
Comments Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread
  • Visit to Galle Fort

As I remember I went to Galle fort before 2000 and after that I have visited this beautiful place more than 20 times. My recent visit was done in September 2019 with my wife and children during our annual office trip. However I thought to publish some photos of Galle Fort captured on a different way as Sobasiri team visited this place during our Kanneliya hike.


Dutch Fort of Galle – ගාල්ල කොටුව

Galle Fort (Sinhala: ගාලු කොටුව Galu Kotuwa; Tamil: காலிக் கோட்டை, romanized: Kālik Kōṭṭai), in the Bay of Galle on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, was built first in 1588 by the Portuguese, then extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century from 1649 onwards. It is a historical, archaeological and architectural heritage monument, which even after more than 432 years maintains a polished appearance, due to extensive reconstruction work done by Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka.

The pride of a nation and the country in the eyes of the world is enhanced by its civilization, its culture and its natural beauties. Endowed with these qualifications with a 2500 year old history supported by ancient archaeological treasures, Sri Lanka is rated as a bio diversity hot-spot of the world.

The historical importance of the Galle Fort is unchallenged. The origins of Galle though lost in antiquity still survive through artifacts which confirm its existence in pre Christian and Roman eras. Through medieval ages, the Galle Fort emerged as Ceylon’s major southern international port attracting Chinese, Indian, Indonesian, Persian, Roman and Arab traders.

The pride of a nation and the country in the eyes of the world is enhanced by its civilization, its culture and its natural beauties. Endowed with these qualifications with a 2500 year old history supported by ancient archaeological treasures, Sri Lanka is rated as a bio diversity hot-spot of the world.

The historical importance of the Galle Fort is unchallenged. The origins of Galle though lost in antiquity still survive through artifacts which confirm its existence in pre Christian and Roman eras. Through medieval ages, the Galle Fort emerged as Ceylon’s major southern international port attracting Chinese, Indian, Indonesian, Persian, Roman and Arab traders.

The Galle Dutch Fort is a rare historical jewel protected by dark, thick stone walls – with the endless ocean on one side. The roads inside the Galle Fort have hardly changed, like the squares on a chess board crisscrossing in regular patches. Straight and narrow lanes branch in and out inviting the visitor to a delightful walk into the 17th century.

Today’s Peddler Street was called “Moorse Kramerstraat” by the Dutch, Lighthouse Street was “Zeeburgstraat and Middelpuntstraat”, Hospital Street as `Nieuwe Lijnbaanstraat and Lijnbaanstraat (New Ropewalk Street), Old Ropewalk Street as Oude Lijnbaanstraat (Old Rope-Walk Street), Church Street as Kerkstraat, Parrawa Street as “Parruasstraat” and Chiando Street as “Chiandostraat”. Through this memory walk one would however miss the 17th century familiar vendors who traded in cinnamon, lace, elephants, tortoise and turtle shell ornaments besides the famous down south sweetmeats like “bondi aluwa” hanging in garlands from the shoulders of vendors.

In 1505 a group of Portuguese sailors led by Don Lorenzo de Almeida arrived in the island and they built the first fortification in Galle on a cliff, jutting out into the sea. It was called the Swart Bastion or the Black Fort in 1520. Later it was fortified and enlarged by the Dutch in 1667.

Here we came

Light House

Ocean

The Ridge

Environment

View of the Light House

Walking path

Sales

Culture

Culture

Culture

Culture

For sale

For sale

Beach

Some ruins

Walking along the inside roads

Walking along the inside roads

Sun Bastion
It is recorded that by about 1620 this deference bastion was very strongly built by the Portuguese. It was named by them as Sao Iago.

On 4 th August 1667 it was renamed by the Dutch as the Zon (Sun) Bastion. On this occasion the first canon shots fired as a guard of honour from this bastion was in honour of the fiancé of the Dutch Governor Hester D. Solomin Razikloff Van Govassas.

In 1697 the base of the bastion was further strengthened. By about 1760, there were about 15 canons installed on this bastion.

Moon Bastion
The Portuguese had named this bastion as Conceycao, which meant “the pure conception.” The Dutch originally identified as the Middle Point. In 1667 it was officially named as Mark or the Moon Bastion.

By 1760 there were 19 canons installed on this bastion. The main entrance to the fort lies between the Sun Bastion and the Moon Bastion. This entrance was made by the British by carving out the rampart.

Star Bastion
This bastion was named by the Portuguese as Sao Antonio (St. Anthony’s). The Dutch first named it the Zee Punt (Sea Bastion). In 1667 it was officially named by them as the Star Bastion. After it was renamed, the first canon shot was fired by the daughter of the then Dutch Commander of Galle Adrian Ruthas.

There were about 6 canons installed on this bastion.

Aeolus Bastion
To defend the western approaches to Galle Fort the Dutch built a long rampart wall linked by four gun platform bastions between the Sun Bastion in the north west corner of the fort and Flag rock in the south west corner. All these bastions are open to public and ideal locations for enjoy the sunset over the sea.

Aeolus means the sea breeze. It is believed that it was so named because the Dutch Naval Commander’s official residence was located here and due to the importance of wind for ships.

Clippenburg Bastion
Clippen means jutting into the sea and burg means village. It has obviously been named due to its setting. During the British period a naval signal station had been located here called the Lloyd Signal Station owned by the Lloyd Company. There are still remnants of the equipment which was installed here.

Neptune Bastion
This is a minor bastion on the western ramparts on the fort. During the Dutch period it had been named Neptune’s Bastion. In British period maps it is marked as Neptune Bastion. This bastion was occupied by flag staff and a signalling station during world war II.

Triton Bastion
Another minor bastion is seen on the exploratory map of Galle Fort which was drawn by chief engineer Reimer in 1790. It is recorded that there was a windmill erected here to draw water which filled tanks with sea water to supply carts which went through the roads of the fort spraying sea water to keep the town dust free and cool.

Flagrock Bastion
This bastion lies at the southernmost end of the fort and has also been known as Visser’s Hoek and Viaggeklip Bastion in the past. According to J.W. Heide, the Dutch flag had been hoisted here by 1733.

In Gems Cordine’s book Description of Ceylon, it is stated that in 1796 the British flag was hoisted here.

In 1848 the first lighthouse in the island of Sri Lanka had been constructed here. The light had been powered by kerosene oil and gas. It had been destroyed by fire around 1930.

Today this is one of the most popular places for tourists to catch the sun sinking beneath the sea over the horizon and during day time you can find a group of local daredevil group jumping off the bastion in the rocky waters below for entertainment of the tourists.

Point Utrecht Bastion
It has been named after the hometown of the first clergyman of the Dutch Reformed Church who arrived in Galle in 1641, namely, the Rev.Anhenrio Husaivers. By 1760, it had 6 canons installed.

After the first lighthouse on the Flagrock Bastion was destroyed by fire, the new lighthouse which is 92 feet high was erected here in 1939. Bunkers had been built around the lighthouse during the Second World War. They have been removed sometimes ago.

Near the lighthouse there is a flight of steps leading to the beach where there is a bathing spot. During the British period, it was used as the Ladies Bathing Place.

There is a gunpowder magazine close to this bastion which bears a Dutch inscription from 1782, facing the road.

Aurora Bastion
This bastion is named after the Roman God Aurora. It is believed that it was so named because it is the point in Galle Fort from which one could get the best view of sunrise.

By 1760, 6 canons had been installed here.

Akersloot Bastion
This bastion has been named after the hometown of Commander Wilhelm Jacobs Coster who led the Dutch conquest of Galle Fort. This is located next to the old Dutch hospital building. It is said that it was once used during the Dutch period for postmortem examinations. It has a inscription “Akersloot 1759” although infact it was erected earlier.

It is an excellent vantage point for the observation of the Galle harbor and bay. From the British period onwards, it has been used as the official residence of the Harbour Master. It is believed that there were 7 canons installed here to protect the bay from invading vessels.

Another interesting feature of this bastion is the old breadfruit (Artucarpus incisisus) tree found here which is believed to the first bread fruit tree planted by the Dutch on the island of Sri Lanka.

Walking along the inside roads

Nice designs

Walking along the inside roads

Walking along the inside roads

History

Name board

Signs

Beach again

Ruins

Walking along the inside roads

Walking along the inside roads

Walking along the inside roads

Dutch Church

Nice design and the atmosphere

Commandment Bastion
This is marked in Reimer’s map of Galle Fort (1790). It is believed that was named due to its close proximity to the Dutch Commander’s official residence

Fishmark Bastion
his is also found in Reimer’s map of Galle Fort (1790). It is believed that it was named Fishmark because fishing craft could be well observed from here.

Ancient monuments within this historical complex included the Lighthouse, the clock tower, the first Dutch Reformed and Anglican churches, the Meera Mosque, the Buddhist Temple, and the Commander’s Residence. Worthy of mention is the Dutch Reformed Church with its baroque facade and the usual double scroll mouldings on its gables which testify to indigenous influence. The military architecture of the Fort is European in design. The unique Galle Fort is still the best preserved fortified city in South Asia.

The fortification of the Galle Fort as a seat of administration was seen during the Portuguese, Dutch and British periods. The neglect of the Fort began after 1948 with vandalism being prevalent.

Considering its importance as an outstanding architectural and archaeological monument in Asia during the colonial period and to prevent its further degradation the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the International Committee on Monuments and Sites (COSMOS) registered Galle Fort as a World Heritage Site. Subsequently, the Government of Sri Lanka enacted legislation under the Galle Heritage Foundation Act No. 7 of 1991 for the conservation and management of the Galle Fort and environs.

Since then the Galle Public Awareness Programme was launched with assistance from the Netherlands Government in association with the Departments of Archaeology and Museums, the Ceylon Tourist Board and the Amsterdam and the Netherlands Departments of Conservation. A Maritime Museum was opened on March 28 1999.

After government the withdraw restrictions on land ownership by non citizen a large number of heritage buildings within the Galle Fort has been grabbed by foreigners and has been converted in to eateries, pubs and hotels. Some have blamed that these overseas owners have carried out changes to buildings within this world heritage city violating provisions of the Antiquities Act and of bribery to government officials to look away.

The Galle Fort World Heritage Protection Society (GFWHPS) too has appealed to the made an appeal to the Government urging their immediate attention to protect our World Heritage Sites. They allege that foreigners who purchase sites within the Galle Fort have contravened the Antiquities Act which is a non-bailable offense.

History

Owners

Another one faced to Galle Road

The view

Bird eye view

View

Lonely path

Ruins

Light House at the entrance

Surrounding

Lovers

The ocean

Our heritage

Thank you for reading !

Sobasiri Team ©

Scenic Drive at Southern Province

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Year and Month  11-September-2016
Number of Days  One
Crew  05
Accommodation  N/A
Transport  Car
Activities  History, Photography, Sightseeing, Nature Exploring, Waterfall Hunting, Hiking
Weather  Perfect and hot
Route  Colombo -> Highway-> Kurundugahahetekma -> Elpitiya -> Pituwala Road ->
Diwankara Lena Road -> Anda Helena Falls -> Highway->  Hikkaduwa ->
Galle -> Koggala -> Martin Wickramasinghe Home  -> Madol Duwa
-> Matara -> Dondra -> Dondra Light House -> Back to Colombo via Highway
Tips, Notes and Special remark
      • Carry enough water
      • Do not try in rainy days
      • Ask the directions from local
      • Do not disturb to the villagers
      • Do not litter
      • Leave only footprints
Related Resources  Article of Madol Duwa

Martin Wickremasinghe Website

Article of Dondra Lighthouse

Author  Ranshan Fernando
Comments Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread
  • Scenic Drive at Southern Province

We had a relaxing drive to the southern province as we received an invitation from our friend to visit his village as well as we need to have a drive to Matara via the Southern Expressway. Since my other members didn’t see Andahelena Fall I marked it at the first thing on our trip. I visited Andahelena Falls in May, 2013 while on a Funeral of an office mate’s cousin. However, we were able to visit Madol Duwa, Martin Wickremasinghe House, and the Museum and finally stopped at Dondra Light House which is closed to that friend’s home.

Falls in Elpitiya – අඬාහැලෙන ඇල්ල

It is only from close range that the true beauty of the 12m Andahelena Ella Falls (aka Andahalena Ella, Handahelena Ella, Handahalena Ella) can be appreciated, making the difficult approach well worth the trouble. A picturesque pool forms at the top before the water cascades downwards. It is shrouded by trees such as ankenda (Acrounychia pedunculata), aarididda (Camponosperme zeylenice), bakmee (Nauclea orientalis), batadomba (Canarium zeylenicum), telkekuna, ehela (Cassia fistula), gotha (Pedalium murex), wanasapu (Cananga odorata), venivel (Coscinium fenestratum) and alsahora, which form a shady canopy over the water. Some say that the trees of the jungle are akin to monks protecting the four sublime states of living of Buddhism, giving all animals shelter and comfort.

Situated 6km east of Elpitiya town, in the village of Pituwala (in the Galle District’s Elpitiya Divisional Secretariat). The fall is located within 4774 hectares of jungle known as the Beraliya Mukalana (Beraliya Jungle). It is not possible to reach the fall by vehicle. The last part of the journey must be completed on foot, negotiating obstacles such as dense foliage and uneven ground.

To reach the waterfall from the Southern Highway, exit from Kurundugahahetekma and take the Elpitiya Road. From Elpitiya, take the Pituwala – Kahaduwa Road. Traveling 5km on this road, you will see a billboard directing towards Andahelena Ella at the top of the Diwankara Lena Road. This road will end at the Diwankaralena Aranya Senasanaya Monastery. This is a dilapidated road but motorable. You can park the vehicle at the Monastery Entrance. But it’s safer to stop your vehicle at the small open space near a boutique about 250 meters before the temple since the last road segment may be too narrow. From the temple entrance you need to take the footpath through the Beraliya Mukalana forest to reach the waterfall. The length of the footpath is approx 300 meters. Unlike in other waterfalls, a bathing pool lies at the top of the falls.

