Kota Vehera (Lahugala)

Kota Vehera , also known as Kotaveheragala Viharaya (Sinhala: ලාහුගල කොට වෙහෙර), is a Buddhist temple situated in Lahugala in Ampara District, Sri Lanka. The temple has been erected on a small hillock situated on the verge of the Lahugala-Kitulana National Park.

History

The history of this temple is dated back to the early Anuradhapura Period (Vithanachchi, 2013). The inscriptions discovered in situ have revealed that this temple was known in ancient times as "Digalaka Maha Vehera" (Gamage, 2020; Vithanachchi, 2013).

According to the opinion of Medhananda Thera, this temple could be the ancient Kotapabbatha Viharaya that is mentioned in the chronicle Mahavamsa (Medhananda, 2003). As revealed by Mahavamsa, Kotapabbatha Viharaya was the home for the novice monk who was reborn as King Dutugemunu [(161-137 B.C.) Medhananda, 2003].

Monuments

A large number of the ruins including rock inscriptions, flights of steps, caves, Sri Pathul Gal (footprints of Buddha), and stone pillars have been discovered from the temple premises. The large Stupa built in accordance to the Kota Vehera style can be identified as the main monument of the site. The Chatra and the Yupa stone, found near the Stupa indicate that it was built in the form of the early Stupas of the country. A few reliquaries recovered from the Kota Vehara are presently on the display at the National Museum of Colombo.

Reliquaries of Kota Vehera (right)

Period: 1st - 2nd century A.D.
Height: 7.8 cm (golden reliquary)
Description: The gold reliquary has been made of gold sheets arranged in a flower fashion and was originally sheltered by a series of Chatras which are now missing. This reliquary, together with other similar ones discovered from Delivala and Mihintale, represents the form of the early Stupas of Sri Lanka as well as India. The other two reliquaries made of crystals were also popularly used in ancient times in Sri Lanka.
Reference: National Museum of Colombo

Inscriptions
Eight inscriptions ranging from the 1st to 4th century A.D. have been discovered at the site (Gamage, 2020).

Reign: King Bhathikabhaya (19 B.C.-9 A.D.)            Period: 1st century A.D.
Script: Later Brahmi                                                    Language: Old Sinhala

Transcript: Siddam! Devanapiyatisa rajaha marumakanakaha kutakana rajahaputa Gamini Abaya... Translation: Hail! Gamini Abaya, son of Kutakanna Tissa, grandson of king Devanampiya Tissa...

Reference: The information board by the Department of Archaeology and the State Ministry of Cultural Affairs

Reign: King Gajabahu I (114-136 A.D.)                   Period: 2nd century A.D.
Script: Later Brahmi                                                   Language: Old Sinhala

Content: Sabaya, the minister of king Gamini Abhaya (Gajaba) having exempted from taxes a hundred karises (400 amunas) of paddy land under Digalaka tank, donated it to Digalaka Vihara. Furthermore, ten karises (40 amunas) of paddy land were offered for the activities of the Cetiya and one karisa (4 amunas) has been donated for the lightning lamp at the Stupa
Reference: The information board by the Department of Archaeology and the State Ministry of Cultural Affairs

A protected site

The Buddhist monastery complex with archaeological evidence including ancient Dagaba, building sites with stone pillars, flights of steps carved on natural rock plain, and drip-ledged caves located in the place called "Kota Wehera" belonging to Lahugala village in Pansalgoda Grama Niladari Division in the Divisional Secretary’s Division, Lahugala is an archaeological protected site, declared by a government gazette notification published on 10 October 2014.

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References

1) Gamage, D.P., 2020. Epigraphical Notes (Nos. 22-23). Department of Archaeology. ISBN: 978-955-7457-30-7. pp.74-80. 

2) Medhananda, Ven. Ellawala, 2003. Pacheena passa - Uttara passa: Negenahira palata ha uturu palate Sinhala bauddha urumaya (In Sinhala). Dayawansa Jayakody & Company. Colombo. ISBN: 978-955-686-112-9. pp.143-145.

3) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, no: 1884. 10 October 2014, p. 917.

4) Vithanachchi, C. R., 2013. Pauranika Sthana Saha Smaraka: Ampara Distrikkaya (In Sinhala). Department of Archaeology (Sri Lanka). ISBN: 955-9159-44-5.  pp.27-28.

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Keragala Padmavathi Pirivena

Keragala Padmavathi Pirivena (also known as Keragala Padmavathi Raja Maha Viharaya) is a Buddhist temple situated in Keragala village in Gampaha District, Sri Lanka. The site can be reached by travelling about 6 km distance from Weliveriya town.

 

History

As mentioned in the Keragala slab inscription of King Vijayabau V (1335-1341 A.D.), this temple has been erected by Artthanayaka of Dalasengamuwa (modern Dalugama) for the devotional purposes of Padmavathi, the sister of Alagakkonara (Ranawella, 2014). The Alagakkonara in this record was the one who became Prabu Raja (the prime minister) of King Vikramabahu III [(1356-1371 A.D.) De Silva, 1912]. But according to the details given in the inscription, Alagakkonara at the time was staying with Atthanayaka and therefore it is assumed that the Keragala temple was erected sometime before he became Prabu Raja [(before the commencement of Vikramabahu's reign) De Silva, 1912].

 

During the Kotte Period, Keragala temple became one of the most popular monastic colleges in the country along with Perakumba Pirivena at Kotte, Sunetradevi Pirivena at Pepiliyana, Vijayaba Pirivena at Totagamuwa and Siri Ganananda Pirivena at Veedagama. This temple is also mentioned as the destination of the messenger of Hamsa Sandeshaya (Manukulasooriya, 1978), Sinhalese poetry written during the reign of King Parakramabahu VIII [(1490-1509 A.D.) Rohanadeera, 2007].

Inscriptions

Two separate inscriptions are found in the temple premises (Rohanadeera, 2007). They have been inscribed on both sides of the same slab and are cut in Sinhalese characters in vogue at the time (De Silva, 1912). Both inscriptions are Gal Sannas which give details about the grants awarded to the Keragala temple.

