Ruwanweli Maha Seya

 Not to mention that Ruwanweli Seya, which shines brightly in the sky of Rajarata, is the most revered dagoba in our country.  Thuparamaya in Anuradhapura Sacred City, Shnari Maha Bodhi, Basawakkulama Wewa etc.  Ruwanweli Seya is also known as “Ruwanmali Seya”, Mahathupaya and Swarnamali Maha Chaitya.

 During the reign of King Dutugemunu, when the stupa was to be constructed, there was a palm tree on the land to be constructed.  Legend has it that it had to be cut down and that it was named Swarnamali Maha Chaitya in honor of a goddess who lived on the tree.  This is the largest dagoba built in the country at that time.

 The Mahavamsa states that Ven. Mahinda Thera, who came to this country during the reign of King Devanampiyatissa, named this place as the place where the Great Dagoba should be built for the Buddha.  Ruwanweliseya was built by King Duttagamini (161-1131 BC) as far as our little children know.  But the king was not allowed to finish the work.  The Mahavamsa states that after the death of the king, his brother King Saddhatissa completed the rest of the work from the top of the nave of the Dagaba.  Later it became the main dagoba of the ancient temple.

 Professor T.G.  According to Kulatunga, the appearance of the Great Dagoba in the 12th century can be understood from the stupa inscription in the Nelubeva inscription.  It mentions an offer made to the Ruwanweli Seya.  It is said that the small stone stupa made by King Nissankamalla in the courtyard of the Ruwanmali Stupa has been made in the shape of the Mahathupa itself.  We can still see it today.

Sigiriya

 Sigiriya, one of the most important kingdoms in Sri Lanka, has been criticized as a fortress built to protect itself from enemies, as a second palace to live in like Kuvera, and as an urban complex.

 It is said that Kashyapa, who had killed Dhatusena, fled to India and his brother Mughals chose Sigiriya, the remnant mountain, as their state center for fear of being fought against.  That is to say, it is clear that it was stated that King Adimuthu had taken up his abode at Sinhagiriya which was not easily accessible to the people.  Sinhagiriya was later renamed as Sigiriya.

 It is said that when King Kasyapa built the kingdom of Sigiriya, he offered the Pidurangala temple to the monks in that area and used Sigiriya as his state center.  However, it is said that the monks were quarreling with King Tissa Kasyapa.  It is said that the Mughal prince who assassinated Kashyapa did not choose Sigiriya, which was full of worldly pleasures, as his kingdom, but offered it to the monks and again chose Anuradhapura as his royal center.

 Most of the Kurutu songs written on the Sigiriya wall are written around 8,9 AD.  That is, it was written in the late Anuradhapura period.  And the C.R.W.  Sigiriya Kuruthu Gee written during the Polonnaruwa period in the 10th and 12th centuries have also been found on the mirror wall.  Accordingly, Sigiriya has been a popular tourist destination during the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa eras.

 Today, Sigiriya is being explored by the Cultural Triangle.  Sigiriya is one of the most important archeological sites in the cultural triangle, and Sigiriya is currently being criticized for being the eighth wonder of the world.  have.  Sigiriya is a fortress. Like other forts in Sri Lanka, Sigiriya is fortified with moat foundations.  It is said that the bridge had a wooden interior which could be used only when required according to the ruins found there. A stone and brick wall was found inside it.

 Sigiriya Archaeological Water Park (Symmetrical Layout), Rock Garden (Natural Plan), Malaka Garden is divided into three parts.  The section is called the symmetrical plan as the buildings and ponds are constructed in parallel according to a systematic plan on both sides of the road by removing the geographical obstacles such as trees and rocks.

 The next entrance is to the rock garden. This section is known as the rock garden because it consists mostly of rocks.

 The upper bouts featured two cutaways, for easier access to the higher frets, and the lower bouts featured two cutaways, for easier access to the higher frets.  There is evidence that the gates were located.