Being inside an isolated forested area, this location is used by drug addicts and petted thieves. A couple was murdered here by drug addicts in 2013, thus it’s advised not to travel alone. Leaches on the footpath could be a problem during the wet season.

GPS Location – 6.258583, 80.197230

Boutique at the road

Path to the Hermitage

Vehicles parked

Hike started

The stream

Footpath

Along the path

Forest

Cultivation

Stream

Crossing point

Little more to go

Here is she

Little more water than my previous visit to Andahelena Falls

Lovely view

Closer view

Should climb again

At the top

View from the top

Upper pool

Milky

Martin Wickramasinghe House and Museum

The house in which Martin Wickramasinghe was born has inspired the Martin Wickramasinghe Trust to established a Folk Museum Complex, surrounded by a restored ecosystem planted with hundreds of varieties of indigenous trees and shrubs in which bird life abounds. The house and the surroundings brings to life a little part of the Koggala which is so vividly depicted in Wickramasinghe’s writings.

Martin Wickramasinghe was born, in the village of Malalgama in 1890. A section of the ancestral home, in which he and his sisters grew up with their parents has survived the rigors of time. The partly renovated house, part of the rear section of which is thought to be nearly 200 years old, is a typical southern abode of the period, with pleasing Dutch architectural features and cool, whitewashed walls and floors paved with square bricks.
The house was taken over by the Royal Air force during World War II, when all villagers in Malalgama and surrounding villages were asked to vacate their houses within 24 hrs. Most homes were demolished to build a seaplane base (the airstrip of which is in use to this day.)

Wickramasinghe’s house miraculously escaped the fate of others in his village. The story goes that this simple house with its subdued architecture caught the eye of a female Air Force officer, and she made it her residence during the military occupation of the area, ensuring its preservation. It was a Catalina aircraft from this base that alerted the British government to the presence of a Japanese fleet, thus ensuring that adequate defensive measures were taken by the military to ward off an attack.

The grass-covered mound to the right of the households his ashes, surmounted by a wedge-shaped rock from the Koggala reef, on which he spent many hours of his day during his childhood. The ashes of his wife Prema are also buried under this mound. An exhibition of memorabilia is housed in a Hall of Life. The Hall of Life tells the story of Wickramasinghe’s life through a series of photographs, awards, and souvenirs.

The Folk Museum was long a desire of the author who wanted to recapture within it the technological and cultural artifacts which were a familiar part of his childhood. The various objects of folk culture acquired during his lifetime have been the starting point of the collection found in the museum, which was opened in 1981.

The Wickramasinghe Trust has developed the museum into a growing repository of artifacts depicting the history of Sri Lankan folk culture, from ancient to modern times in order to remind the people of Sri Lanka of their living rooms. The museum is a fascinating collection of artifacts, from Buddhist artifacts to those which portray the development of rural technology in agriculture, agro-industry, fishing, pottery and metal craft artifacts, various artifacts from folk dances and religious ceremonies and many others. Tastefully presented, the museum offers visitors rare insights into Sri Lankan folk culture.

In providing the backdrop and context to the museum, a Trust brochure states that “Martin Wickramasinghe delved into the life and culture of our people from their early beginning to the present day and through his writings, he identified our folk culture as a resilient bonding substance which has not only prevented our social disintegration and alienation, despite assimilation of elements from a multitude of eastern and western cultures but also molded our collective identity and values as a people. Wickramasinghe’s unceasing intellectual exploration and his creative and critical writings relating to the life and culture of the people of Sri Lanka continued for a period of over 70 years”.
The Folk museum is an ideal place to get to know the author better, to understand a little of what Koggala and its people meant to him. Wickramasinghe’s writings vividly recall the carefree days of his childhood, exploring the marine life in the Koggala reef, playing with his friends from the village, and enjoying the rural solitude of his beloved Koggala. Seated on the steps of Wickramasinghe’s ancestral home, and enjoying the blessed charm of this seven-acre piece of rural paradise, it is easy to understand why this piece of earth nurtured and set ablaze the imagination of one of this country’s greatest writers.

Main name board

Ticket

Memories

More to see

His house

Where he currently lived

Side view

Garden

Madol Duwa – මඩොල් දූව

Koggala is one of the famous tourists attractions places in Sri Lanka. It is located on the southern coast of Sri Lanka. Visitors can enjoy the boat trips in the lagoon and Koggala Lake to explore other tiny islands and the biodiversity around the Koggala site. Madol Duwa is one of seven islands located on the Koggala Lake. A boat ride down the lake is soothing. When you reach the town of Koggala, you will find many hand-written signs that will lead you towards ‘Madol Duwa’. Madol Duwa is located is just 30 minutes south of Galle. Once you reach the island, you will notice a well-used path that will take you around the island. It is a surprisingly small island that can be explored within a few minutes. However what is most fascinating is that this island blossomed in the imagination of Mr. Wickramasinghe.
Madol Duwa is yet another island whereas it became very well-known through the famous ‘Madol Duwa’ book. This novel was written by Martin Wickramasinghe. He is identified as a most renowned writer in the late 20th century. Martin Wickramasinghe, Sri Lanka’s best-known author of novels and short stories first published the fictional short novel “Madol Duwa” in 1947. Literally translated it means Mangrove Island and has been translated into nine languages and sold over a million copies. The history of Madol duwa book recounts the misadventures of Upali Giniwella and his friends on the Southern coast of Sri Lanka during the 1890s. It later describes the efforts of ‘Upali’ and his friend ‘Jinna’ to lead their lives in a small deserted island. Their struggle to succeed in their lives in the deserted island named Madol Duwa is elaborated through the story. Even the story was made into a film in 1976. Koggala is the hometown of author Martin Wickramasinghe. His birth house has now become the Koggala museum of folk culture consist of wood, furniture, traditional masks and costumes of folk dancers.

Koggala Lake is a very large unspoiled freshwater lake that contains quite a few historical and interesting islands and it is located within a few kilometers away from town. Bird watching at the evening is breathtaking. At the entire lagoon is teamed with prawns and birds. You are allowed to take boat trips and explore the islands around the Koggala Lake. There are heaps of boats around here offering tours. Well worth Madolduwa boat safaris can be arranged in the lake to see the famous island Madolduwa along with the other minor islands. While journeying down the lake you would notice many other islands covered in greenery. From within, bird- calls could be heard momentarily, as they compete with the sound of the motorboat. Prawn catchers patiently wait while meaty prawns make their way to the nets. The boat will slow down from time to time, allowing you to absorb the scenery and the beauty of Madolduwa.

On your way to ‘Madol Duwa,’ these islands will be found. The first island is ‘kathduwa’. When you reach the island Madolduwa there you can see the mangrove roots that girded the island, the thick mud along the shore, and an opening in the rocks that guarded a beach that was almost clear of mud and had a tiny wooden dock. ‘Sekku gala’, the well magnified at Madol Dowa novel is still remaining at Madol Duwa Island. Nowadays it is going to be polluted due to the misbehaviors of the peasantry around the area.

Madol Duwa island has become a famous place in the southern part of Sri Lanka due to remarkable creatures and incidents happened around here. The number of both foreign and local tourists visit Madol Duwa island today. It has become a famous tourist hub that emerged with Madolduwa tourism. Once you have explored the island, head over to a bookshop, and buy a copy of ‘Madol Duwa’. It will definitely help you re-imagine a much familiar landscape that you have visited. And also for sure, it will remain with you as a splendid memory within your tour to Sri Lanka.

Near to the river

Here we go to Madol Duwa

It is there

The river

Mangrove island

The footpath

Nirosh is searching

Old well

Some ruins

Footpath

Return journey from Madol Duwa

Here we are reaching the Galle Road

The Indian ocean

Fishers

The old method

It’s bit dangerous

Water

Waves

People are visiting this place too

They

Dondra Head Lighthouse – දෙවුන්දර තුඩුව ප්‍රදීපාගාරය

Dondra Head Lighthouse is a lighthouse located on Dondra Head, Dondra, the southernmost point in Sri Lanka and is Sri Lanka’s tallest lighthouse, and also one of the tallest in South East Asia. Dondra Head lighthouse is operated and maintained by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.

The lighthouse is near the village of Dondra, and is approximately 6 km (3.7 mi) southeast of Matara. The name Dondra is a synonym for “Devi-Nuwara” in the local Sinhala language, “Devi” meaning “Gods” and “Nuwara” meaning “City”. Dondra is therefore derived to mean “City of the Gods”.

Dondra Head Lighthouse was designed by Sir James Nicholas Douglass, with construction, by William Douglass of the Imperial Lighthouse Service, commencing in November 1887. All the building materials including the bricks and steel were imported from England. The granite rock was supplied from quarries at Dalbeattie in Scotland and Penryn in Cornwall. The lighthouse was completed and commissioned in March 1890. The combined cost of erection of the lighthouse and the Barberyn Lighthouse was £30,000 and was paid for by dues collected at the Basses lighthouses.

Dondra Head was one of the limited numbers of lighthouses that were designed to house the large Hyperradiant Fresnel lenses that became available at the end of the 19th century. Four of these lenses were used in Sri Lankan lights, all made by Chance Brothers in England.

The lighthouse is 49 m (161 ft) high[3] and contains 7 floors, 14 two-panel yellow color windows, and 196 steps to the top. Dondra Head is also one of four international lighthouses in Sri Lanka. It was modernized in 2000, with the introduction of a Differential Global Positioning System and is a computer linked to the other major lighthouses around the coast.

Sea

Entrance

Here is she

Surrounding

Blue Ocean

Waves

The lighthouse

How tall is it

Another angle

Neighbour

Another view

Over the coconut trees

Path

Over the green

Memories

History

Wish if they permitted to go to the top

Time to leave

Full view

Thank you for reading !

Sobasiri Team ©

Beauty of Bandaragama –වීදාගම වැව (වල්ගම වැව/ ලෝකපිල වැව)

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Year and Month  June-2020
Number of Days  One
Crew  02
Accommodation  N/A
Transport  Motor Cycle
Activities  Hiking, Photography, Sightseeing, Nature Exploring, Pilgrimage
Weather  Perfect
Route  Colombo -> Piliyandala -> Bandaragama -> Widiyagoda -Weedagama Road ->
Weedagama Tank
Tips, Notes and Special remark
      • Carry enough water
      • Do not try in rainy days
      • Ask the directions from local
      • Do not disturb the villagers
      • Do not litter
      • Leave only footprints
Related Resources Visit to Pokunuwita Rajamaha Viharaya Temple

Visit to Pathahawatte Raja Maha Viharaya

Lankadeepa Newspaper Article

Author  Ranshan Fernando
Comments Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread
  • Beauty of Bandaragama – වීදාගම වැව (වල්ගම වැව/ ලෝකපිල වැව)

දිගු ඉතිහාසයකට උරුමකම් කියන බණ්ඩාරගම

බස්නාහිර පළාතේ කළුතර දිස්ත්‍රික්කයට අයත් බණ්ඩාරගම දිගු ඉතිහාසයකට උරුමකම් කියන සශ්‍රීක ප්‍රදේශයකි. වර්තමානයේ කළුතරට කොළඹට හොරණට සහ පාණදුරට ගමන් කිරීමට හැකි හතරමං හන්දියකින් යුතු නගරයකි.මුලින්ම බණ්ඩාරගමට බණ්ඩාරගම යනුවෙන් ව්‍යවහාර කිරීමට හේතු වූ ග්‍රාම නාම්‍ය සොයා යෑමේදී රජුගේ භාණ්ඩාගාරය පිණිස වෙන් කරනු ලැබූ නගරය භාණ්ඩාර ග්‍රාමය හෙවත් භාණ්ඩර මුල්ල නමින් ප්‍රකට වී රාජකීයන්ගේ නිත්‍ය වාස භූමිය වූයෙන් භාණඩර මුල්ල පසු කාලීනව සුඛෝච්චාරණයේ පහසුවට බණ්ඩාරගම නමින් අමරණීය වූ බව පැරැන්නෝ පවසති.

ඓතිහාසික රයිගම් රාජධානියේ කේන්ද්‍රස්ථානය වී ඇත්තේ මේ බණ්ඩාරගම බව මෙහි සංචාරය කරන ඕනෑම අයකුට අදත් දැකගැනීමට හැකිය. පහතරට තෙත් කලාපයට අයත් වුවද අනුරපුර පොලොන්නරු ප්‍රදේශවල ඇති දියුණු වාරි ශිෂ්ටාචාරයට සමාන වාරි ශිෂ්ටාචාරයක් රයිගම් රාජධානියටද උරුම වී ඇත. විශේෂයෙන් බණ්ඩාරගම ප්‍රාදේශීය ලේකම් කොට්ඨාසයේ පමණක් වැව් 6 කින් සමන්විතව ඇත.

1 උයන්වත්තේ වැව
2 වල්ගම වැව
3 වෑවිට වැව
4 ගම්මන්පිල වැව
5 අලුත්ගමකුදු වැව
6 පන්සල් වැව

යනුවෙන් ඕනෑම රටක සමෘද්ධිමත් බව සමඟ දියුණ සාහිත්‍යයට උරුමකම් කීමට හැකි විශිෂ්ට ගණයේ උගතුන් බිහිවීම වැළැක්විය නොහැකිය. රයිගම් රාජධානියේ වීදාගම ගණානන්ද පිරිවෙන් අධිපති වීදාගම මෛත්‍රී හිමියන්ගේ විශිෂ්ට කෘති ඒ යුගයේ සාහිත්‍ය දියුණුවට ඇති ප්‍රබල සාක්ෂියකි. උන්වහන්සේ විසින් රචනා කරන ලද ලෝ වැඩ සඟරාව, බුදුගුණාලංකාරය, එළුඅත්තනගලුවංශය ආදී කෘති රාශියකි. බුදුගුණාලංකාරයේ වීදාගම මහ වෙහෙර ගැන සඳහන් කොට ඇත්තේ මෙසේය.