Keragala slab inscription of Vijayabahu V

This record has been dated to the reign of King Vijayabahu V [(1335-1341 A.D.) Ranawella, 2014]. It reveals that the lands in certain villages including Paragoda, Ambulgama, Kusalangama are the properties belonging to the pupillary lineage of the chief monk Nagasena Thera of Keragala Vihara since the Dambadeniya Period. It further emphasizes that this ownership is to be continued in the future in the same manner.

It also mentions that the temple was erected by Artthanayaka of Dalasengamuwa for the devotional purposes of Padmavathi, the sister of Alagakkonara (Ranawella, 2014).

Reign: King Vijayabahu V

Script: Modern Sinhala

Language: Modern Sinhala

Transcript : <<.. Arthanayaka Dalasengamu Miga(ga)ntaru e taman langa siti Alagakkonara p(a)dayage sahodara buhunaniyan Patmavati venda puda ganna lesata karavu Keragala Vihara..>>

Translation : <<..Keragala Vihara, erected by  Artthanayaka Dalasengamu Mi(g)gantaru for the devotions of Padmavati, own sister of Alagakkonara who was staying with him..>>

Reference : Ranawella, 2014.

 
Keragala slab inscription of Parakramabahu VIII, 1501 A.D.

This inscription has been dated to the 11th regnal year of King Parakramabahu VIII [(1490-1509 A.D.) Rohanadeera, 2007]. It records a grant executed by Sanhas Tiruvarangam Perumal upon an order issued from the palace at Jayawardhana Kotte in the 11th year of Parakramabahu VIII (Rohanadeera, 2007). The grant describes the boundaries and lands of Keragala Viharaya to be inherited in pupillary lineage from Rajaguru Wanaratana Maha Swamin Vahanse of Keragala (De Silva, 1912). The name of the Keragala Parivenadhipathi (the chief incumbent) Wanarathana Thera is also mentioned in Hamsa Sandeshaya (Wimalasena, 2016).

A protected site

The Keragala Raja Maha Viharaya situated in Keragala village is an archaeological protected site, declared by a government gazette notification published on 14 August 1964.

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References

1) De S. Manukulasooriya, R.C., 1978. Transport in Sri Lanka in Ancient and Medieval times. Journal of the Sri Lanka Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, Vol. 24 (1978–79). pp.49-85.
2) De Silva, S., 1912. Inscription at Keragala: Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (Vol. XXII). pp. 404-410.

3) Ranawella, S., 2014. Archaeological Survey of Ceylon: Inscriptions of Ceylon: Vol. VII. Department of Archaeology. ISBN: 978-955-9159-62-9. pp.19-21.
4) Rohanadeera, M., 2007. Archaeological Survey of Ceylon: Inscriptions of Ceylon: Vol. VIII. Department of Archaeology. ISBN: 978-955-91-59-64-3. pp.88-91.
5) The Gazette notification, no. 14092, 14 August 1964.
6) Wimalasena, N.A., 2016. Elite Groups, as a factor of Social Change in Fourteenth and Fifteenth Century in Sri Lanka. International Journal of Liberal Arts and Social Science. Vol. 4 No. 3. pp.18-30.

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A short note for local school students

කෑරගල පද්මාවතී පිරිවෙන

කෑරගල පද්මාවතී පිරිවෙන හෝ කෑරගල පද්මාවතී රජමහා විහාරය ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ ගම්පහ දිස්ත්‍රික්කයේ කෑරගල පිහිටි බෞද්ධ සිද්ධස්ථානයකි. 8වන පරාක්‍රමබාහු රජු (ක්‍රි.ව. 1490-1509) සමයේ රචනා වූ හංස සන්දේශයෙහි ගමනාන්තය ලෙස දැක්වෙන්නේ මෙම විහාරස්ථානය වේ.

ශිලා ලේඛන

එකම ගල් පුවරුවක දෙපැත්තෙහි කොටවන ලද ශිලා ලේඛන ද්විත්වයක් විහාර පරිශ්‍රයේදී දැකගත හැකිවේ. සිංහල අක්ෂරයන්ගෙන් සමන්විතවන මෙම ශිලා ලේඛන මගින් කෑරගල විහාරයට සිදුකරන ලද ප්‍රධානයන් පිළිබඳ තොරතුරු හෙළිදරව් කෙරේ.

5වන විජයබාහු රජුගේ කෑරගල පුවරු ලිපිය

මෙම ශිලා ලේඛනය 5වන විජයබාහු රාජ්‍ය සමයට (ක්‍රි.ව. 1335-1341) කාල නිර්ණය කොට තිබේ. කෑරගල විහාරය සතු පරගොඩ, ඇඹුල්ගම, කුසලාන්ගම ඇතුළු අනෙකුත් ඉඩම්වල අයිතිය දඹදෙණි යුගයේ සිට පැවත එන බවත් ඒවා නාගසේන මහා ස්වාමින් වහන්සේගේ සංඝ පරම්පරාවට අයත් බවත් මෙහි සඳහන් වේ.

කෑරගල විහාරය කරවන ලද්දේ දලසෙන්ගමුව අත්තනායක විසින් අලගක්කෝනාරගේ සහෝදරිය වූ පද්මාවතීන්ට වැදපුදා ගැනීමට බව සෙල්ලිපියෙහි වැඩිදුරටත් සඳහන් වේ.

8වන පරාක්‍රමබාහු රජුගේ කෑරගල පුවරු ලිපිය

මෙම ශිලා ලේඛනය 8වන පරාක්‍රමබාහු රජුගේ (ක්‍රි.ව. 1490-1509) 11වන රාජ්‍ය වර්ෂයට (ක්‍රි.ව. 1501) කාල නිර්ණය කොට තිබේ. රජුගේ නියෝග පරිදි සන්හස් තිරුවරඟම් පෙරුමාළු විසින් ප්‍රකාශිත දේපල ප්‍රධානයක විස්තර මෙම ලේඛනයෙහි අන්තර්ගත කොට ඇත.

පුරාවිද්‍යා ස්මාරක ස්ථානය

කෑරගල පිහිටි පැරණි පද්මාවතී විහාරය, 1964 අගෝස්තු 14 දින ප්‍රකාශයට පත් රජයේ ගැසට් නිවේදනය මගින් ආරක්ෂිත පුරාවිද්‍යා ස්මාරක ස්ථානයක් ලෙස නම් කොට ඇත.