Sinharaja Forest

 

From the time of Panjarag Gondwana, when all the continents were together, Sri Lanka has become a vast forest that has not been easily touched by humans.  It is the royal forest or the lion kingdom in Sinhala.  There is an opinion that the last forest where the last lion lived in Lakdiva spread its dominance and later became known as Sinharaja.  The area where the lion is said to have been used to kill the lion is known as Yoda Galgoda, and the area where the lion lived is still known as Sinhagala and the cave where the lion lived is still known as the Lion's Cave.  The Sinharaja Forest, the largest tropical wet evergreen forest in Sri Lanka, is now a World Heritage Site.  It is also the only natural world heritage site in Sri Lanka.  The Sinharaja Maha Forest is located in the districts of Galle, Matara and Ratnapura and covers an area of ​​11,187 hectares.  This forest which belongs to the Rakwana mountain range is 21 km long and has a minimum width of 3 km.  The highest point is Mount Pitigala which is 1171 feet above sea level.  There are four ways to enter Sinharaja.  These are Kalawana Weddagala Road, Rakwana Morning Side Road, Hiniduma Neluwa Road and Deniyaya Pallegama Road.  Annual rainfall is between 3000 and 5000 mm. This forest has almost no dry season.  Even in the month of February, when there is a minimum rainfall of 180 to 200 mm, the Gin River and the Kalu River are fed by streams flowing from the forest, creating several beautiful waterfalls such as Duvili Ella, Bandarahmana Ella and Uravatunu Ella.  In the Sinharaja forest, you can see plant pagodas spread over five main layers.  Canopy layer (includes plants such as Batu Na, Welipiyanna, Keena, Thiniya Dun, Beraliya, Kiri Hambiliya), Sub canopy layer (consisting of plants such as Hadawaka, Malaboda, Diya Na, Katamoda), Layer (Madol, Athuketiya etc.)  Many of the plants that can be seen in this forest can be clearly distinguished as layered shrubs (this layer is made up of wild bamboo, deer, perennial species) and climbing plants and stemless plants (wild pepper, ferns)  Is endemic to Sri Lanka.  Among the plants that show great diversity, the features found in the mountain forests of Mulawella, Hinipitigala and Morning Side are also special.  With more than 75 percent endemic flora, Sinharaja has hundreds of plants that have never been introduced to the world, say researchers.  Thirteen of the 25 endemic plant groups in Sri Lanka have been recorded from Sinharaja.  About 60% of the plant species less than 30 cm in circumference are endemic to Sri Lanka.  .  There are 340 species of woody plants in the forest, 192 of which are endemic to Sri Lanka.  Fifteen of these species can be found only in Sinharaja.  The total vegetation density of this forest is estimated to be over 240,000 units per hectare.  95% of it is in the ground layer.  Surrounding villagers say that elephants were abundant in the Sinharaja forest in the past.  Now the elephant population has dwindled.  Three stray elephants have been spotted in the forest area near Rakwana from time to time.  Eight of the 12 endemic mammal species in Sri Lanka have been recorded in the Sinharaja, which is home to a vast array of wildlife including leopards, deer, deer and green leopards.  In the Sinharaja forest, which is home to about 160 species of birds, 18 endemic bird species can be seen.  Cahibella, White Sharikawa, Head Gray Tamilichcha, Bata Attikukula, Sitasia and Pathigomara Thirasikaya are some of them.  There are 45 species of reptiles, of which 21 species are endemic to Sri Lanka.  Some species of lizards, turtles and hippos are among them.  Two very rare species of tricolor kenipathuella and kurun karawala are also found in Sinharaja.  About 50 very rare amphibian species also inhabit Sinharaja.  The yellow wire worm frog, a species of limbless frog, lives beneath the swamps of Sinharaja.  , About 40 mammals, 20 species of freshwater fish and 65 species of butterflies are also reported from Sinharaja forest.  The people living in the vicinity of the Sinharaja Forest, which contributes immensely to the survival of the natural environment of Sri Lanka, have also built their economy from the products of this forest such as Kitul, Way Vine, Nutmeg, Fruit, Vegetable Oil and Ginger.  Residents in the area are facing the threat of extinction due to encroachment and cultivation.  The Sinharaja Forest, a World Heritage Site, has become a haven for local and foreign researchers.

Mandaramnuwara

 The city of Mandaram is known as the city where the sun sets late.  Mandaram can be reached from two sides.  One way is to cross the main road from Padiyapele and reach Mandaram.

 The other route is to reach Mandaram through the Gonapitiya Goodwood Estate in the middle of the Kandapola High Forest Estate via Nuwara Eliya.

 We parked our car near the Tea Factory in the ancient city of Mandaram, and from there we entered the jungle environment by taking a short walk to see the beautiful helm plantations.