දින දින නොඅඩු දින පුද පැවති මනහර
දනමන රඳන සැදි ගෙඋයන් සිරිත් සර
වැජඹෙන පසිඳු මහ රයිගම්පුර අතුර
බබළන සොඳුරු වීදාගම මහ වෙහෙර

කොටගමුවේ විජයබා පිරිවෙන්පති ෂඩ්භාෂා පරව​ෙම්ශ්වර තොටගමුවේ රාහුල හිමියන්ද වීදාගම මෙත් තෙරුන්ගේ ශිෂ්‍යවරයාණන් වහන්සේ නමක් බව ප්‍රකටය. රයිගම් රාජධානියේ අතීතය සොයා යෑමේදී හමුවූ පතහාවත්ත පුෂ්කරාරාමාධිපති දීයකඩුවේ සෝමානන්ද හිමියන් ඒ ඉතිහාසය ගැන කරුණු පැවසුවේ මේ ඇසුරිනි.

රයිගම අද කුඩා ප්‍රදේශයක් වුණත් ඈත අතීතයේ නිරිත දිග සහ දකුණු ප්‍රදේශ මුළුමනින්ම පාලන කළ ප්‍රාදේශීය රාජ්‍ය මධ්‍යස්ථානයක් බවට පත්වෙලා තිබෙනවා. කුරුණෑගල හා ගම්පොළ රාජධානි සමයේ V වන බුවනෙකබාහු වැනි රජවරුන් නිසා පිරිහී ගිය සිංහල රාජධානියට යාපනේ රජකම් කළ ආර්යචක්‍රවර්තී කියන ප්‍රාදේශීය රජුගේ ආක්‍රමණශීලී ප්‍රතිපත්ති නිසා විවිධ තර්ජන ගර්ජනවලට මුහුණපාමින් සිටියදී බටහිර හා නිරිත දිග වෙරළ ඔස්සේ කොළඹ දක්වා පැතිරෙමින් තිබූ ආර්යචක්‍රවර්තිගේ පාලන බලය නැවත යාපනය දක්වා සීමා කිරීමට ඉදිරිපත් වූයේ අලකේශ්වර හෙවත් අලගක්කෝනාර නම් රයිගම පාලනය කළ ප්‍රාදේශීය රජතුමා තමයි කුරුණෑගල රජකම් කළ IV වැනි පරාක්‍රමබාහු රජතුමා තම රාජගුරු මහ තෙරිඳුට වීදාගම ශ්‍රී ගණානන්ද පිරිවෙන් විහාරය පූජා කළ අවදියේ මේ ප්‍රදේශයේ රාජකීයන් විසූ දියුණු නගරයක්ව පැවති බවත් එය රයිගම්පුර යනුවෙන් මහාවංශයේ සඳහන් වෙනවා. අලකේශ්වර ඇමැතිවරු යටතේ රයිගම රාජ්‍යය මීට ආසන්න කාලයක බිහිවී තිබූ බව ක්‍රි.ව. 1344 දී මෙරටට පැමිණි ‘ඉබන් බතුතා’ නම් මුස්ලිම් සංචාරකයාගේ වාර්තා සටහනින් මේ බව පෙන්වා දීලා තිබෙනවා. ඔහුට අනුව තමා දුටු ‘අල්කෝනාර්’ (අලගක්කෝනාර) රටේ ප්‍රධාන අධිරාජ්‍යයකු ලෙස බලවත්ව සිටි බවත් ඔහු තමන්ගේ ගමන් බිමන් සඳහා අභිමානවත් සුදු ඇතකු යොදාගත් බවත් ඔහු විසූ ‘කෝනකර්’ (රාජගාමපුර) විසිතුරු නගරයක් බවත් කියා තිබෙනවා.

යාපනයේ ආර්ය චක්‍රවර්තී රජුට එරෙහිව යුද වැදීමට ප්‍රභූරාජ අලකේශ්වර කෝට්ටේ දියවන්නා ඔය ආශ්‍රිතව ශක්තිමත් බළකොටුවක් හැදුවා. මේ බළකොටුව ගැන නිකාය සංග්‍රහයේ මෙන්ම අලකේශ්වර යුද්ධය නැමැති ග්‍රන්ථවලත් සඳහන් වෙනවා. මේ බළකොටුව ඉදිකළ වහාම යාපනයේ රජු සමඟ යුද වැදුණු ප්‍රභූ අලකේශ්වර සිංහල බල ප්‍රදේශවල තිබූ ආර්්‍ය චක්‍රවර්තිගේ බළකොටු සියල්ල විනාශ කොට ඒ ප්‍රදේශ මුදවා ගැනීමට ක්‍රියාකරලා තිබෙනවා. ගොරකාන පාණදුර දක්වා බටහිර වෙරළේ තිබූ ආර්ය චක්‍රවර්තිගේ බළකොටු සියල්ල මුළුමනින්ම විනාශ කිරීමට අලකේශ්වර සමත් වෙලා තිබෙනවා. ප්‍රභූ රාජයන් ඉටුකළ මේ උත්කෘෂ්ඨ මෙහෙවර ගැන මයුර සංදේශයේ මෙන්ම නිකාය සංග්‍රහයේ පවා සඳහන් වෙනවා.

රට සාමකාමී දේශයක් බවට පත් කළ ප්‍රභූරාජ පිරිහී ගිය බුදු සසුන රැක ගැනීම සඳහා 1369 ශාසන සංශෝධනයන් කරලා තිබෙනවා. වීදාගම මෛත්‍රී මාහිමියන්ගේ මූලිකත්වයෙන් තමයි ශාසන සංශෝධනය කරලා තියෙන්නේ විශේෂයෙන් නිර්මල බුදු දහම රැක ගැනීම අරමුණින් තමයි මේ ශාසන සංශෝධනය කරලා තියෙන්නේ.වසර 25ක පමණ වූ ප්‍රභූරාජ රජතුමාගේ දීප්තිමත් පාලන කාලයෙන් පස්සේ ප්‍රභූරාජ ධුරය සඳහා අලකේශ්වර පවුලෙ හටගත් ගැටුම් හේතුවෙන් රයිගම් පුර රාජ්‍යය පිරිහෙන්නට පටන් ගත්තා. කුමාර අලකේශ්වර, වීරබාහු, විජය ඈපා, තුනුයේස, වීර අලකේශ්වර යන කුමාරවරු අතර පැවැති ගැටුම්වල අවසානය වූයේ වීර අලකේශ්වර සිරකරුවකු වශයෙන් චීනයට රැගෙන යාමයි. අපේ රට අාරාජික වූ සෑම මොහොතකම බෞද්ධ භික්ෂූව එය රැක ගැනීමේ වගකීම දිවිහිමියෙන් භාරගත්තා. ඒ අනුව මේ අවස්ථාවේ පෙරමුණ ගත් වීදාගම විහාරයේ වැඩසිටි මාහිමි තුමාගේ සෙවණෙහි ඇති දැඩි කළ රාජවංශික සිහසුනට පත් කරගනු ලැබුවා. පසුකාලයේ 1415 කෝට්ටේ රාජධානියේ දෙවන වර අභිෂේක ලබනතුරු 6 වැනි පරාක්‍රම බාහු රජතුමා 1412 – 15 දක්වා වසර 3ක් රජකම් කරන ලද්දේ රයිගම් පුර රජු වශයෙනි. අවසන්වරට මුළු දිවයිනම එක්සේසත් කොට දීප්තිමත් යුගයක් බිහිකිරීමට 6 වැනි පරාක්‍රමබාහු රජුට මඟ පෑදුවේ රයිගම ප්‍රභූරාජ අලකේශ්වරයන් ඉදි කළ කෝට්ටේ බළකොටුව නගරය තමයි.

විශේෂයෙන් පරාක්‍රමබාහු කුමාරයාට කවා පොවා ඇති දැඩි කරමින් ශිල්ප ශාස්ත්‍ර උගන්වමින් රාජ්‍යත්වය දක්වා රැගෙන ඒමේ ගෞරවය ඉතිහාසය විසින් වීදාගම මා හිමියන්ට ලබාදෙනු ලැබ තිබෙනවා. එය මුළුමහත් භික්ෂු පරපුරටම ලබාදී ඇති ආදර්ශයක් මෙන්ම ගෞරවයක්.

රයිගම් පුර රාජධානියේ අවසන් යුගය වන්නේ 1521 බලයට පත් රයිගම් බණ්ඩාර රාජ යුගයයි. කෝට්ටේ සිහසුනට ඇතිවූ බල අරගලයේදී 7 වන විජයබාහු රජු මරා බලය ලබාගත් බුවනෙකබාහු, රයිගම් බණ්ඩාර හා මායාදුන්නේ යන සහෝදර තිදෙනා පිළිවෙළින් කෝට්ටේ, රයිගම්පුර, හා සීතාවක යන රාජ්‍ය තුනේ බලයට පත්වුණා. මෙකල නිතර පෘතුගීසින් සමඟ යුද වැදුණු සීතාවක රජකම් කළ මායාදුන්නේ සමඟ එකතුවී රයිගම් බණ්ඩාරද සහාය වෙලා තිබෙනවා. නමුත් රයිගම් බණ්ඩාර සීතාවක රාජසිංහ රජු තරම් රණශූරයකු නොවූ බව ඉතිහාසය පෙන්වා දෙනවා. සීතාවක රාජසිංහ මෙන්ම පස්​ෙ‌යාදුන් කෝරළය රාජ්‍යය කරගෙන සටන් කළ වීදිය බණ්ඩාර තරම් රණශූරයෙකු නොවූ රයිගම්බණ්ඩාර තමන්ට හැකි පමණින් පෘතුගීසින්ට විරුද්ධව සටන් කරලා තිබෙනවා. 1539 – 40 දී පමණ රයිගම් බණ්ඩාර මියයාමත් සමඟ රයිගම්පුර රාජධානිය සීතාවක රාජධානියට ඈඳා ගැනීමත් සමඟ රයිගම් පුර රාජධානිය අවසන් වෙලා තිබෙනවා.

රයිගම රාජධානියේ පුරාවස්තු ගැන සඳහන් ක​ෙළාත් අනුරාධපුර යුගයේ තියෙන්නේ කළු ගල්වලින් කරන ලද නටබුන් තමයි. පොලොන්නරුව ගත් කළ ගඩොල්වලින් කරන ලද විහාරාරාම හා රජවාසල්වල නටබුන් තමයි හමුවන්නේ. නමුත් රයිගම් රාජධානියේ කබොක් ගල්වලින් කරන ලද ප්‍රකාරයක් තිබෙනවා දැනට කොතලාවල පතහවත්ත පුෂ්කරාරාම විහාර සංකීර්ණය වටා ඇති කබොක් ගල් ප්‍රාකාරය දැන් ​ෙශ්‍ෂ වෙලා තිබෙන ස්මාරකය තමයි. අද ඒක පුරාවිද්‍යාවේ රක්ෂිත ස්මාරකයක් වෙලා තිබෙනවා. තවත් වැදගත්ම ස්මාරකයක් වශයෙන් පෙන්වා දීමට පුළුවන් රාජකීයන් දියනෑමට භාවිත කළ විශාල පොකුණ කබොක් ගලින් බැඳ ඇති මෙය පසෙන් දෙන පීඩනයට සුදුසුවන ලෙස පිටතට නෙරා තිබෙනවා. මේ ‘පතහ’ නිසා පසුකාලීනව මේ ප්‍රදේශයට පහතවත්ත යන නම ප්‍රකට වූ බව සිතන්න පුළුවන්. උයන්වත්ත වැවෙන් පිරිසිදු ජලය පොකුණට ලැබෙන පරිදි මෙය ඒ කාලේ සකස් කරලා තිබෙනවා. බණ්ඩාරගමට අයිති ගම්මානවල බොහෝ දුරට ජීවත්වෙන්නේ පෙර රජ දවස විවිධ කර්මාන්තවල නියැළුණ අයගෙන් පැවත එන පිරිසක්, ඒ නිසා ඔවුන් විවිධ ක්ෂේත්‍රවල නිපුණත්වයකින් පිරිච්ච මිනිස්සු. විශේෂයෙන් රටේ යුද වාතාවරණයක් පැවැති නිසා ආයුධ නිෂ්පාදන ඉතා ඉහළින් තිබුණු අතර ආයුධ නිෂ්පාදනයේ නිපුණතා දැක්වූ පිරිස් වලින් අඩුවක් වෙලා නැහැ. ඒ අනුව දක්ෂ කම්මල්කරුවන් අදටත් ඉන්නවා. රන්කරුවෝ මෙන්ම රජමාලිගාවට මල් සැපයූ අයත් ඉඳලා තිබෙනවා. විශේෂයෙන් මහාචාර්ය එදිරිවීර සරච්චන්ද්‍ර මහතා මේ රටේ කෝලම් නැටුම් කලාව අධ්‍යයනයක් සඳහා බණ්ඩාරගම තෝරාගෙන තිබුණේ ඉපැරණි කාලයේ සිට ඒ නැටුම් කලාව මේ ප්‍රදේශයේ ජනතාව අතර ප්‍රචලිතව පැවැතුණ නිසයි. මේ අය රජමාලිගයේ රාජකීය පිරිස වෙනුවෙන් නැටුම් කලාව ප්‍රගුණ කළ අය තමයි. සිංහල වෙදකම ඉතාම හොඳින් දැනගත් පිරිසක් බණ්ඩාරගම අවට ගම්වල ජීවත්වෙලා තිබෙනවා. වීදාගම කැඩුම් බිඳුම් වෙදකම මෙන්ම පීනස් රෝග සඳහා ද වීදාගම වෙද පන්සල ඉතාම ප්‍රසිද්ධයි. බණ්ඩාරගම අවට ගම්මානවලින් උපත ලැබූ යතිවරයාණන් වහන්සේලා අතර ධර්ම භාණ්ඩාගාරයක් බඳු වූ මහාචාර්ය රේරුකානේ චන්දවිමල නාහිමියන් උපත ලැබූ රේරුකාන ගම බණ්ඩාරගමට අයිති ගමක්. සටන්කාමී ඉතිහාසයකට උරුමකම් කියූ ජනතාවක් වාසය කළ බණ්ඩාරගම තවමත් ඒ අභිමානය ඔස්සේ ගමත් පන්සලත් අතර අවියෝජනීය සබඳතාවක් පැවැතීම සතුටට කරුණක් බව උන්වහන්සේ අවසන් වශයෙන් පැවසූහ.