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Dehadu Kadulla

Dehadu Kadulla is an ancient monument located in the village of Kadadora in Nuwara Eliya District, Sri Lanka.

History

In the ancient times, there were four main entrances named Gal Dora, Kada Dora, Wata Dora, and Niyamgam Dora, to enter the Maya Rata (Performance Report, 2011). Of them, the Kada Dora (also called Dehadu Kadulla) is the only entrance which can be seen today. According to folklore, Kada Dora entrance was the place where Prince Dutugemunu had hidden his sward (Magul Kaduwa) when he was coming from Ruhuna to Maya Rata seeking a shelter.

The entrance

The entrance is about 2.17 meters tall and 1.85 meters wide and has been constructed using the rubble and rock boulders (Abeywardana, 2004).

A protected monument

The Kadadora Dehadu Kadulla situated in the Grama Niladhari Division of Kadadora, in Kotmale Divisional Secretary’s Division is an archaeological protected monument, declared by a gazette notification published on 6 June 2008.

References

1) Performance Report, 2011: Colombo. Planning and Monitoring Section, Department of Archaeology, p.289.
2) Abeywardana, H.A.P., 2004. Heritage of Kandurata: Major natural, cultural and historic sites. Colombo: The Central Bank of Sri Lanka.  p.239.
3) The Gazette of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, no 1553, 6 June 2008. p.526.

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Protohistory of Sri Lanka

The transitional era between the end of Pre-historic Period and the beginning of the Historic Period of Sri Lanka is known as the Proto-historic Period of Sri Lanka. There is little or no evidence of when and how the important transition from an itinerant, food-gathering mode of life to one of settled village-based food production took place or who exactly the agents of this change were. However, it is generally agreed that the beginning of agriculture in Sri Lanka was taken place sometime during the 1st millennium B.C. or by the beginning of the use of iron.

The main indicators of the distribution of protohistoric and early-historic settlements at present are megalithic and other related burial sites as well as places containing associated and distinctive Black and Red pottery.

The sites with proto-historic evidence in Sri Lanka are given below.

• Anuradhapura
• Ibbankatuwa
• Yapahuwa

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See also

#) Pre & Proto-historic Burials in Sri Lanka

This page was last updated on 11 February 2023

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Prehistory of Sri Lanka

Prehistory of Sri Lanka ranges from ca 250,000 BP to 1,000 BC. The distribution, physical characteristics and way of life of Sri Lankan man in this prehistoric period have been determined and suggested by various archaeological evidence discovered so far in the country. Stone and bone implements, food residues such as mollusc shells and animal bones and human skeletal remains provide some idea about the natural and social environment that prevailed during the prehistoric period. 

The places which were periodically or occasionally frequented by the itinerant, foraging hunter-gatherers of the time can be identified as the settlements of this period. The consisted of open-air habitations or camp sites, factory sites where stone implements were produced in sizeable quantities, and rock-shelters used during the rainy seasons or for the disposal of the dead.

The sites with pre-historic evidence in Sri Lanka are given below;

• Minihagalkanda in Hambantota District          
• Fa Hien Cave in Bulathsinhala, Kalutara District
• Batadombalena in Kuruvita, Ratnapura District
• Bundala in Hambantota District                         
• Alulena in Athanagoda, Kegalle District
• Belilena in Kithulgala, Kegalle District
• Bellanbendipelessa in Ratnapura District
• Manthei in Mannar District

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See also

#) Pre & Proto-historic Burials in Sri Lanka

#) Protohistory of Sri Lanka

 

This page was last updated on 11 February 2023

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Menik Vehera, Polonnaruwa

Menik Vehera (lit: The gem temple) is a Buddhist monastic complex located in the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka.

History

The history of this complex is not known. But according to the architectural features it has, the complex is dated back to the 8-9 centuries A.D. The structures indicate at least two stages of development belonging to the 8-9 century A.D. and the 12-13 century A.D.

Temple

The temple is situated outside the Northern gate of the city and has been built on a terraced layout (Wikramagamage, 2004). The top-most terrace includes the Stupa, the Bodhighara (Bodhi tree shrine), the image house, and the Uposathagharaya. The remains are located on the lower terrace.

Built on a high terrace surrounded by a high wall, the Stupa of this complex is considered a rare piece of work. The terraced design of this Stupa shows similarities to the design of the Indikatuseya Stupa at Mihintale. The carved stone door frame at the entrance and the terracotta tablets of squatting lions on the plinth are also considered special features. 

Near the Stupa is a Gandhakuti type image shrine. It has a square-shaped chamber with a porch in front. The three standing Buddha statues in the image shrine perhaps represent the Buddhas of the past, present and future. This shrine possibly has been built following the design of the Medirigiriya image house.

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References

1) Wikramagamage, C., 2004. Heritage of Rajarata: Major natural, cultural and historic sites: Colombo. Central Bank of Sri Lanka, p. 213.

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Kiri Vehera (Polonnaruwa)

Not to be confused with Kiri Vehera, Kataragama & Kiri Vehera, Lahugala

Kiri Vehera (lit: Milk Stupa) is a Stupa located in the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka. Situated north to the Lankathilaka Pilima Geya, this is the second tallest Stupa in the city after the Rankoth Vehera.

History

The ancient name or the builder of this Stupa is not known yet. But it is speculated that this Stupa was either built by King Parakramabahu I (1153-1186 A.D.) in memory of his consort Queen Subhadra or it was built by Queen Subhadra herself (Wikramagamage, 2004).

Stupa

The 28.5 meters tall Stupa is considered the best-preserved Stupa among the others found in the ancient city (Ray, 1960; Wikramagamage, 2004). It has a diameter of about 88 ft at the base at the ground level and is surrounded by four frontispieces at the cardinal points (Ray, 1960). On either side of the front pieces are small rectangular Buddha shrines with brick roofs (Ray, 1960). The bubble-shaped dome rises upward from a base of three receding terraces and the original lime plaster is still visible on the dome. The present name probably derives from the fact that its well preserved lime plaster.