 Our aim was to see the waterfall called Kolapathana Falls which is hidden in the forest.  Mount Pidurutalagala can be seen on one side.  Our route is at the bottom of Pidurathalagala hill.  On the other side is the Gulf of Rankotiyagala.  Our guide brother told us that there is a legend that a million worth of gold is hidden here.  As we ascended the footpath through the foothills, we saw the Kolapathana Komaliya in the middle of the forest, with its fluffy white hair, falling out of shape.  Without stopping at the viewing point, a few of us descended a slightly lower slope to experience the true beauty of the waterfall.  There is a nice natural water body there.  There is a suspicion that the dirty water is dirty from our bodies, but we were happy because it was a great remedy for the fatigue of the journey.  Undaunted, the four of us climbed the jungle parallel to the waterfall to the middle of the waterfall, out of curiosity.  It was a great strength for us to have two experienced mountaineers with us.  It is dangerous to go that route without such experienced guides.

 If you are a mountaineer, you have the opportunity to climb this ridge after visiting the falls.  You can take this route to a height close to the level of Pidurathalagala mountain and if so, be sure to go with a guide.

 We also learned from the villagers that there are several waterfalls in the middle of the forest path around this Mandaram town and that the second highest waterfall in Sri Lanka is the Cinnamon Falls.  But we missed those opportunities because our group was over time.

 What are some of the places you can easily visit while visiting Mandaram?  What are the places where you can camp without disturbing anyone so as not to harm its environment?  This is a documentary that explores how accommodation is.

 We know that many people go to Mandaramu and visit only Kolapathana Falls.  But they avoid these beautiful places around Mandaramnuwara.  Kabaragala Falls Athiniwala Falls Rankotiyabokka Viewpoint Pears Farm etc.  Watch this video.  It is your responsibility to protect these places without harming the environment.

Source of Ayurvedic Medicine in Sri Lanka

 Information about the medical system that existed in ancient Sri Lanka can be found in books and archeological evidences.  Of these, the Mahavamsa occupies an important place.  The Mahavamsa mentions Sivikasalas and Sothisalas which are believed to have been built during the reign of King Pandukabhaya.  In addition, King Buddhadasa and King Agbo IV are said to have been leaders in the field of medicine.  The Mahavamsa contains a number of details, including that many other kings paid salaries to doctors and built hospitals.

 The second most important evidence of ancient Sri Lankan medicine is found in the inscriptions.  These documents include information on royalties received by hospitals, salaries and benefits received by doctors, allowances, medical procedures, land owned by hospitals, and statutes on hospital administration.  Articles such as the Dorabawila Tam inscription, the Mihintale tablet inscription and the Medirigiriya rock inscription are some examples of this.

 The Attani Parihara pillars erected during this period reveal facts about dispensaries, hospitals, dispensaries and Thimbirigewals built during the Anuradhapura period with the patronage of the state.  Attani Parihara is a special category of grants and privileges conferred by the standard of the Royal Council.  The affected lands were treated as sanctuaries.  The Kiribathvehera Tam inscription mentions a donation of land named Megiriwatta to a dispensary called Bamuna Kumburam by King Kasyapa IV.  The four borders were defined and declared a sanctuary, and even the princes had no power to apprehend the criminals who came there.  This implies that the dispensary at that time was an independent institution free from state interference.  According to the Dorabawila Tam article, there is a reference to Dappula Mapanan's harassment.  Several lands belonging to a hospital built by King Kasyapa V have inherited the above grant.  It states that kings who violate the privileges bestowed by compensation are dogs at any level, such as Epa and Mapa.  According to the Polonnaruwa Raja Sabha Mandir TAM letter, a landowner should be given a dry ginger plant every year except the one started by Dothi Valakkana for the exemption granted to him on the condition of paying taxes to the hospital.

Ambuluwawa Temple

 

It is not uncommon for the world's most beautiful landscapes to be altered by rulers from time to time, adding new creations to the tourist attraction.  Three districts of Ambuluwawa Kanda, which separates the two Kandy districts from the Gamipola area, are formed naturally by a single black rock. Only the slope towards Hemimathagama is covered with natural forest.

 Ambuluwawa access road is built on the left hand side after passing the third kilometer of Gamipola Hemimathagama road. From there you can reach the top of Ambuluwawa hill after crossing the 3 km hilly road.

 Gampola was the fourth kingdom in the history of Sri Lanka.  Historians have pointed out that four kings of the Gampola kingdom reigned. The royal palace of those kings was located in the village now known as Godagama at the foot of the Amibuluwawa hill.  However, after the British invasion of the upcountry in 1815, all the antiquities of the Gamipola Kingdom were destroyed and land was used for coffee cultivation.