සරත්චන්ද්‍ර මද්දුමගේ බණ්ඩාරගම බැලන්තුඩාවේ උපත ලද අයෙකි ඔහු බණ්ඩාරගම අතීතය ගැන තොරතුරු පැවසුවේ මේ අයුරිනි.
වී ​ගොවිතැන මුල් කරගත් සමාජ රටාවකට උරුමකම් කියූ ජනතාවක් තමයි මේ ප්‍රදේශයේ ඈත අතීතයේ ඉඳලා ජීවත් වෙලා තියෙන්නේ. කරත්ත රස්සාව ඊට අමතරව කරලා තියෙනවා. ගැලණිගම අද ප්‍රසිද්ධ ගමක් අද ගැලණිගම ප්‍රසිද්ධ​ වෙලා තියෙන්නේ අධිවේගී මාර්ගයේ ප්‍රවේශ මාර්ගයක් තිබෙන නිසයි. නමුත් අෑත අතීතයේ ගැල්කරුවන් විශාල පිරිසක් ජීවත්වූ ප්‍රදේශය ගැලනිගම වෙලා තියෙනවා. ‘අට්ටලාගාම’ කියන ගම තමයි අටුළුගම වෙලා තියෙන්නේ. පෙර රජදවස මුර අට්ටාලයක් තිබූ නිසා එම ගම අට්ටාල ගාම වෙලා ඊට පස්සේ අටුළුගම බවට පත්වෙලා තිබෙනවා. වී ගොවිතැන් කරලා බත සරි කර ගන්නවා. ඊළඟට පරදේශක්කාරයන්ට විරුද්ධව යුද්ධ කරනවා. වැව් හදනවා. පන්සල් හදනවා මෙවැනි උතුම් ශිෂ්ටාචාරයක් අපේ බණ්ඩාරගමට ඒ කා​ෙල් ඉඳලා තිබිලා තියෙනවා. අතීතයේ අක්කර 140ක වපසරියකින් යුතු උයන්වත්ත වැව අද වන විට කුඹුරු අක්කර 350කට අධික ප්‍රමාණයක් මේ වැවෙන් පෝෂණය වෙනවා. මේ වැව සමීපයේම රාජකීයන්ගේ උයන පැවැති නිසා උයන්වත්ත ලෙස ව්‍යාවහාර කරන්න පටන්ගෙන තිබෙනවා. වැවේ බටහිර දෙස ඇති ස්ථානයක් ‘අග්‍රනාන පොකුණ’ නමින් හැඳින්වෙනවා. මෙය රාජකීය අසුන් නාවන ස්ථාන වශයෙන් පිළිගැනීමට පුළුවන්.

සර්ව ජන ඡන්ද බලය ලැබීමෙන් පසු මුලින් අපි අයිතිවූයේ පාණදුර ආසනයටයි. පසුව බණ්ඩාරගම ආසනය බවට පත් වුණා. මා දන්නා කාලේ හර්බට් වික්‍රමසිංහ මහත්තයා බණ්ඩාරගම මහජන නියෝජිතයා වුණා. ඊට පස්සේ 1977 දී රාජා සමරනායක මහත්තයා එජාපයෙන් බණ්ඩාරගම ආසනය ජයග්‍රහණ්‍ය කළා. තිලක් කරුණාරත්න මහතාද මේ ආසනය නියෝජනය කළා. ශ්‍රී ලංකා මහජන පක්ෂයේ ලේකම්වරයකු වූ ටියුඩර් දයාරත්න මහතාද ප්‍රදේශයේ ජනතාව අතර හිටපු හොඳ ​ෙද්ශපාලනඥයෙක්. බණ්ඩාරගම ආසනය නියෝජනය කළා වගේම අධ්‍යාපන නියෝජ්‍ය ඇමැතිවරයෙකු වශයෙන් ක්‍රියා කළා. බණ්ඩාරගම ආසනයේ ජනතාව ප්‍රගතිශීලී අදහස් දරන පිරිසක් තමයි. බණ්ඩාරගම ගම්සභාවට ඡන්දේ ඉල්ලූ කිරිඇල්ල මහතාගේ ප්‍රත්‍රරත්නයක් තමයි වර්තමාන උසස් අධ්‍යාපන හා මහාමාර්ග අමාත්‍ය ලක්ෂ්මන් කිරිඇල්ල මහතා බණ්ඩාරගම වැසියෙක්. ඒ කාලේ විදාගම වලව්ව ඒ මහතාගේ නිවෙස තමයි.

කලාකරුවන් අතර වීදාගම මල්වත්ත කියන ගමේ උපත ලද යූ.ඩී. පෙරේරා සංගීතඥයකු මෙන්ම හොඳ ගීත රචකයෙක් ද වුණා. මොහිදින් බෙග් ගායනා කළ ‘කරුණා මුහුදේ නාමු ගිලීලා’ යන ගීතයත් ‘සිළුමිණ සෑය වඳිම්’ යන ගීතයත් ආදී ගීත රැසක් රචනා කරලා තිබෙනවා. ඊළඟට අපේ ප්‍රදේශයේ දක්ෂ බෙර වාදකයෙක් ඒ කාලේ හිටියා ඔහුගේ නම සන්දොරිස් ජයරත්න. ඔහුගේ බෙරවාදනවලට රාජ්‍ය සම්මාන පවා හිමිවෙලා තිබෙනවා.

අදටත් අපේ ගම්වල ජීවත්වන වැඩිහිටියන් සරල සැහැල්ලු දිවි පැවැත්මට හුරු පිරිසක් නිසා සොබාදහම සමඟ හොඳින් ජීවත් වෙනවා.
පෙර රජ දවස පටන් ගෙන ආ සටන්කාමී බවත් පන්සලෙන් ලැබුණ හික්මීමත් සමඟ අපේ ජීවිත ඉදිරියට යන බැව් අවසන් වශයෙන් කියන්න පුළුවන් බව සරත්චන්ද්‍ර මද්දුමගේ මහතා ප්‍රකාශ කළේය.

සටහන – ලංකාදීප

Nature

Nature Trail

Landmarks

More to go

Paddy fields

Surrounding beauty

Colors of nature

It’s the evening

Nature

Flowers

Need to cross this

Part of the tank

Here is the Tank

What a place to have a house

Here we are going

The path

Greeny

Flowers

Nature

it’s beautiful

Shadows under the shade

Our machine

Without lights

Colors

In the evening

Time to leave

Thank you for reading !

Sobasiri Team ©

Madu Ganga and Madampa River

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Year and Month Madu Ganga-Day 01- 2019 May 30th

Day 02-2020 February 23rd

Madampa River- 2020 September 15th

Number of Days Three separate days
Crew Arjuna, Nuwan, Kelum, Kelum’s two friends, my colleagues and myself
Accommodation Not applicable
Transport By bus, car and boat
Activities Boat ride, photography and sightseeing
Weather Excellent
Route Madu Ganga: Colombo->Balapitiya->Madu Ganga->Koth Duwa->Cinnamon Island

Madampa Ganga: Colombo->Ambalangoda->Madampa River-> Galagoda Temple->Back to Madampa River->Delduwa->Ambalangoda->Colombo

Tips, Notes and Special remark     Madu Ganga (මාදු ගග)
  1. There is a lot of boat tours operated at Madu Ganga. Usually the boat tour lasts for 1.5-2 hours. They mainly visit two islands: Koth Duwa and Cinnamon Island. Charges for the boat remains same with each boat operators. Some have packages including welcome drink and lunch.
  2. Start the journey early to avoid afternoon heat. Carry a bottle of water and snacks to munch.
  3. Koth Duwa is a temple not a tourist place. Therefore dress properly and behave accordingly.
  4. If you go only to Koth Duwa temple from main land, the chief monk will transport you to the temple by motor boat. You have to sound the horn of the vehicle at jetty.
  5. Wear proper life jacket before you get into the boat.
  6. Fish therapy costs Rs 200 pp per session.

Madampa River (මාදම්පා ගග)

  1. The only boat tour is operated by Ambalangoda Boat Safari. T.P. 0777600177
  2. It is about 3 hour journey to Galagoda Temple and it costs Rs 5000. If it is one and half hours journey it costs Rs 3000.
  3.  Galagoda temple can be approached by road as well.
  4. Galagoda Temple and Delduwa Hermitage are two main attractions of Madampa River.
  5. Delduwa Vivekarama Aranya Senasanaya is a meditation center. Therefore behave accordingly.
  6. Delduwa temple can be approached by vehicle as well.
Related Resources
  1. Wikipedia article on Madu Ganga
  2.  Lakdasun trip reports on Madu Ganga
Author Niroshan
Comments Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread
  • Madu Ganga and Madampa River

Madu Ganga / Madu River (මාදු ගග) and Madampa River (මාදම්පා ගග) are two water streams situated at Ambalangoda. Madu Ganga / Madu River is exactly situated at Balapitiya. Both these rivers make two lakes before it connects with sea. Actually those are widening of the river before it touches with sea. There are some islands situated at these lakes and it needs a boat ride to reach some islands.
Tourists visit mainly Madu Ganga / Madampa River in view of boating and visiting islands. Madampa River is a less visited place but rich in beauty and variation.

Madu Ganga / Madu River (මාදු ගග)
Madu Ganga is a minor watercourse which originates near Uragasmanhandiya (ඌරගස්මoහන්දිය) in Galle district. It makes Madu Ganga Lake before it joins with Indian Ocean. Madu Ganga Lake together with the smaller Randombe Lake, to which it is connected by two narrow channels, forms the Madu Ganga wetland. The Madu Ganga Wetland was formally declared in 2003, in terms of the Ramsar Convention. Madu Ganga wetland constitutes it’s estuary, mangrove islets and Madu River. This wetland is the home for 303 plant species and 248 species of vertebrae animals.
Islands of Madu Ganga cover 915Ha and there are 64 islands of various sizes. The largest island is known as “Ma Doowa” (මා දූව) which is the largest inhabited island within the country. There are 300 families live there.

My first visit to Madu Ganga happened in 2020 May, soon after Easter attacks. Compared to Madampa River, Madu Ganga has well developed boating service to roam around the islets and River. There are number of boat operators start the tour from Balapitiya and visit few islands of the lake.

Nuwan and Kelum have arranged the boat tour on behalf of me to visit Madu Ganga. It was quite a late start and we got in to the boats around 10am. This was the time it had less visitors / tourists due to terrorist attacks. We were able to see Ma Duwa which connects to the mainland by a bridge and “Satha Paha Duwa” (සත පහ දූව) (6.295972, 80.058587). In addition there was a lot of “Isso Kotu” (ඉස්සෝ කොටු) / fresh water prawn farming along the river. As I mentioned earlier this is a frequently visited place, they have made some huts on the water to sell food items to travellers. The boat went under the canopy of Mangrove trees and we stopped at “Koth Duwa” (කොත්දූව).

At boat house. Usually it is a seated boat with canopy.

“Isso Kotu” (ඉස්සෝ කොටු) / fresh water prawn farming is a common fining related to Madu Ganga.

Some huts are made to sell food items to tourists

Along Madu River.

Under the canopy of Mangrove trees

Mangrove canopy

Some of these paths are natural and some made for boating purpose

Coming out…..

A lot of huts / resting places are made in relation to mangrove trees to attract tourists

Fishing at Madu Ganga

“Satha Paha Duwa” (සත පහ දූව)

The shrine at “Satha Paha Duwa” (සත පහ දූව)

A bridge connects two islets

The bridge connect “Ma Duwa” with mainland

A temple at “Ma Duwa”

Inhabitants of “Ma Duwa”

Temple of “Koth Duwa”

My second visit to Madu Ganga happened after few months of first visit as our annual trip of the operation theater staff. Here the crowd was about twenty five and we hired two boats for the tour. All the way we travelled from Horana Hospital to Balapitiya and had breakfast at boat house premises. We strictly requested safe jackets as the boats were full. In addition to Koth Duwa they dropped us at “Kurundu Duwa” (කුරුදු දූව)-Cinnamon Island as well.

We hired two boats here.

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Some tourists at Madu Ganga.

Shops on water

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“Satha Paha Duwa”

“Koth Duwa” (කොත්දූව) (6.307407, 80.052017)

Koth Duwa is the most frequently visiting island at Madu Ganga. Koth Duwa Raja Maha Wiharaya is situated at this island and it was built by “Maha Kappina” mansion (මහා කප්පින මුදලිතුමා) who was a powerful person at Balapitiya. The history of this old temple goes back to Polonnaruwa Kingdom. It is believed this was a hiding place for tooth relic in two occasions. The Bo tree at Koth Duwa is one of the very first 32 “Bo” plants taken from Jaya Sri Maha Bodiya. “Koth Duwa” alone can be approached from main land and the chief monk would bring you to the temple by motor boat.

Koth Duwa Temple

Entering to Koth Duwa Temple

ආවාස ගෙය

Bo tree at Koth Duwa temple

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Small stupa at temple

Buddha statue at Koth Duwa

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The statue of Maha Kappina mansion who built the temple

The year it was found??

How Madu Ganga is seen to Koth Duwa Temple

Team at Koth Duwa Temple

Team at Koth Duwa Temple

“Kurundu Duwa” (කුරුදු දූව) /Cinnamon Island (6.296737, 80.057374)

This is another popular island where you can see how Cinnamon is prepared. I have visited there in my second visit to Madu Ganga. A villager explains and demonstrates nicely how to prepare Cinnamon. At the end you can taste a Cinnamon tea and can buy Cinnamon products.

Get into the Cinnamon Island

Cinnamon Island-

Watching the demonstration

Demonstration of preparing Cinnamon

Demonstration of preparing Cinnamon

Utensils

How to dry Cinnamon

Cinnamon Tea

Cinnamon Oil

Fish Therapy at Madu Ganga
Fish Therapy is another common activity of Madu Ganga Boat tour. I also have enjoyed it in my first visit. There are squares / sections in water where school of fish come and message your foot. It costs Rs 200 per person per session.