Inscription

A quadrangular slab with an inscription lies on the Stupa terrace.

• Kiri Vehera Slab Inscription
  
  Reign: Nissankamalla (1187-1196 A.D.)
  Period: 12th century A.D.
  Script: Medieval Sinhala
  Language: Medieval Sinhala
  Transcript: Sri Vira-raja  Nissanka Malla Aprati-Malla Kalinga Lamkeswara .......>>
  Translation: His    majesty   Sri  Vira-raja Nissanka   Malla    Aprati- Malla   Kalinga Lankeswara ........>>

Content: The inscription records that the king (Nissanka Malla) was pleased to exact tribute from the Cola, Pandya and other countries. It also says that he had pillars of victory set up at Rameswara (India) and a temple (Devalaya) built bearing the name 'Nissankeswara'. On his return after the victories, a pavilion with this inscription was built for worshiping the relics of Buddha.
Reference: Wickremasinghe,1928

The slab is about 10 feet long and 5 feet 3 in. wide (Wickremasinghe, 1928). The letters are about 1-2 in. in size and represent the alphabet belonging to the latter half of the 12th century A.D. (Wickremasinghe, 1928).

References

1) Ray, H. C. (Editor in Chief), 1960. University of Ceylon: History of Ceylon (Vol 1, part II). Ceylon University Press. pp.593-594.

2) Wikramagamage, C., 2004. Heritage of Rajarata: Major natural, cultural and historic sites: Colombo. Central Bank of Sri Lanka. p. 215.
3) Wickremasinghe, D. M. D. Z., 1928. Epigraphia Zeylanica: Being lithic and other inscriptions of Ceylon (Vol, II). Published for the government of Ceylon by Humphrey Milford. pp.148-152.

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Rankoth Vehera

Not to be confused with Rankoth Viharaya, Pandura

Rankoth Vehera (also known as Rankoth Vihara, Ruwanweli Dagoba of Polonnaruwa) is a colossal Stupa located in the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka. Built by King Nissankamalla (1187-1196 A.D.), it is the tallest Stupa found in this ancient city (Wikramagamage, 2004).

History

According to the account given in Pujavaliya, this Stupa is one of the edifices constructed by King Nissankamalla. The great chronicle Mahawamsa also states that Nissankamalla built the Ratnavali-cetiya (Ruwanweli in Sinhala) to a great height and adorned it with a golden pinnacle. An inscription by Nissankamalla in front of this Stupa claims that he is the builder of it (Jayasuriya, 2016; Nicholas, 1963).

 

In the Sinhalese language, the name Rankoth Vehera means gold-pinnacled Stupa (Wikramagamage, 2004). The word Ran (pronounce as run) means gold and Kotha means pinnacle while Vehera means either Stupa or temple. It is considered that this is the last mega Stupa built by a Sri Lankan king (Ranaweera, 2004).

Stupa

The Rankoth Vehera Stupa and its monastery complex have been built between the Gopala Pabbatha (Southern boundary of Alahana Pirivena) and the Menik Vehera complex. The PabbaVihara-type monastery, which is located at the southern boundary of Rankoth Vehera Stupa was also a part of this 12th-century temple complex.

The Stupa is replete with four Ayakas (frontispieces), the stone terrace at the base, the square sand terrace, and the surrounding sand path. All these features follow the Anuradhapura Stupa type of the Ruwanveliseya. The construction method of the Stupa dome with a central solid brick cube is considered important. The upper part of the Stupa is supported by the solid brick cube and the space between the brick mantle dome and the solid brick cube is filled with brickbats and earth. The Stupas in Andra Pradesh in India are said to follow a similar device in dome construction but on a wheel design.

Presently, the Stupa has a base diameter of 56.7 m (dome diameter at the platform) and a height of 61 m [(height from the platform) Ranaweera, 2004]. The image houses those surrounding the Rankoth Vehera Stupa indicate the influence of the Mahasanghika sect (Wikramagamage, 2004).

Inscriptions

Rankoth Vehera Stupa is mentioned in the following inscriptions.

Sinhala Inscriptions

Rankoth-Dagoba pillar inscriptions (left)

Period: 12th-century A.D.
Reign: Nissankamalla (1187-1196 A.D.)
Script: Medieval Sinhala

Language: Medieval Sinhala

Transcript: ...Sri Vira Kalinga Lamkeshwara Aprati-Malla Nissmka Malla Parakrama-Bahu Cakravartti svamin - vahanse da venda vadara(na kuda)mayi 

Translation: This is the pavilion, from which his majesty is pleased to warship the relics (enshrined in the Ruwanweli Dagoba)

Reference: Wikramasinghe, 1928

• Gal-Potha inscription
  
  Reign: Nissankamalla 
  Transcript: <<...rajageta uturu-diga asu at Ruwanmeli dagob vahanse karava...>>
  Translation: <<..... Ruwanweli  Dagoba,  eighty  cubits  on  the  north side  of the royal residence...>>
  Reference: Wikramasinghe, 1928

• Rankoth-Dagoba Gal-Asana inscription
  
  Reign: Nissankamalla 
  Transcript: ...Ruvanweli  dagoba   karava  vadarana  kala  karmmanta  bala  vadara  vada hun mulu galin kala asanayayi
  Translation: The seat,  curved  out of a single stone, which occupied (by his majesty) whilst watching the construction of the Ruwanweli dagoba
  Reference: Wikramasinghe, 1928

Tamil Inscriptions

Rankot Vihara Velaikkaran inscription of Jayabahu I

A Tamil inscription was found in a ruined building located between the north gate of the city and the Rankoth Vihara (Veluppillai, 1971)  

Rankoth Vehera Velaikkaran Matevan Tamil Inscription

A Tamil pillar inscription was found on Rankoth Vihara temple premises during an archaeological survey conducted by the Cultural Triangle in 1981 (Pathmanathan, 2004). The inscription is engraved in 10 lines on each side of a square stone pillar (Pathmanathan, 2004). It contains no regnal year of any king but on paleographical considerations, the inscription is assigned to the early 13th century (Pathmanathan, 2004).

