Greatest Lake of Polonnaruwa-Parakrama Samudrya

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.