A fish therapy unit

A fish Therapy section

School of fish

Foot at fish therapy

At fish therapy

At fish therapy

Enjoying fish therapy

The team at fish therapy

Usually this boat tour ends closer to Madu Ganga sea mouth. Though we are not exerted at boat tour, we can easily get exhaust in couple of hours due to heat.

Within Mangroves

The path at Mangroves

These places are called Ja-Kotu (ජා කොටු), used for inland prawn fishery.

“Seema Malakaya”- සීමා මාලකය

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It is also a frequently visiting place

The bridge of “Ma Duwa”

Under the bridge

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Balapitiya Railway station

Railway Bridge

Colombo-Galle road

Madu Ganga sea mouth / Estuary

Madampa River (මාදම්පා ගග)
Madampa River also forms a lake before it joins with sea at Urawatta-Ambalangoda. This lake is called Madampa Lake. Madampa Lake, Mangroves and River are declared as Madampawila sanctuary (මාදම්පාවිල අභය භූමිය)
Compared to Madu Ganga, there is only few boat tours operate here. Here we traveled to Karandeniya Shailathalaramaya temple by boat along Madampa River. The longest sleeping Buddha statue of south Asia is situated at this temple.
Madampa River boat tour starts from Ambalangoda town. The River is bordered mainly by forest and mangrove trees. There are connecting streams (Ela-ඇල) to the river from surrounding. Thalgasgoda Ela (තල්ගස්ගොඩ ඇල) is one of its. Islands of Madampa River are Miri Eta Duwa, Karuwala, Cinnamon Island and Delduwa. Delduwa is the largest out of these. Our boat has turned to Thalgasgoda Ela from Madampa River and sailed along it. We had an opportunity to pluck a Watakeyia flower/ Pandanus kaida to bring to the temple

Madampa River Jetty at Ambalangoda

The boat we travelled

Madampa River

Houses situated closer to the river

The hotel called Landa River House

Gin Pol / Mangrove Palm / ගිo පොල්

Madampa River

Another Hotel

Railway Bridge crosses Madampa River

“Seema Malakaya”/ සීමා මාලකය

Broken “Seema Malakaya”

Mangrove Palm-Gin Pol

Mangroves

Mangroves

Boating along Ela

Came out of the canopy

Connecting bridge of Delduwa with main land

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Entering to Thalgasgoda Ela

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වැටකෙයියා මල

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There are cultivations and people come by boats.

To worship the temple

Closer to temple

Galagoda Shailathalaramaya Viharaya (ගලගොඩ ශයිලතලාරාමය) (6.262913, 80.073263)
This temple is situated on a hill with good surrounding view called, Galagoda. History of this hill goes back to Dambadeniya Era. The minister called Devapathiraja, has used this place as a view point to watch ships coming to the island.
The sleeping Buddha statue at this temple was built by the person called Iyonis (ඉයෝනිස් උපාසක මහතා) during middle of 19th century. It was the time people were so enthusiastic to build new Buddha statues (Ex-Wavrukannala, Weherahena) and Mr. Iyonis has visited India to examine the sleeping Buddha statue at Kusinara. Later he has built this longest sleeping Buddha statue of South Asia at Galagoda Shailathalaramaya Temple. It is 118 feet long and renovated following attacks of treasure hunters.
Though we visited the temple by boat along Madampa Lake, this can be approached by a vehicle as well. Drive about 3km along Ambalangoda-Elpitiya road and pass Wathugedara junction to reach Galagoda temple. There are steps to reach the temple.

We brought Watakeyia Flowers to worship the temple

Paper article about Longest Sleeping Buddha statue of Asia. Click image to read.

Statue of Mr. Iyonis who found this temple.

Statue of King Elara

Statue of Great King Dutugamunu

Longest Sleeping Buddha statue of South Asia.

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Ceiling

We are with longest Buddha statue.

The Galagoda hill was used as a view point

Stupa at temple

The team at temple

Small bridge over Madampa Lake

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Then we have sailed to Delduwa which is the largest island of Madampa River. Delduwa Vivekarama Aranya Senasanaya is situated at Delduwa Island.

Delduwa Vivekarama Aranya Senasanaya (දෙල්දූව විවේකාරාම ආරණය) (6.230967, 80.068447)
The Buddhist hermitage situated at Delduwa Island, but this island can be approached by a vehicle as well.

Delduwa Vivekarama Aranya Senasanaya

Delduwa Vivekarama Aranya Senasanaya

Delduwa Vivekarama Aranya Senasanaya

ගිo පොල්

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Mangrove seeds

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On our way back to Ambalangoda port we have stopped for a while to taste Kirala juice which is one of my favorites.

It is named as Madampawila Sanctuary

The road to Delduwa

Fishing at Madampa River

Colombo-Matara road crosses Madampa River

After this nice boat tour at Madampa Lake we wanted to look our trail by bird’s eye view. The drone flied over Madampa River to capture some pictures.

Madampawila Lake

The pier closer to Ambalangoda

Madampa Lake and Delduwa

Delduwa. Here you can see the continuation of Madampa River beyond the lake.

One end of Madampa Lake

Madampa Lake and sea. Please note this is not the connecting place to sea.

Sea mouth of Madampa River at Urawatta-Ambalangoda

Right over the sea mouth of Madampa River

Towards Ambalangoda town and Madu River

Thanks for reading


Beyond Kalpitiya / කල්පිටියෙන් එහා

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Year and Month  11th and 12th of July 2021
Number of Days  Two
Crew  02-Arjuna and Myself
Accommodation  Atara Lagoon-Kalpitiya
Transport  By car and boat
Activities  Archeology, sightseeing and Photography
Weather  Excellent
Route Colombo->Negambo->Iranawila->Kalpitiya->Uchchimunai->Back to Kalpitiya->Colombo
Tips, Notes and Special remark
  1. The pool at Morawala is a safe bathing place. But the sea was rough when we visited there and we didn’t try for bathing.
  2. The bridge over Karambalan Oya at Iranawila is almost finished.
  3. Uchchimunai, Kirimundel and Mohoththuwarama can be reached by boat or over the sandy road. But you need a four wheel, trailer bike or tractor if you use the road.
  4.  Carry a bottle of water and snacks to eat when you go in the boat.
  5. Wear slippers. Be aware of sharp items when you walk in shallow water.
Related Resources
  1. Lakdasun trip report- Highlights of Kalpitiya
  2. Lakdasun trip report-Beach walk from Kalpitiya to Thalawila
Author Niroshan
Comments Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread
  • Beyond Kalpitiya / කල්පිටියෙන් එහා

Kalpitiya has become a major tourist attraction in Sri Lanka during past years. I have been at some hot spots at Kalpitiya in 2016 as a three days trip. Seems Baththalangunduwa is one of the frequently visiting islands at Kalpitiya by travellers. A lot of foreigners come to Kalpitiya in view of kite surfing and dolphin watching. As it is one corner of Sri Lanka we have planned to be there in our around island trip. According to the map Uchchimunai point is the far most point of Kalpitiya peninsula but we were not able to reach there by car. There was a long stretch along the sand reef to reach Uchchimunai point. This trip was planned to reach Uchchimunai point by boat from Kalpitiya. It was coupled with some other visits and I have planned this as a two days trip with a night stay at Atara Lagoon Hotel at Kalpitiya.

On our way to Kalpitiya we have visited some attractive points at western coast of the Island. This two day trip started from Colombo and our first stop was Morawala at Negambo.

Morawala Beach Negambo (මෝරවල මීගමුව) (7.204869, 79.817633) / Shark Pit
Morawala is situated at Pitipana-Negambo. Early days Sharks used to come here to breed. There is a huge reef to create a pool which was used by Sharks to breed. Nowadays it is a popular bathing place as people can swim safe at Morawala. And it is the far most point of Negambo Lagoon.
The access road to Morawala from Negambo main road is quite narrow. The sea was rough on our day of visit Morawala. We didn’t try to have a bath there as nobody was bathing there.

Story of Morawala

Morawala-Negambo

Morawala / Shark pit

With Morawala

Enjoying the beauty of Morawala

We were back to Negambo and drove along the road to reach another popular beach called Browns beach. This must be the most happening Beach at Negambo. A lot of hotels are developed around Browns beach.

Browns Beach-Negambo (7.238269, 79.840369)
Browns beach is surrounded by number of leading hotels in Sri Lanka. It has a beach park but it was officially closed due to Covid pandemic. There were only few enjoying the beach including lovers and beach walkers. Plastic pellets from Sunken Pearl Express ship was seen at the beach.

Browns Beach Negambo

Browns Beach Negambo

Browns Beach Negambo

Browns Beach Negambo

The reef was built to prevent sea erosion.

Plastic Pellets at Browns Beach

Plastic Pellets at Browns Beach

Enjoying….

Enjoying….

New hotels are rising around this hot spot

New hotels are rising around this hot spot

New hotels are rising around this hot spot

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Empty beach

Not a fishery boat….

Mobile food stall

Water Park at Browns Beach

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Then we followed our long way to Iranawila Beach passing Chilaw. Here I preferred to drive on main road rather than closer to the beach as we did it in our around the country trip. Some of attractions at Chilaw I have visited in my visit to Chilaw. Here I wanted to watch another beautiful Beach called Thoduwawa (තොඩුවාව) but ended at Iranawila Beach. Iranawila Bridge is at last steps of it’s construction. The temporary bridge we used in around the country trip was no longer there. Iranawila beach and Thoduwawa beach is separated by Karambalan Oya (කරම්බලන් ඔය).

Iranawila Beach (7.493260, 79.797542)

Iranawila Bridge-Temporary and Permanent.

Karambalan Oya

Thoduwawa Side

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Selfie at Iranawila

Iranawila Beach

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Hereafter we didn’t stop at any place and straightaway reached Kalpitiya Peninsula. Our accommodation was Atara Lagoon Kalpitiya which was situated at Lagoon side of Kalpitiya.

Atara Lagoon Kalpitiya (8.242250, 79.765479)

Atara Lagoon has a centered pool surrounded by Cabanas. Their service and hospitality are satisfactory. It has a superb view towards Kalpitiya Lagoon and Fishery Harbor. (Actually we got on to their up stair building to get this view. It is still under construction.) Here we fly the drone from the hotel to get aerial pictures of Kalpitiya Lagoon. (Most of drone pictures are out of focus. And this was the last flying of my drone before it is malfunctioned)

Atara Lagoon Kalpitiya-Centered Pool and Cabanas.

Atara Lagoon Kalpitiya

Atara Lagoon Kalpitiya

Atara Lagoon Kalpitiya

Enjoying at pool

The pool of the hotel

The pool different angle.

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Kalpitiya fishery harbor

Kalpitiya fishery harbor

Kalpitiya fishery harbor

Kalpitiya fishery harbor

Starting the day…..

We were expecting the sun rise…But the day was not good

Kalpitiya Lagoon

Island at Baththalangunduwa

Kalpitiya Lagoon and fishery harbor

Kalpitiya Lagoon

Kalpitiya Lagoon

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Day 02
Beyond Kalpitiya-Uchchimunai Point / උච්චිමුණි
Our main objective of the day was to go to Uchchimunai point of Kalpitiya by boat. Atara Lagoon has arranged a boat to go to Uchchimunai point and Jeewan was our boat rider. The jetty called Sangumalawaththa (සoගුමාලවත්ත) is situated in walking distance from Atara Lagoon. We got into the boat from Sangumalawaththa jetty. Jeewan has pointed out Bird’s Island (කුරුළු දූපත) and “Rodapaduwa” (රෝදපාඩුව) Island on our way to Uchchimunai point.

Sangumalawaththa Jetty

Three man team

“Rodapaduwa” Island. We didn’t land there.

“Rodapaduwa” Island. We didn’t land there.

The importance of Uchchimunai point is, it is the far most point of Kalpitiya. It was about one hour boat drive from Kalpitiya to Uchchimunai. There is a Navy camp at this point. First we reached Uchchimunai village where the new church is building. Villagers are building this massive church by their own money. Jeewan was afraid to get the boat closer to the seashore and we had to walk in shallow water. It was good exercises as foot get stuck in mud. Inhabitants of Uchchimunai, transport cement and bricks by the tractor to build the church. There is an annual festival at Uchchimunai.

Reaching Uchchimunai

Massive church

When you walk in shallow water you should be careful about this sharp fishery parts.

A jelly fish

Uchchimunai church

With Uchchimunai church

Inside the church

Shrine of Christ

Shrine of Christ

It is under construction

It is under construction

Uchchimunai

Side view of the church

Uchchimunai School

After visiting the church we have walked into Uchchimunai village. The island was like Baththalangunduwa but this has fresh water wells. People speak both Tamil and Sinhala. There are few shops and their main transport method is by boat. Almost all of them are fishermen. There were well built houses as well. There were some distance to walk to Uchchimunai point but can be reached by boat. But Jeewan didn’t like to go there as Navy was there. Instead of that we have reached the sand reef / small island situated beyond Uchchimunai point.

View of Uchchimunai point where navy camp is situated.

Walking at Uchchimunai village

At Uchchimunai beach

Patterns on sand

A grave at Uchchimunai

A fence mad by dry Palmyra branches

Houses at Uchchimunai

We have landed the boat bit far to the seashore.

Reaching the island closer to Uchchimunai point.

It was a small island about 100m distance. Uchchimunai point is situated closer to it and we were able to view Baththalangunduwa as well.

Uchchimunai Island

At Uchchimunai Island

Jeewan is waiting for us….

At Uchchimunai Island

At Uchchimunai Island

View of Uchchimunai point from Uchchimunai Island

Baththalangunduwa Island

When we were at Uchchimunai Island

We turned the boat from Uchchimunai Island and returned to Kalpitiya. On our way to Kalpitiya we landed the boat at two places: Kirimundel / Kirimundalama (කිරිමුන්දල්) and Mohoththuwarama (මොහොත්තුවාරම්) in view of visiting churches.