A protected monument

The Rankoth Vehera located in the Sri Nissankamallapura village in the Divisional Secretary’s Division, Thamankaduwa is an archaeological protected monument, declared by a government gazette notification published on 4 June 2004.

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References

1) Jayasuriya, E., 2016. A guide to the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka. Central Cultural Fund. ISBN: 978-955-613-312-7. p.80. 
2) Nicholas, C. W., 1963. Historical topography of ancient and medieval Ceylon. Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, New Series (Vol VI). Special Number: Colombo. Royal Asiatic Society (Ceylon Branch). p.178.
3) Pathmanathan, S., 2004. New Light on the Decline of Polonnaruwa (1196-1215): The Tamil Pillar Inscription From Rankot Vihara. Proceedings of the Peradeniya University Research Sessions. Sri Lanka. Vol.9. November 10. 2004. p.31.
4) Ranaweera, M.P., 2004. Ancient stupas in Sri Lanka–Largest brick structures in the world. CHS Newsletter, 70. London. Construction History Society.
5) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. No: 1344. 4 June 2004. p.15.
6) Veluppillai, A., 1971. Ceylon Tamil Inscriptions: Part 1. Published by the author. pp.24-26.
7) Wikramasinghe, D. M. D. Z., 1928. Epigraphia Zeylanica: Being lithic and other inscriptions of Ceylon Vol II: London. Published for the government of Ceylon by Humphrey Milford, pp. 98-123, 134-142.
8) Wikramagamage, C., 2004. Heritage of Rajarata: Major natural, cultural and historic sites: Colombo. Central Bank of Sri Lanka, p. 214.

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Palace of Parakramabahu I (Polonnaruwa)

The Palace of Parakramabahu I, also known as Vaijayantha Prasada or Vijayotpaya (Sinhala: මහාපරාක්‍රමබාහු මාළිගය, පොළොන්නරුව), is the royal palace built by King Parakramabahu the Great (1153-1186 A.D.) within the Citadel of the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka (Wickramagamage, 2004). 

History

Parakramabahu built the palace and named it Vaijayantha Prasada after the abode of the Vedic god Indra [(King of gods, Sakra) Nicholas, 1963; Seneviratna, 1998]. The adoption of this name indicates that there was a need to secure the concept that the king and god were equal. According to the description given in Culavamsa, this palace was a seven-storied edifice furnished with one thousand chambers (Nicholas, 1963; Seneviratna, 1998). Also, it was adorned with many hundreds of pillars painted in different colours.

Inscriptions

A short Sinhala inscription by an unknown king of Polonnaruwa has been found engraved on the landing slab above the upper flight of steps of the palace building (Ranawella, 2007). It refers to this building as Rajavesyahujanga-mandapaya (Ranawella, 2007).

The palace building

The basic ground plan shows similarity to that of the 12th-century palaces at Anuradhapura (Palace of Vijayabahu), Panduwasnuwara (Palace of Parakramabahu) and Galabedda [(Palace of Sugala) Prematileke, 1990; Ray, 1960]. All these palaces have a rectangular area enclosed by galleries with an entrance facing the east (Prematileke, 1990; Ray, 1960).

The Polonnaruwa palace mainly consists of two parts; the main court and the courtyard in front (Prematileke, 1990). The main court constitutes the central edifice with galleries and the front spacious courtyard with free-standing columns indicates that it may have been used as a sitting and reception room of the palace (Prematileke, 1990). The central edifice is 150 feet (45 m) in length and breadth (Ray, 1960; Wickramagamage, 2004).

At present, the remnants of three stories of supposed seven stories are identified. Inside the palace on the right is a stone stairway showing evidence of past access to the upper floors. On the ground floor, a hall, a lavatory, rooms and ruins of the flight of stairs are identified. Surrounding the centre palace building are minor buildings that may have been used as places for rituals, entertainment, and as rooms for the palace aids and storage.

The remaining brick walls of the palace show the crevices and sockets of the vertical timber columns and the beginning of the third floor, suggesting the upper floors could have been made out of timber (Gunaratne, 2000). The thickness of the walls varies from centre to outer. The centre walls are 160 cm thick and 9 m tall while the walls of the surrounding rooms are 80 cm thick (Wickramagamage, 2004). The old plaster on the walls of some parts of the palace is still in a good state of preservation. The remnants of melted bricks found on the palace ground testify that this palace may have been destroyed by fire.

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See also

#)  Ancient Royal Palaces in Sri Lanka

 

Attribution

1) "Ruins of a Royal Palace" by Hafiz Issadeen is licensed under CC BY 2.0

References

1) Gunaratne, R., 2000. Sri Lanka: Florence. Casa Editrice Bonechi. ISBN: 978-88-8029-239-5, p. 47.
2) Nicholas, C. W., 1963. Historical topography of ancient and medieval Ceylon. Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, New Series (Vol VI). Special Number: Colombo. Royal Asiatic Society (Ceylon Branch). pp.177-178.
3) Prematileke, L., 1990. The architecture of the Polonnaruwa period 800-1200 A.D.. Wijesekara, N. (Editor in chief). Archaeological Department centenary (1890-1990): Commemorative series: Volume III: Architecture. Department of Archaeology (Sri Lanka). p.41.
4) Ranawella, S., 2007. Inscription of Ceylon. Volume VI. Department of Archaeology. ISBN: 978-955-91-59-61-2. p.238.

5) Ray, H. C. (Editor in Chief), 1960. University of Ceylon: History of Ceylon (Vol 1, part II). Ceylon University Press. p.601.

6) Seneviratna, A, 1998. Polonnaruwa, medieval capital of Sri Lanka: An illustrated survey of ancient monuments: Archaeological Survey Dept, p. 116.
7) Wickramagamage, C., 2004. Heritage of Rajarata: Major Natural, Cultural and Historic sites: Colombo. Central Bank of Sri Lanka, p. 206.

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Panakaduwa Copper Plate Grant

Panakaduwa Copper Plate Grant, also known as Panakaduwa Thamba Sannasa (Sinhala: පනාකඩුව තඹ සන්නස), is a copper-plate charter discovered in the village of Panakaduwa in the Morawak Korale of Matara District, Sri Lanka. This artefact is considered significant as it is the earliest in date of the copper-plate charters so far discovered in the country (Fernando, 1975; Ranawella, 2007). The plates are presently on the display in the National Museum of  Colombo. 