 By the end of the British rule, most of the land at the foot of Ambuluwawa Hill was occupied by only two or three people. Until 1970, the lands were occupied by the government and distributed to the landless people.  It has been there ever since

Accordingly, DM Jayaratne, who was the then Minister of Agriculture, Lands and Forests in 1997.  Jayaratne climbed Mount Ambuluwawa with several other youths from the area to design an accessible road. On March 21, 1997, Ambuluwawa was climbed. On March 27, 1997, the construction of the Ambuluwawa Access Road began ten years later.  DM to focus on Amibuluwa  Passed.

 From the moment you enter Mount Ambuluwawa today, visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy about 65 unique creations, enjoy fun, spiritual healing as well as develop knowledge.  The concept, design, technical knowledge as well as engineering work of DM Jayaratne is unique in that all these designs are built on a land of about 457 acres.

 Ambuluwawa mountain top has been created for spiritual healing. DM has stated that the 223 feet high Agrarian Stupa has been built as a tribute to the farmers of this country. The first part of that stupa is the paddy field.  It symbolizes the paddy farmers and the second part of the dagoba is made in the shape of a water hyacinth to symbolize the vegetable farmers.  Mentioned.  The third part of the dagoba is made in the shape of a cacao nut to symbolize the local fruit growers.  The bodhi tree in front of the dagoba is a sapling from the Sri Maha Bodhi tree in Anuradhapura. Between the bodhi tree and the dagoba are the Catholic, Hindu and Islamic religious centers on the right.  The Sri Padasthana is located just beyond the Chaitya.

 Nearby is an observation deck where you can observe the surrounding mountains.  There is a standing stone statue carved near the Ambuluwawa Sri Maha Bodhi and the lower part of the building where the statue is placed has been prepared for the meditators. A tunnel has been constructed under all these constructions.

Below all this is a statue of the Samadhi Buddha surrounded by beautiful chambers. The assembly hall built nearby can seat about a thousand people at a time.  Nearby is the library building.  The Saman Deva Statue, the Vishnu Deva Statue as well as many creations built in accordance with the beliefs of the people can be seen in Ambuluwa.  In 2007, Mount Ambuluwawa was named one of the best mountain ranges in the world by the United Nations for tourism.  The upper floor of the building resembles an observation deck

Ambuluwawa Trigonometrical Station, Ambuluwaawa ICC Road

Lankiri Ella Falls

 

Lenathiri scattered on the rocks of Makanda jungle ..

 We used to visit Kitulgala this time because we thought we would go for a walk in the jungle closest to Colombo. When we say Kitulgala, everyone thinks of water rafting on the Kelani River.  Thought to go to the jungle.

                          If you want to know about the plants on the Kitulgala side you have to go to the Makandawa reserve. This reserve has to be crossed by the Kelani river.  That is to enter the Makandawa reserve.

  This forest is located at an altitude of 250 to 760 m above sea level. Makanda Mukalana. It is divided into two parts as Bandara jungle.

  Visitors can get the information they need from the tourist center at the entrance to the forest, but you have to walk through the forest trails looking at the nameplates. That is to say, there are few guides here like Kanneliye Sinharaje.

   For those who come to see the birds, Makanda is a wonderful oasis. 28 out of 33 endemic bird species live in Makanda. Also, 13 out of 33 species of fish can be seen around Makanda.

 There are two waterfalls in Makanda.  One is Spider Falls and the other is Lanteri Falls. Lentari Falls is the most beautiful and farthest waterfall in Makanda. It is located about 3 km from the Makanda Information Center.

 Our journey started at around 9 in the morning amidst the shouts of the herdsmen. We entered the jungle like the forest of Sinharaja. We continued along the road through the thick trees.  The interior is a bit dark because of the trees.

          There are wide roads in Kanneliya as well as inside Makanda.  Drawn roads. We had to look for nameplates to find our way, but due to the lack of nameplates at some of the road divisions, we lost our way and the road was endless.  Did not happen.

 After climbing a few waterfalls and climbing a large hill, we found the location of the waterfall because we had gone to the top of the falls, so the first thing we did was pack our breakfast.  That is to say.

                              The waterfall is about 30 meters high and has a strange beauty. It falls alone and cascades down the rocks below.  Water droplets are as cold as ice, like a lantern on the ground.

                                We went to the very bottom of the falls with great difficulty and then the waterfall looked like a huge waterfall. We saw a completely different waterfall below the one we saw above. However, the waterfall is very beautiful.  The water is very clean because people don't go much.

   Apart from this, there are things to stay in Makanda jungle for weeks to see. We will tell you about it another day.

    Nissanka Moore.