Kirimundel Catholic Church (8.300519, 79.757477)

Kirimundalama/ Kirimundel is not an Island and it is a part of Kalpitiya peninsula. But due to transportation difficulties people use boats to reach the village. Again it is a fishery village. According to Jeewan, Kirimundel Catholic church is built at Dutch period but it has undergone several renovations. The post office and school are situated closer to the church but seems not functioning now. We came across donkeys at Kirimundalama. One important of all these churches are there are no resident Pastures for Sunday mass and one from Kalpitiya visit to each church every Sundays. According to Jeewan this island is getting smaller due to sea erosion. At the end we two found a small sand dune at Kirimundel to get nice clicks.

Reaching Kirimundalama

Kirimundel Catholic church

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Kirimundel Catholic church

Kirimundel Catholic church

Nonfunctioning Kirimundel School

Kirimundel fishery village. Most of these houses are built with aid of World vision.

Donkeys at Kirimundel

Juvenile crabs

Juvenile crabs

Fishes

Fishes

Sand dunes at Kirimundalama

Sand dunes at Kirimundalama

Sand dunes at Kirimundalama

Sand dunes at Kirimundalama

Sand dunes at Kirimundalama

Following Kirimundel the boat reached another church called Mohoththuwarama.

Mohoththuwarama Dutch church (8.283592,79.753917)
Mohoththuwarama has two churches: Old Dutch church and newly built church with belfry. Mohoththuwarama Dutch Church was renovated to current stage by a pilot as a wow. This area is out of villagers and we could see some grave stones around it.

Mohoththuwarama Dutch church

Mohoththuwarama Dutch church is built by corals

Mohoththuwarama Dutch church

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Church was closed and only opens at annual festival

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Veranda of the church

Mohoththuwarama new church

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Belfry

Seen at belfry

Where the boat was landed

Grave stones were around

We were at Mohoththuwarama catholic church

When sun comes up it is difficult to stay on sea. We have decided to move to Kalpitiya jetty to wind up the tour.

On the deck

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Illegal Indian boats captured by Navy.

Wind mills of Kalpitiya

Kalpitiya Fishery Harbor

Reaching Sangumalawaththa Jetty

End

Thanks for reading

Visit to Koggala

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Year and Month 2020 September 14th
2021 July 19th and 20th
Number of Days  Separate Two days
Crew  2-Arjuna and Myself
Accommodation  Araliya Beach Resort and spa-Unawatuna
Transport  By car and boat
Activities  Just visit, Boating and Photography
Weather  Excellent
Route Colombo ->Galle->Koggala
Tips, Notes and Special remark
  1. The boat tour at Koggala Lake was cost Rs 2500. Mahinda Ayya was the boat operator. T.P:0771268663. We spent 2 hours on the water.
  2. Distance from mainland to Madol Duwa is minimal but boat riders overcharge for it. Beware of brokers in hiring boats to Madol Duwa.
  3. Behave accordingly at Thalathu Duwa Buddhist hermitage.
  4. Martin Wickramasinghe museum opens daily from 9am to 5pm. Ticket price is Rs30 per person. No photographs allowed inside Martin Wickramasinghe museum.
  5. You have to get a ticket to enter the aircraft at Koggala (Rs 20) and for parking at Thalpe natural pool (Rs 200).
  • Special thanks to Mr. Nishantha of my staff to arrange the visit at Koggala Lake.
Related Resources Lakdasun trip report on Lungs of the South-Kanneliya and treasures of Galle  
Author Niroshan
Comments Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread
  • Visit to Koggala

Koggala (කොග්ගල) is another beautiful tourist destination at down south. Koggala is bounded on one side by a reef and on the other by a large lake, Koggala Lake, into which the numerous tributaries of Koggala Oya drain. Koggala has one of the longest beaches in Sri Lanka, and is located in close proximity to the popular tourist resort of Unawatuna. Koggala is the birth place of famous Sinhalese writer-Martin Wickramasinghe. The beauty of Koggala village is nicely described by his novel called Madol Duwa.
Let’s list some tourist attractions of Koggala. This list to be updated.

  1. Koggala Lake
  2. Madol Duwa
  3. Air force plane at Catalina Grill Restaurant.
  4. Habaraduwa- Meepe Ambalama
  5. Thalpe Natural Pool

Koggala Lake (කොග්ගල වැව) (6.005868, 80.329756)
This is one of the largest lakes in Southern Sri Lanka. Number of islands are scattered in the lake among which Madol Duwa and Thalathu Duwa are famous. The lake is rich in birdlife and mangroves and is a major tourist attraction for tourists.
My visit to Koggala started from Koggala Lake. Mr. Nishantha who works at our staff is from Habaraduwa. He has pre-arranged the visit to Koggala Lake with one of his friends. Early morning we have reached Habaraduwa town and followed our way to Mahinda Ayya’s boat port. Mahinda Ayya was the person who accompanied us in Koggala Lake.
There are 9/10 islands situated at Koggala Lake: Kukadaluwa (කුකඩලුව), Diyamara (දියමාර), Kosduwa (කොස්දූව), Madinduwa (මැදින්දූව), Thmabige Duwa (තම්බිගෙ දුව), Kasduwa (කස්දූව), Thalathu Duwa (තලාතු දූව) and Madol Duwa (මඩොල් දූව). Kosduwa Island had four houses but no inhabitants now. Number of hotels and Koggala Air force camp surround the lake. We have landed at Madol Duwa and Thalathu Duwa during our two hours boat trip. Thalathu Duwa is connected to mainland by a bridge.

Starting the boat tour at Koggala Lake

Mahinda Ayya’s boat port

The boat operator

Kukadaluwa Island (කුකඩලුව)

Diyamara Island (දියමාර)

Diyamara Island (දියමාර)

Kosduwa Island (කොස්දූව). There were four houses even with electricity. Now no inhabitants.

Madinduwa Island (මැදින්දූව)

The bridge connecting Thalathu Duwa with main land

Thmabige Duwa (තම්බිගෙ දුව)

Kasduwa (කස්දූව)

Closer to Kasduwa

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At Koggala Lake

These two were friends of Nishantha who accompanied us here

Some awkward rocks situated at Koggala Lake

Some awkward rocks situated at Koggala Lake

Sailing at Koggala Lake

View of mainland from Koggala Lake

Koggala Lake

Koggala Lake

Fishing at Koggala Lake

The bridge over Koggala Lake. Galle-Matara road goes over this.

Madol Duwa (මඩොල් දූව) (5.987264, 80.336797)
This is a small island situated at Koggala Lake but famous due to “Madol Duwa”-Children’s novel written by Mr. Martin Wickramasinghe. Main characters of “Madol Duwa” were Upali and Jinna who ran away to this island and lived at Madol Duwa until they reunited with family. The distance from mainland to Madol Duwa is minimal (about 20 minutes) but they overcharge for the boat ride.
Main attractions of the island are the well and “Sekku Gala” (සෙක්කු ගල). There are foot pathways through mangrove trees. Some of the trees have sign boards. As it is frequently visited by travellers pollution is also common.

Boat is landed at Madol Duwa

Mangroves there

Note the minimal distance from mainland to Madol Duwa

සෙක්කු ගල at Madol Duwa

The well

At Madol Duwa

We have turned the boat from Madol Duwa and reached Thalathu Duwa. Thalathu Duwa is connected to the main land by a bridge and a Buddhist hermitage is situated there.

Koggala Lake and a hotel situated at bank

Landing at Thalathu Duwa

Entering to Thalathu Duwa

A message

At Thalathu Duwa

At Thalathu Duwa

At Thalathu Duwa

The bridge connecting Thalathu Duwa with mainland

The bridge connecting Thalathu Duwa with mainland

Over the bridge

Buddhist Hermitage at Thalathu Duwa

Buddhist Hermitage at Thalathu Duwa

Back to the boat

Martin Wickramasinghe folk museum (මාර්ටින් වික්‍රමසිoහ ජන කෞතුකාගාරය) (5.989971, 80.327983)
This museum is situated on the Galle-Matara main road in Koggala. There are two parts here: Folk museum and house of Martin Wickramasinghe.
It is the ancestral home of the renowned Sri Lankan writer and poet Martin Wickramasinghe (1890-1976) where he lived with his family. The surviving part of the house has been converted into a museum complex displaying artifacts, photographs, awards and souvenirs of great writer. This house was the only remains of old Koggala village as all other was razed to the ground in 1942 to make way for an air force base. Visitors can view his life story by photos displayed at museum.
The folk museum exhibits the life of southern Sri Lankans: Life of fishermen, traditional cuisine, Kolam masks, colonial crockery, ancient jewellery etc. No photographs allowed inside the museum but can get at Wickramasinghe house. Tombs of Mr. and Mrs. Wickramasinghe are also situated here. There is a book stall of Martin Wickramasinghe at the entrance.

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Martin Wickramasinghe folk museum

Martin Wickramasinghe folk museum

Martin Wickramasinghe folk museum

Martin Wickramasinghe folk museum

The garden of the museum

Exhibits of the museum

Exhibits of the museum

Exhibits of the museum

House of Mr. Martin Wickramasinghe

House of Mr. Martin Wickramasinghe

Story of Koggala village

Mr. Martin Wickramasinghe house

The grave stone of Mr. and Mrs. Wickramasinghe

We were there…..

An Air force camp is situated at Koggala. There is a road side restaurant called Catalina Grill (5.991731, 80.315908) run by the camp and a used air craft is placed there to visit. You can have a visit to this aircraft while your meal is prepared by the restaurant.

The used air craft

Get into the air craft

It is well maintained

Inside the air craft. Actually this was converted as a part of the restaurant to have meals here.

The control room of air craft

At control room

Habaraduwa-Meepe Ambalama (හබරාදූව මීපේ අම්බලම) (මීපේ වෙල මැද අම්බලම) (6.019875, 80.293923)

The Ambalama is situated at Habaraduwa-Meepe area, amid of paddy fields. It is said to old as 200 years. People who travelled to Galle were used to rest here. This Ambalama was renovated at 2016. Currently this Ambalama is in good condition.

Information of Meepe Ambalama

Habaraduwa-Meepe Ambalama

Habaraduwa-Meepe Ambalama

At Ambalama

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Thalpe Natural Pool (5.995550, 80.286250) (තල්පේ ස්වාභාවික නාන තටාකය)

Thalpe natural pool is a recently popular tourist attraction. There are naturally made / man made pits (small pools) on corals at Thalpe beach. It is a nice experience to have a bath when it has low water level. But the sea was rough when we visited there and water level was high. You need to pay for parking at Thalpe Natural Pools. We couldn’t find fresh water to bath following sea water bath.

Man cut / naturally made pits on reef

Thalpe Beach

At Thalpe Natural pool. Water level was high.

Thalpe natural pool. It is not a good time to visit when sea was rough.

Thalpe natural pool

Thalpe natural pool

With Thalpe Pool

We stayed at Araliya Beach resort and spa during our visit to Koggala.

Araliya Beach Resort and Spa-Unawatuna (6.009946,80.242063)
Araliya Beach Resort is a luxury hotel situated at Unawatuna. It is a beach front hotel and has 301 rooms. Fourteen story twin hotel building has a roof top with amazing surrounding view. There is an infinity pool at 13th floor viewing to sea. The hotel has a separate beach restaurant with a pool. Rooms have a view towards Unawatuna beach.

Araliya Beach Resort

Araliya Beach Resort

Infinity pool of the hotel

Infinity pool of the hotel

View of infinity pool

View of infinity pool

View from the room

Unawatuna Beach

The roof top

Infinity Pool

Beach club and Unawatuna

Twin towers

Sailors club

The beach garden

The pool

Sun set over infinity pool

Sun rise

Getting a distance view

Peace pagoda at Rumassala

Galle fort

The entrance

The garden

Thanks for reading

Holidays at Lake Gregory and the Park, Nuwaraeliya

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Year and Month  2013-January-26
2013-March-04
2014-May-01
2016-April-23
2016-November-11
2016-December-18
Number of Days  Multiple
Crew  05+
Accommodation  Hotels at Nuwaraeliya, Madusanka’s Home
Transport  Motorcycles
Activities  Hiking, Photography, Sightseeing, Nature Exploring, Relaxing
Weather  Mostly perfect
Route  Colombo -> High Level Road/ Low levelroad -> Avissawella -> Karawanella -> Hatton ->
Thalawakele ->  Nuwaraeliya

Colombo -> Kandy Road -> Kandy ->Gampola ->Ramboda -> Nuwaraeliya

Tips, Notes and Special remark
      • Carry enough water/ Food
      • Do not visit on rainy days
      • Buy tickets
      • Follow the guidelines
      • Do not throw the trash into the bushy areas
      • Do not spit
      • Do not disturb others
      • Do not litter
      • Leave only footprints
Related Resources  Article – Lankadeepa
Author  Ranshan Fernando
Comments Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread
  • Holidays at Lake Gregory and the Park, Nuwaraeliya

Nuwaraeliya is my favorite city in Sri Lanka and I visited there more than 20 times in my life. Out of them, 18 visits are due to my adventure travel purposes. Gregory park is one of the interesting destinations at Nuwaraeliya where we spent few hours resting during our journies. I spent about 8 nights at hotels and our friend madusanka’s home and had 3 camping nights at Nuwaraeliya city premises. Currently, I have covered almost all the attractions in the Nuwaraeliya city area.

This report is about the see the difference and the development of Gregory Park and the Lake during the past years. Though I have visited many times Nuwaraeliya I couldn’t take many photos at Lake Gregory and the park but enjoyed them. My last visit to Nuwaraeliya is in October 2018 for the hike of Hakgala mountain. After that, we couldn’t go there due to the easter attack in 2019 and the Covid situation from 2020 to now.