Discovery

The plates were discovered in or about February 1948 by a farmer of Panakaduwa, Suravirage Carolis Appuhami, while digging in a crown land for some turf for his field at Bogahadeniya (Fernando, 1990; Ranawella, 2007). As the plates are not made of gold or any other valuable metal, Appuhami had put them aside in his house (Kadurugamuwa & Thilakaratne, 1985). But later when his family began to fall ill too often, Appuhami thought that it was due to some kind of misfortune of these plates (Fernando, 1990). He handed over them to a Buddhist monk, Molokgamuwe Saranapala Thera at Chetiyakandararama temple in Bengamuwa (Kadurugamuwa & Thilakaratne, 1985). The plates were then come to the notice of Pandit Kamburupitiye Vanaratana Thera of Siri Ratanajoti Pirivena at Urapola who was at the time engaged in compiling a work on the history and antiquities of the Matara District (Kadurugamuwa & Thilakaratne, 1985). He informed about the plates to an archaeological department officer named Sarath Wattala and about one year later the plates reached the hands of Senarath Paranavitana, the epigraphist who edited and published it for the first time in the Epigraphia Zeylanica Vol. V. published in 1955 (Fernando, 1990; Paranavitana, 1955; Ranawella, 2007).

Considering the value of this artefact and in view of the special circumstances of the case, the Government decided to give a reward of Rs. 500.00 to Carolis Appuhami and this reward was handed over to him by the then Prime Minister on 27 March 1950 at Kamburupitiya in the presence of a large gathering (Kadurugamuwa & Thilakaratne, 1985). 

Panakaduwa

Panakaduwa village is located between two ranges of mountains, one of which is Ranmalakanda, referred to in the Culavamsa as the site of the armed camp set up by Vijayabahu when he was fifteen years of age (Kadurugamuwa & Thilakaratne, 1985). At the time, he was under the protection of a chieftain named Buddha-raja (Kadurugamuwa & Thilakaratne, 1985).

The copper plates

The charter is inscribed on three copper plates measuring 1 ft. 2.5 inches in length and 3 inches in width (Kadurugamuwa & Thilakaratne, 1985; Ranawella, 2007). Each of the plates is provided with two holes on a line like the holes on leaves of Ola books; therefore, a string can be passed through the plates to bind them together. The first and third plates are inscribed on the inner sides, while the second has writing on both sides (Ranawella, 2007). There are seven lines of writing on each side.

Content

The inscription records a special grant pronounced by King Vijayabahu I (1055-1110 A.D.) in council from the Palace at the Anuradhapura in his 27th regnal year [(1082-1083) Fernando, 1975; Kadurugamuwa & Thilakaratne, 1985; Nicholas, 1963; Ranawella, 2007]. The grant had been made to the chieftain Ruhunu Dandanayaka Sitnaru-bim Budalnavan (Lord Budal of Sitnaru-bim, Dandanayaka of Ruhuna) for the protection afforded to the king, his father and the other members of the royal family when they were in hiding during the Cola invasion (Nicholas, 1963; Paranavitana, 1955; Prematilaka & Hewage, 2018). The document quotes the very words of the king, in which he makes reference to his early days of adversity and privations, in a few brief through expressive phrases of great human interest, touching their directness and sincerity (Kadurugamuwa & Thilakaratne, 1985).

The scholar C.E. Godakumbura suspected this document to be a forgery by the sons or grandsons of Budalnavan and assigned it to a date after Vijayabau I (Ranawella, 2007).

Panakaduwa Copper Plate Grant 
Period: 11th century A.D.
Reign: Vijayabahu I (1055-1110 A.D.)
Language: Medieval Sinhala
Script: Medieval Sinhala
Number of plates: 3 copper plates
Length & width: 38 cm & 7 cm
Discovered: 1948, From a paddy field in Panakaduwa village
Discovered by: A farmer named S. Carolis Appuhami

This is the only ancient document in which a Sri Lankan king gives biographical details, concerning himself and, referring as it does to the tribulation of a great man in his days of adversity (Kadurugamuwa & Thilakaratne, 1985; Ranawella, 2007). Also, this charter disapproves King Nissankamalla's (1187-1196 A.D) claim that he introduced to Sri Lanka the practice of issuing grants inscribe on copper (Ranawella, 2007).

See also

#) Allai Copper Plate Grant

References

1) Fernando, M., 1990. [Wijesekara, N. (Editor in chief)] Archaeological Department Centenary (1890-1990): Commemorative Series (Vol. I). History of the Department of Archaeology: Commissioner of Archaeology, pp.87-88.

2) Fernando, P.E., 1975. A Note on the Panakaduva Copper-Plate Charter of Vijayabahu I. The Sri Lanka Journal of the Humanities (Vol. 1) no. 1. pp.57-60.

3) Kadurugamuwa, L.; Thilakaratne, K.A., 1985. Panakaduwe Thamba Sannasa. pp.30-42.

4) Nicholas, C. W., 1963. Historical topography of ancient and medieval Ceylon. Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, New Series (Vol VI). Special Number: Colombo. Royal Asiatic Society (Ceylon Branch). p.72.

5) Paranavitana, S., 1955. Epigraphia Zeylanica: being lithic and other inscription of Ceylon (Vol. 5, Part I). Government Press, Ceylon, for the Archaeological Department. pp.1-34.

6) Prematilaka, L., Hewage, R., 2018. A guide to the National Museum, Colombo: Department of National Museum. ISBN: 978-955-578-035-3. p.23.

7) Ranawella, S., 2007. Inscription of Ceylon. Volume VI. Department of Archaeology. ISBN: 978-955-91-59-61-2. pp.1-5.