ග්‍රෙගරි වැව (නුවර එළිය) Lake Gregory (Nuwara Eliya)

බ්‍රිත්‍යාන්‍ය විසින් ශ්‍රී ලංකාව පාලනය කල සමයෙහි අග්‍රාණ්ඩුකාර තනතුර දැරූ ශ්‍රීමත් විලියම් ග්‍රෙගරි මැතිතුමා විසින් 1873 දී නුවරඑළිය මනරම් භූමි භාගයක ග්‍රෙගරි වැව ඉදි කරවන ලදී.මුහුදු මට්ටමේ සිට අඩි 6148 උසකින් පිහිටා ඇති ග්‍රෙගරි වැව අක්කර 225 ක භූමි ප්‍රෙද්ශයක පැතිරී පවතී.

ග්‍රෙගරි වැව අවට භූමිය ඉතා විසිතුරු ලෙස භූමි අලංකරණය කර තිබෙන අතර කදු වලින් වටවී ඇති අවට පරිසරය ග්‍රෙගරි වැවේ අලංකාරය දෙගුණ තෙගුණ කරවයි. ග්‍රෙගරි වැව උද්‍යානයට පිවිසීම සඳහා ටිකට් පතක් ලබා ගත යුතු අතර වාහන නවතා තැබීම සඳහා ප්‍රමාණවත් ඉඩකඩ මෙහි පවතී.

Visit in 2013-01-26

Visit in 2013-01-26

Visit in 2013-01-26

Visit in 2013-01-26

View of Piduruthalagala – Visit in 2013-01-26

Visit in 2013-01-26

We – Visit in 2013-01-26

Visit in 2013-01-26

Visit in 2013-01-26

Visit in 2013-01-26

Visit in 2013-01-26

Visit in 2013-01-26

Boat House – Visit in 2013-01-26

Visit in 2013-01-26

Visit in 2013-01-26

Visit in 2013-01-26

Visit in 2013-01-26

සර් හෙන්රි මැකලම් වසර 1907 සිට 1913 දක්වා වූ කාලයේ යටත් විජිත ආණ්ඩුවේ ආණ්ඩුකාරවරයා ලෙස ලංකාවේ සේවය කරන ලද ඉංග්‍රීසි ජාතිකයෙකි. නුවරඑළිය නගරය හා ඒ ආශ්‍රිත ප්‍රදේශයන්ට දැඩිව ප්‍රිය කරන ලද අයෙකු ලෙස සර් හෙන්රි මැකලම් මහතා කා අතරත් ප්‍රසිද්ධ පුද්ගලයෙකු විය.නුවරඑළිය ප්‍රදේශයේ පවතින අධික ශීතල දේශගුණික රටාව හමුවේ විදුලි බල අවශ්‍යතාවයේ අගය ඉහළින්ම මැකලම් මහතාට දැනිණි. දැඩි ශීතලට පිළිතුරක් ලෙස මෙසේ නුවරඑළියට හැකි ඉක්මනට විදුලි බලය ලබා ගැනීමට ඔහුට අවශ්‍යව තිබිණි. ඒ අනුව නුවරඑළියේ රජ ගෙදරට වහාම විදුලිය සපයාදීමට අවශ්‍ය පියවර ගන්නා ලෙස එවකට රජයේ වැඩ අධ්‍යක්ෂකවරයාට සර් හෙන්රි මැකලම් මහතා විසින් උපදෙස් ලබා දෙන ලදී.ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ ප්‍රථම ජල විදුලිබල ව්‍යාපෘතිය ලෙස ඉතිහාසගතව ඇත්තේ බ්ලැක්ෆූල් ජල විදුලි බලාගාරයයි. මීදුමෙන් වැසුණු සුන්දර නුවරඑළිය නගරය සමීපයේ පිහිටි ග්‍රෙගරි වැවේ ජලය උපයෝගිකර ගනිමින් මෙම විදුලි බලාගාරය ක්‍රියාත්මක කොට තිබේ.සුන්දර නුවරඑළිය නගරය සමීපයේ පිහිටි ග්‍රෙගරි වැව වසර 1874 දී ඉංග්‍රීසි ජාතික ආණ්ඩුකාරවරයෙකුව සිටි ග්‍රෙගරි මහතා විසින් ඉදිකරන ලද්දකි. ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ උසම කන්ද වන පිදුරුතලාගල කඳුවැටියෙන් ගලා බසින තලගල ඔය හරස් කරමින් ග්‍රෙගරි වැව සකස් කොට ඇති අතර, මෙරට ප්‍රථම ජල විදුලි බලාගාරයට ජලය සපයා ගෙන ඇත්තේ ග්‍රෙගරි වැවෙනි.

රජයේ වැඩ අධ්‍යක්ෂකවරයාගේ උපදෙස් මත ක්‍රියාත්මක වූ විදුලි ඉංජිනේරු රයිලන්ඩ්ස් මහතා විසින් එතෙක් රජයේ කර්මාන්ත ශාලාවේ භාවිතා කරන ලද බොයිලේරු එන්ජිමක් හා ඩයිනමෝවක් උපයෝගි කරගනිමින් නුවරඑළිය රජ ගෙදරට විදුලිය සැපයීමට පියවර ගෙන තිබේ.සරල ධාරා ඩීසල් විදුලි ජනක යන්ත්‍රයක් මඟින් කිලෝ වෝට්ස් දෙකක ධාරිතාවකින් සමන්විත විදුලි බලයක් මෙසේ රජ ගෙදර එළිය කිරීමට ලබාදීමට විදුලි ඉංජිනේරු රයිලන්ඩ්ස් මහතා 1909 වසරේදී සමත්කම් දැක්විය. මෙය වූ කලී නුවරඑළිය නගරයට ලැබූ ප්‍රථම විදුලි බල සැපයුම ලෙස ඉතිහාස ගතවිය.

මෙසේ නුවරඑළිය රජ ගෙදරට තාවකාලිකව විදුලි බලය ලබාගැනීමෙන් අනතුරුව ජල විදුලි බලය උපයෝගිකොට ගෙන විදුලි බලය ලබාගැනීමට අවශ්‍ය පියවර සකසන ලෙස සර් හෙන්රි මැකලම් ආණ්ඩුකාරවරයා හරහා විදුලි ඉංජිනේරු රයිලන්ඩ්ස් මහතාට දන්වන ලදී. ඒ අනුව විදුලි ඉංජිනේරුවරයා විසින් මේ පිළිබඳව වාර්තාවක් සකස් කරන ලදී.

විදුලි ඉංජිනේරු රයිලන්ඩ්ස් මහතා විසින් ලබා දුන් එම වාර්තාවේ සඳහන් කොට ඇත්තේ රජයේ සම්පූර්ණ විදුලි බල අවශ්‍යතාව සපුරාලීමට තරම් ජල විදුලි බල ශක්තියක් ලබාගැනීමට හැකියාව ඇති බවය. 1910 වසරේ සඳහන් කොට ඇති එම වාර්තාව මඟින් එසේ නිපදවන විදුලිය කොළඹ ප්‍රදේශයට වුව අවශ්‍ය නම් සම්ප්‍රේෂණය කළහැකි බවය. එහෙත් එම යෝජනාව සංඛ්‍යාත්මකව දත්ත පදනම් කොටගෙන විශ්ලේෂණාත්මකව සහ විද්‍යානුකූලව ඉදිරිපත් කිරීමට විදුලි ඉංජිනේරු රයිලන්ඩ්ස් මහතා අපොහොසත්වීම නිසා එකී යෝජනාව අනුමත කොට ක්‍රියාවට නැංවීමට නොහැකිවී ඇත.

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Visit in 2013-03-04

ඉන්පසු විදුලි ඉංජිනේරුවරයා එම යෝජනාව මතම සිට නුවරඑළියට ජල විදුලිය ලබා ගැනීමේ වෙනමම යෝජනා ක්‍රමයක් සැලසුම්කරන ලදී. මේ සඳහා එවකට උඩපුස්සැල්ලාව ප්‍රදේශය භාර ඉංජිනේරුවරයා ලෙස සේවය කරන ලද ඩී.ජේ. විමලසුරේන්ද්‍ර මහතාගේ සේවය ද ලබාගන්නා ලදී. ඒ වනවිටත් විමලසුරේන්ද්‍ර මහතා නුවරඑළිය ප්‍රදේශයේ ඉදිකිරීමට යෝජිත කුඩා ජල විදුලි බල ව්‍යාපෘතියක් සම්බන්ධව හා ඒවායේ භු විෂමතා ලක්ෂණ සම්බන්ධව සිය අවධානය යොමු කොට පැවැතිණි.

ඒ අනුව රයිලන්ඩ්ස් ඉංජිනේරුවරයාට, ඩී.ජේ. විමලසුරේන්ද්‍ර නමැති ශ්‍රී ලාංකික සිවිල් ඉංජිනේරුවරයා විසින් නුවරඑළියේ බ්ලැක්පුල් ප්‍රදේශයේ ප්‍රථම ජල විදුලි බල ව්‍යාපෘතිය ආරම්භ කිරීම සඳහා විශාල සහායක් ලබාදෙන ලදී. එහි ප්‍රතිපලයක් ලෙස වසර 1874 දී පිදුරුතලාගල කඳුවැටියේ සිට ගලා බසිනා තලගල ඔය හරස්කොට ඉදිකොට තිබුණු ග්‍රෙගරි වැව උපයෝගිකොටගෙන මෙම ජල විදුලි බල ව්‍යාපෘතිය ක්‍රියාවට නැංවීමට තෝරා ගැනිණි.

නුවරඑළිය නගරයට ජල විදුලි බලය ලබාගැනීමට මෙම ඉංජිනේරු දෙපළ සුදුසුම ස්ථානය ලෙස ග්‍රෙගරි වැවේ වාන පිහිටි ප්‍රදේශය තෝරා ගන්නා ලදී. ඉන් පසු ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ ප්‍රථම ජල විදුලිබල ව්‍යාපෘතිය නුවරඑළිය ග්‍රෙගරි වැවේ වාන උපයෝගි කරගනිමින් ඉදිකෙරිණ.

‍ග්‍රෙගරි වැවේ වාන අසල සිට නළ මඟින් බ්ලැක්පූල් දක්වා ජලය රැගෙන ගොස් බ්ලැක්පූල් ප්‍රදේශයේ ඉදිකරන ලද දෙමහල් විදුලි බලාගාරය තුළ විදුලිය උත්පාදනයට අවශ්‍ය සැලසුම් සකස් කරන ලදී. මෙම බලාගාරයේ ඉදිකිරීම් කටයුතු සිදු කිරීමේදී සෘජු වගකීම විදුලි ඉංජිනේරු රයිලන්ඩ්ස් මහතාටම පැවැරුණු අතර, එහි විදුලි කටයුතුද ඔහු විසින්ම සිදුකරන ලදී. මෙම ප්‍රථම ජල විදුලි බලාගාරයේ සිවිල් කටයුතු ඉංජිනේරු ජී.ඒ.එම්. හයිඩ් මහතා විසින් සිදුකරන ලදී.

බ්ලැක්පූල් විදුලිය බලාගාරයේ සිට අධිආතතික සම්ප්‍රේෂණ මාර්ග ඇඳීම, කණු සිටුවීම, නුවරඑළිය නගර සීමාවේ සැතපුම් හයක් පමණ දුරට විදුලි රැහැන් හා කණු සිටුවීම ආදී කටයුතු 1910 හා 1911 මුදල් වසරවලදී සිදු කොට තිබේ. විදුලි බලාගාරය තුළ අශ්ව බල 70 ක ටර්බයින් යන්ත්‍ර දෙකකට සෘජුව සම්බන්ධ කරන ලද කිලෝ වෝට්ස් 70 ක ධාරිතාවකින් යුත් ප්‍රත්‍යාවර්තක දෙකක් සහිත ඉහළ කාර්යක්ෂමතාවයකින් හෙබි යන්ත්‍ර සවි කරන ලදී.

මෙරට ජල විදුලි වංශ කතාවට නව පිටුවක් පෙරළමින් සියලුම වැඩ අවසන්කරන ලද ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ ප්‍රථම ජල විදුලි බලාගාරය වූ නුවරඑළිය, බ්ලැක්පූල් විදුලි බලාගාරය 1912 මාර්තු මස 15 දින සුබ මොහොතින් ඉංග්‍රීසී ජාතික ආණ්ඩුකාර සර් හෙන්රි මැකලම් මහතා විසින් විවෘත කරන ලදී. මෙම අවස්ථාව වූ කලී ශ්‍රී ලංකා විදුලි බල ඉතිහාසයේ නැවුම් සංන්ධිස්ථානයක් බවට පත්වූ සුවිශේෂම අවස්ථාවක් විය.

Visit in 2014-05-01 with wife and Akila/ Malith

Visit in 2014-05-01 with wife and Akila/ Malith

Visit in 2014-05-01 with wife and Akila/ Malith

Visit in 2014-05-01 with wife and Akila/ Malith

Visit in 2014-05-01 with wife and Akila/ Malith

Visit in 2014-05-01 with wife and Akila/ Malith

Visit in 2014-05-01 with wife and Akila/ Malith

Visit in 2014-05-01 with wife and Akila/ Malith

Visit in 2014-05-01 with wife and Akila/ Malith

Visit in 2014-05-01 with wife and Akila/ Malith

Visit in 2014-05-01 with wife and Akila/ Malith

Visit in 2014-05-01 with wife and Akila/ Malith

Visit in 2014-05-01 with wife and Akila/ Malith

Visit in 2014-05-01 with wife and Akila/ Malith

Visit in 2014-05-01 with wife and Akila/ Malith

Visit in 2014-05-01 with wife and Akila/ Malith

විදුලි බලාගාරය තුළින් සම්ප්‍රේෂණ රැහැන් සඳහා වෝල්ට් 2200 ක අධිසැර විදුලියක් නිකුත් කරන ලද අතර, එය වෝල්ට් 110 දක්වා අඩු කොට පාරිභෝගිකයන්ට ලබාදී තිබේ.මෙම පළමු ජල විදුලි බලාගාරයේ පළමු විදුලි පාරිභෝගිකයා බවට පත්වූයේ නුවරඑළිය රජ ගෙදර හා නුවරඑළිය නගරයේ හෝටල් කීපයකි. ඊට අමතරව නුවරඑළිය නගරයේ වීදි ලාම්පු 1607 ක් සවි කොට ඒ සඳහාද විදුලිය ලබා දී තිබේ. ඒ සඳහා වෝල්ට් 220 ක විදුලිය සැපයුමක් ලබාදුන් බව වාර්තාවල දැක්වේ. මෙසේ නුවරඑළිය නගරයේ සවිකරන ලද වීදි ලාම්පුවලින් මංමාවත් එළිය වී ඇති අතර, එකී සුන්දර දසුන නැරඹීම සඳහා නුවරඑළිය හා ඒ අවට ප්‍රදේශවල පදිංචි විශාල පිරිසක් දින ගණනාවක් එක දිගටම රාත්‍රි කාලයේ නුවරඑළිය නගරයට පැමිණ සිටි බවද පැවැසේ. මෙසේ නගරයේ මංමාවත්වල වීදි ලාම්පු දැල්වීම මඟින් නුවරඑළියට පැමිණි පිරිස් හා නුවරඑළිය වැසියන් මහත් ආශ්වාදක් ලැබූ බවත් බොහෝ පිරිස් වීදි ලාම්පු දෙස පැය ගණන් එකදිගටම බලා සිටි බවද පැවැසේ.