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A short note for local school students

පනාකඩුව තඹ සන්නස

ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ මාතර දිස්ත්‍රික්කයෙහි පිහිටි පනාකඩුව නම් ග්‍රාමයෙන් හමුවූ තඹ තහඩු කිහිපයක සළකුණු කොට ඇති ලිපිය වර්තමානයේදී පනාකඩුව තඹ සන්නස යනුවෙන් ප්‍රසිද්ධවී ඇත. සන්නස තඹ තහඩු ත්‍රිත්වයක ලියවා තිබෙයි. ශ්‍රී ලාංකික රජෙකු විසින් නිකුත් කර තිබෙන මෙරට පැරණිම සන්නස වීම හේතුවෙන් මෙය ඉතා වැදගත් පුරාවස්තුවක් සේ සැළකෙයි. වර්තමානයේදී මෙම තඹපත් කොළඹ ජාතික කෞතුකාගාරයෙහි ප්‍රදර්ශනයට තබා ඇත.

සොයාගැනීම

1948 වර්ෂයේදී මෙම තඹපත් පනාකඩුවෙහි ගොවියෙකු වූ එස්. කරෝලිස් අප්පුහාමි විසින් රජයේ ඉඩමක පිඩලි කපන අවස්ථාවකදී සොයාගනු ලැබ තිබුණි. රන් නොවූ මෙම තඹ තහඩු අප්පුහාමි විසින් සිය නිවසේ පසෙකට දමා තිබුනත් පසුව ඒවා හඳුනන භික්ෂූන් වහන්සේ නමකට ලබා දී තිබුනේ පසුකාලීනව ඔහු නිතරම අසනීප වීමට පටන් ගැනීමත් ඊට හේතුව මෙම තඹපත්‍රයන්හී ගැබ්වූ කිසියම් අවාසනාවක් නිසා යැයි ඔහු විශ්වාස කිරීමත් හේතුවෙනි. ඉන් වසරකට පමණ පසුව මෙම තඹපත් පරණවිතාන මහතාගේ අතට පත්විය.

අන්තර්ගතය

1වන විජයබාහු රජු (ක්‍රි.ව. 1055-1110) විසින් අනුරාධපුරයේ සිට සිදුකරන ලද විශේෂ ප්‍රධානයක තොරතුරු මෙහි අන්තර්ගතය. චෝල ආක්‍රමණය එල්ලව තිබූ සමයේ තමාට, තමාගේ පියාට සහ පවුලේ සාමාජිකයින්ට රැකවරණය සැළසීම හේතුවෙන් රජු විසින් මෙම ප්‍රධානය රුහුණේ ප්‍රධානියෙකු වූ බුදල් සින්නරුබිමි දණ්ඩනායක වෙත සිදුකර තිබේ.

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Unawatuna Raja Maha Viharaya, Buttala

Unāwatuna Raja Maha Viharaya is a Buddhist temple in Monaragala District, Sri Lanka. The temple is situated in Unãwatuna village belonging to the Buttala Divisional Secretary's Division.

Etymology

The name Unāwatuna is said to be evolved from Unāvæṭuna. In the Sinhala language, the word Una (උනා) means loosed while væṭuna (වැටුන) means fallen. This etymology is explained through a few folks-stories among the locals. According to one story, there was a period that king Dutugemunu (161-137 B.C.) had a battle with his brother, prince Saddha Tissa. When king Dutugemunu was on his way to Yudaganawa to battle with Saddha Tissa, a casket he was bringing to the field was loosed and fallen to the ground where it is thought to be the present temple premises. According to the folklore, the king didn't take the casket back but made a small Stupa covering it.

A protected site

The ancient Dagoba, places with ruins of buildings and ancient wall at the premises of Unawatuna Raja Maha Vihara belonging to Unawatuna village in the Divisional Secretary’s Division of Buttala are protected archaeological monuments declared by a Gazette notification, published on 9 March 2016.

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References

1) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka: Extraordinary, no: 1957/18. 9 March 2016. p.3A.

Location Map

This page was last updated on 5 March 2022
For a complete tourist map follow this link: Lankapradeepa Tourist Map

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Dunhinda Falls

Dunhinda Falls is a waterfall located in Badulla District, Sri Lanka. The fall is formed by Badulu Oya, a tributary of Mahaweli Ganga river. Located on Badulla-Mahiyangana road about 5 km distance from the Badulla town, the fall can be reached by walking further along a footpath stretching 1.25 km. The fall plunges from a height of 210 feet (64 m) into a large circular pool, generating considerable smoky dew drops spray. In the Sinhalese language, the name Dunhinda means-the fall of spray or vapour fall. The word Dun (දුන්) means that gave or was given while Hinda (හිඳ) means evaporate.

Several myths and legends are found among the locals associated with the fall. According to one legend, a beautiful fish wearing a golden earring swims over the buried treasure of Kumarasinghe, the prince of Uva, in the pool of the waterfall and comes to the surface once a year. The treasure is guarded by men armed with golden swards and the people who swim in the pool must beware of the guards, as they are looking for a human sacrifice every year.

Another story associated with the fall tells of a princess related to the royal blood of the Gampola King (14th century) who eloped from the wrath of her father with her commoner lover. However, the couple was finally tracked down to Kosgalla, a village near the falls. Determined not to be separated from each other, the couple fled from the village to the highest ledge of the falls and hurled themselves down into the abyss below. On the same night, a fierce storm is said to have struck the surrounding area.

References

1) Kautzsch, E., 1983. A guide to waterfalls of Sri Lanka: Tisara Prakasakayo. pp.40-41.

2) Briggs, P., 2018. Bradt Travel Guide. Sri Lanka Bradt Travel Guides, p. 454.

3) Wanasundera, N. P., 2002. Sri Lanka. Cultures of the world:  Marshall Cavendish, p. 9.

4) Ceylon Today, Volume 6, 1957: Sri Lanka Pravrutti Departamenthuva, pp. 2-3.

Location Map

This page was last updated on 14 February 2022
For a complete tourist map follow this link: Lankapradeepa Tourist Map

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Uththara Jayamaha Viharaya

Uththara Jayamaha Viharaya (Sinhala: උත්තර ජයමහා විහාරය) is a Buddhist temple in Ampara District Sri Lanka. It is situated in Hingurana town approximately 500 meters away from the Hingurana Sugar Factory.

History

The history of Uththara Jayamaha Viharaya runs back to the early Anuradhapura Period. Several ancient structures and monuments belonging to that period have been discovered at the site.