විදුලි පාරිභෝගික ඉල්ලුම දිනෙන් දින ඉහළ යෑමට පටන් ගත් බැවින් බ්ලැක්පූල් විදුලිය බලාගාරයේ විදුලිය නිෂ්පාදන ධාරිතාව එකී ඉල්ලුමට ප්‍රමාණවත් නොවිණි. එහි ප්‍රතිපලයක් ලෙස 1913 වසරේදී රෝධක අශ්වබල 120 ක් වූ ටර්බයින් යන්ත්‍රයක් ඇණවුම් කොට එය 1915 වසරේදී බලාගාරයේ පැවැති යන්ත්‍ර පද්ධතියට එක්කරන ලදී. ඉන් පසුවද වරින්වර අමතර යන්ත්‍ර සූත්‍ර එකතු කරමින් බලාගාරයේ විදුලිය නිෂ්පාදනය වැඩි කිරීමට එවක රජය විසින් පියවර ගනු ලැබීය. එමඟින් නුවරඑළිය නගරය හා ඒ අවට ප්‍රදේශවල පාරිභෝගික ජනතාවට සතුටුවිය හැකි විදුලි බලයක් ලබාදීමට රජය උත්සාහ ගෙන තිබිණි.

වසර 1912 දී නුවරඑළිය නගරයට ස්ථීරවම විදුලිය පහසුකම් ලබාදීම ශ්‍රී ලංකා විදුලි ඉතිහාසයේ සුවිශේෂි කඩඉමක් බවට පත්විය. කුඩා ජල විදුලි බලාගාරයක් ඉදිකොට විදුලි බලය නිෂ්පාදනයට රජය මැදිහත්වීමත් සමග රට තුළ විදුලි බලය කෙරෙහි මහත් වූ බලාපොරොත්තු රැසක් ගොඩනැගිණි. වාණිජ්‍ය මට්ටමින් ජල විදුලිය නිෂ්පාදනය කිරීම ශ්‍රී ලංකාව තුළ ආරම්භ කිරීම පටන් ගැනුණේ නුවරඑළිය බ්ලැක්පූල් බලාගාරය ආරම්භ කොට එයින් විදුලිබලය නිෂ්පාදනය කිරීමත් සමගය.

නුවරඑළිය, බ්ලැක්පූල්හි ආරම්භකරනු ලැබූ මෙරට පළමු ජල විදුලි බලාගාරය අද අපට ශේෂව ඇත්තේ නටබුන් කීපයක් පමණි. බ්ලැක්පූල්හි බලාගාරය ස්ථාපිත කොට තිබූ ගොඩනැගිල්ල අද ආහාර ගබඩාවක් ලෙස භාවිතා කරනු ලබයි. එහි වූ යන්ත්‍ර සූත්‍ර සියල්ලම විනාශවී ගොස් ඇති අතර, ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ පළමු ජල විදුලි බලාගාරය කිසිදු ප්‍රයෝජනයකට නොගෙන අතහැර දමා තිබේ. නුවරඑළියට යන එන දේශීය හෝ විදේශීය සංචාරකයන් පවා එබදු විදුලි බලාගාරයක් නුවරඑළියේ පැවැති වග නොදනිති.

Visit in 2016-04-23

Visit in 2016-04-23

Visit in 2016-04-23

Visit in 2016-04-23

Visit in 2016-04-23

Visit in 2016-04-23

Visit in 2016-04-23

Visit in 2016-04-23

Lake Gregory (Sinhala: ග්‍රෙගරි වැව), sometimes also called Gregory Lake or Gregory Reservoir, is a reservoir in heart of the tea country hill city, Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka. Lake Gregory was constructed during the period of British Governor Sir William Gregory in 1873. The lake and the surrounding area make up the Gregory Lake Area.

The area was originally a swampy bog at the foot of the small hills that border the town. In 1873 Sir William Gregory authorized the damming of the Thalagala stream, which originates from Mount Pidurutalagala, in order to make more land available for the expansion of the town. In 1881 the lake was stocked with trout by Mr C. J. R. Le Mesurier (Assistant Government Agent for Nuwara Eliya).

In 1913 the waters of the lake were directed into a tunnel that flows to a hydropower station at ‘Blackpool’ between the town and Nanu Oya. The power station continues to supply electricity to the town to this day. In British times Lake Gregory was used for water sports and recreational activities.

Visit with our baby on 2016-12-18

Visit with our baby on 2016-12-18

Different views we have seen at the top of nearby mountains

 

View from Leopard Rock

View from Leopard Rock

View from Leopard Rock

View from Leopard Rock

Seen from Conical Hill

April Season of 2014

2014 April Season

2014 April Season

2014 April Season

2014 April Season

2014 April Season

2014 April Season

2014 April Season

2014 April Season

2014 April Season

2014 April Season

සීතා අම්මාන් කෝවිල

සීතා අම්මාන් කෝවිල හක්ගල උද්භිද උද්‍යානයේ සිට කිලෝ මීටර 1 පමණ දුරින් පිහිටා තිබෙන සීතා එලිය ප්‍රදේශයෙහි ඉදිකොට තිබෙයි. රාමායනය පුරාවෘත්තයට අනූව, ලංකා රාජ්‍යයෙහි රාවණා රජු ඉන්දියානු දේවියක වූ සීතාව පැහැරගෙන පැමිණ සැඟවූවා යැයි පැවසෙන ස්ථානයෙහි මෙම කෝවිල ඉදිකර ඇතැයි විශ්වාස කෙරෙයි.

Visit in 2018-10-20 After the hike of Hakgala Mountain

Visit in 2018-10-20 After the hike of Hakgala Mountain

Visit in 2018-10-20 After the hike of Hakgala Mountain

Visit in 2018-10-20 After the hike of Hakgala Mountain

Visit in 2018-10-20 After the hike of Hakgala Mountain

Visit in 2018-10-20 After the hike of Hakgala Mountain

Thank you for reading!

Sobasiri Team ©

Wilpaththu revisited through Eluwankulama

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Year and Month  2021 September 21st and 22nd
Number of Days  Two
Crew  02
Accommodation  Backwaters Lodge Eluwankulama
Transport Car, Safari Jeep and Boat
Activities Wild life, Safari, Boating and Photography
Weather  Excellent
Route Colombo->Puttalama->Eluwankulama->Wilpaththu NP->Back to Eluwankulama->Back water’s Lodge->Puttalama->Colombo
Tips, Notes and Special remark
  1. Road condition from Puttalama to Eluwankulama entrance is good except last 1-2km, but can be managed by a low ground vehicle.
  2. This time I spent Rs 6500 for half day safari and it was planned by the hotel.
  3. Safari jeeps are parked at wild life entrance and you can park your vehicle near army point.
  4. No vehicles pass the Kala Oya bridge to old Mannar Road.
  5. Backwaters Lodge arrange different activities including boat rides at Kala Oya.
  6. Uppu Aru is a safe place to have a bath.
Related Resources
Author Niroshan
Comments Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread
  • Wilpaththu revisited through Eluwankulama

This was my second visit to Wilpaththu National Park. Here I first selected the accommodation option and then arranged the safari through Eluwankulama (එළුවන්කුලම) as my hotel is situated closer to Eluwankulama gate (8.292146, 79.885594).
My last visit to this largest national park of Sri Lanka happened in 2017 mainly as an archeological and religious point of view. We have visited most of the religious places situated at Wilpaththu NP and drove till Kudiramale point. In that full day safari we were not able to watch either a leopard or bear.
This is almost after five years of my first experience of Wilpaththu NP. Here I selected a half day safari mainly to enjoy wildlife.
Early morning we left Colombo and reached Eluwankulama entrance by 5.45am. Road condition from Puttalama to Eluwankulama entrance is good except last 1-2km, but can be managed by a low ground vehicle. Kala Oya bridge at Eluwankulama is still not renovated might be due to the court case for Old Mannar road between Wild life department and RDA. Jeeps were parked at the park entrance and Army point was situated at the other end.

Wilpaththu NP (විල්පත්තු ජාතික වන උද‍යානය) is the largest (131, 693ha) and oldest national park in Sri Lanka. It is famous for visiting Leopards and wild bears. Special feature of Wilpaththu NP is having water filled natural lakes-Willus. There are nearly sixty Willus and tanks found through the park.

New looking of Wilpaththu-Eluwankulama entrance

How to reach the entrance. New bridge over Kala Oya. Only for pedestrians.

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I have noted this in 2017 as well.

No other jeeps selected Eluwankulama to enter Wilpaththu National Park on that day. We were able to watch Deers, number of bird species (mainly aquatic birds and Eagles) and wild buffalos. It is happy to mention some of bird species I have seen for the first time.

Sightings of Wilpaththu Safari

Out of Jeep

A gravel road through Wilpaththu

An open area of Wilpaththu NP

Stork-billed Kingfisher. So called largest Kingfisher of Sri Lanka.

A herd

Last moment of a Jumbo….

Compared to Yala, most of roads of Wilpaththu are situated under tree canopy.

Drops of a Leopard.

Road under the tree canopy

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Crested Hawk Eagle

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Couple

Red-wattled Lapwing

A peacock

A herd

Green imperial pigeon

Painted stork (front) with Purple Heron

Black-headed Ibis (White Ibis)

Porcupine

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Indian Darter with cormorant

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Wild pigs

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Crested Serpent Eagle

Common King Fisher

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?? Little Cormorant

Purple Heron

In action

Brahmin Kite

Brahmin Kite

The jeep has stopped at Kumbukvila (කුඹුක්විල) for the breakfast. This place is equipped with water and toilet facilities.

At Kumbukvila

Direction

Pomparippu Junction

A bridge at Old Mannar road

There is a nice bathing place at Kala Oya situated closer to Eluwankulama entrance. (It is mentioned as Eluwankulama bathing point in map). We have noted locals were enjoying bathing under Kumbuk shade at Kala Oya. Government is going to establish a proper bathing place here

On the way to bathing place at Kala Oya.

On the way to bathing place at Kala Oya.

Kala Oya bathing place under Kumbuk shades. Eluwankulama Bathing Point

Backwaters Lodge-Eluwankulama (8.268920, 79.865446)

Though Hunuwilagama (හුණුවිලගම) is the main Wilpaththu entrance, a lot of beautiful hotels are situated around Eluwankulama entrance. We have selected Backwaters lodge as our choice of accommodation in this time.
Backwaters Lodge is situated at bank of Uppu Aru (උප්පු ආරු) (i.e. Salt River). Uppu Aru is a small tributary of Kala Oya and it connects with Gange Wadiya (ගගේ වාඩිය) (Kala Oya estuary).
Backwaters lodge is an eco-friendly hotel and their accommodation compartments are built in container boxes. (Previously also I stayed at container boxes adjacent to Rainforest Eco Lodge and Amesbury Cottage-Nuweraeliya, but this is kind of different environment-dry zone).
They have used Uppu Aru for the enjoyment of visitors. The bank of Uppu Aru is sheltered by number of Kumbuk trees and they have set different seats for visitors. We have enjoyed a lot at this place including a dip at Uppu Aru.

Container boxes are used. It is quite hot inside these boxes as it is the dry zone.

Our accommodation had a veranda.

Restaurant of Backwaters lodge

Hopscotch Grid

Hammock under Kumbuk trees

A ladder….

At bank of Uppu Aru

Hotel has used their opening to Uppu Aru very well

Another bench under Kumbuk trees.

Baralles are converted into garden benches.

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Photo locations

Place for relax

Elephants are roaming….

There are different activities carried out by Backwaters lodge including boating at Uppu Aru. We had a boat ride at Uppu Aru in view of sun set.

Boating at Uppu Aru in view of sun set
Uppu Aru is a calm river which is bordered by bare lands and paddy fields. When you look at the map, one can go up to Gange Wadiya along Uppu Aru but practically it is not possible due to heavy Mangroves. The sun set boat ride takes about two hours and you can view set of aquatic birds at bank of the river.

Boating at Uppu Aru in view of Sun set

Uppu Aru / Salt River. Seems this is a rapidly developing area in tourism. Numbers of hotels are being developed.

Along Uppu Aru

Sailing to get sun set at Uppu Aru

Sun set at Uppu Aru

Sun set at Uppu Aru. Different colors.

Golden sky…

Sun set

While we were coming back, we have landed to other side of the bank. There were empty paddy fields.

Empty paddy fields

Aerial photographs of Uppu Aru and Backwaters Lodge

Aerial view of Uppu Aru. Backwaters Lodge makes camping trips to the island shown in the photo.

Close up…

Close up of the Island….

Dry Paddies

Uppu Aru and Backwaters lodge

We are at one of the deck built at bank of Uppu Aru.

It’s me….

Though we planned for another half day Safari through Hunuwilagama entrance of Wilpaththu on next day we were unable to make it as I had some personal commitments at home. So our return journey from Backwaters Lodge to Colombo was uneventful.

Thanks for reading

 

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