Inscriptions
An early-Brahmi inscription belonging to the 2nd century B.C. has been recorded from the site (Medhananda, 1984). It was copied by the Archaeological Department on 6 March 1971 (Dias, 1991).

The cave inscription of Uttara Jayama Viharaya

Period: 2nd century B.C.
Script: Early Brahmi
Language: Old Sinhalese
Transcript: Mahamata-Utara-jhita-Racitaya lene

Translation: The cave of Racita, the daughter of the great minister Uttara

Notes: If the stroke after the word jhita is considered a punctuation mark, the name of the cave donor should be Cita (Citra).

Citation: Dias, 1991

 

A protected site

The caves with drip ledges and inscriptions belonging to the premises of Uththara Jayamaha Vihara situated in Hingurana village in Grama Niladhari Division No. W/27/F, Karalewa in the Divisional Secretary’s Division, Damana are archaeological protected monuments, declared by a government gazette notification, published on 26 December 2014.

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References

1) Dias, M., 1991. Epigraphical notes (Nos 1 -18). Colombo: Department of Archaeology. p.4.
2) Medhananda, E. 1984. Aprakata Brahmi Sellipi Ha Puravastu (In Sinhala). Sri Lanka Society of Archaeology. p.22.

3) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, No: 1895, 26 December 2014, p.1148.

Location Map

This page was last updated on 14 January 2023

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Baker's Falls

Baker's Falls is a waterfall located in Horton Plains National Park in Nuwara Eliya District, Sri lanka. The fall is 20.31 m tall and formed by Belihul Oya, a tributary of Walawa Ganga (Abeywardana, 2004). Rated as one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the country, the fall is popular among the visitors for the diverse but attractive views it offers the viewers from different sides and angles (Rathnayake, 2015).

References

1) Abeywardana, H.A.P., 2004. Heritage of Kandurata: Major natural, cultural and historic sites. Colombo: The Central Bank of Sri Lanka. p.243.
2) Rathnayake, R.M.W., 2015. How does ‘crowding’ affect visitor satisfaction at the Horton Plains National Park in Sri Lanka?. Tourism Management Perspectives, 16, pp.129-138.

Location Map

This page was last updated on 2 November 2020
For a complete tourist map follow this link: Lankapradeepa Tourist Map

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Warakagoda Gallen Raja Maha Viharaya

Warakagoda Gallen Raja Maha Viharaya (also known as Gallena Purana Raja Maha Viharaya) is a historic cave temple situated in Warakagoda village in Kalutara District, Sri Lanka.

History

Local chronicles connect the history of this temple with the details about the fortress of Pasyodun Rata. It is believed that this temple was erected by the three brothers Manabharana, Keerthi Sri Megha, and Sri Wallabha when they were occupying the fortress at Pasyodun Rata. The Pancayojana-Rattha or Pasyodun-vaga (present Pasdun Korale) was a part of Rohana principality before the Parakramabahu’s (1153-1186 A.D.) rule ship of Dakkhinadesa in the 12th century.

The Galapatha Inscription of King Parakramabahu II (1236-1270 A.D.) had helped in the identification of this temple in which it is referred to as “Pasyodun Maha Vihara” (Abeyawardana, 2002). The 18 cubit reclining Buddha image which is accommodated in the main cave is attributed to Manabharana (Abeyawardana, 2002). The image was originally made of clay and later (in 1800 A.D.) had been repaired using a lime mortar (Abeyawardana, 2002).

Cave temple

The cave temple is divided into two parts; the inner shrine and the outer shrine. The inner shrine is the older of the two (De Silva & Chandrasekara, 2009). The rock-cut drip-ledges on the brow of the cave prevent the rainwater from dripping inside the cave. The walls of the cave have been plastered with a layer of clay. The murals of the present cave temple have been done in 1946 by the Karannagoda Samagiwardana Society (Abeyawardana, 2002).

A protected site

The ancient cave and the Devalaya chamber in the temple premises and the drip-ledged cave situated in the land adjoins Warakagoda Gallena Purana Rajamaha Vihara belonging to Warakagoda situated in Grama Niladhari Division, No. 816B, Warakagoda North in the Divisional Secretary’s Division of Madurawala are archaeological protected monuments, declared by the government Gazette notifications published on 22 November 2002 and 9 March 2016.

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References

1) Abeyawardana, H.A.P., 2002. Heritage of Sabaragamuwa: Major natural, cultural and historic sites. Colombo: The Central Bank of Sri Lanka. p.112.

2) De Silva, N.; Chandrasekara, D.P., 2009. Heritage Buildings of Sri Lanka. Colombo: The National Trust Sri Lanka. ISBN: 978-955-0093-01-4. p.77.

3) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, no: 1264, 22 November 2002.

4) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka: Extraordinary. No: 1957/18. 9 March 2016. p.5A.

Location Map

This page was last updated on 28 June 2022
For a complete tourist map follow this link: Lankapradeepa Tourist Map

A short note for local school students

වරකාගොඩ ගල්ලෙන් රජමහා විහාරය

වරකගොඩ ගල්ලෙන් රජමහා විහාරය ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ කළුතර දිස්ත්‍රික්කයේ වරකගොඩ පිහිටි බෞද්ධ සිද්ධස්ථානයකි. 

ඉතිහාසය

දේශීය වංශකතා මූලාශ්‍ර විසින් මෙම විහාරයෙහි ඉතිහාසය පස්යොදුන් රට පැරණි බලකොටුව සමග සම්බන්ධ කෙරේ. මානාබරණ, කීර්ති ශ්‍රී මේඝ, හා ශ්‍රී වල්ලභ යන තුන්බෑ සොහොයුරන් පස්යොදුන් රට බලකොටුවෙහි කඳවුරු බැඳ සිටින සමයෙහි මෙම විහාරය ඉදිකරන්නට ඇතැයි සැළකේ. 12වන සියවසේ පරාක්‍රමබාහු විසින් දක්ඛිණ දේශය පාලනයට පෙර පස්යොදුන් රට යනු රෝහණ රාජ්‍යයට අයත් කොටසක් විය.

2වන පරාක්‍රමබාහු රජුගේ ගලපාත සෙල්ලිපිය මෙම විහාරය හඳුනාගැනීම පිණිස ප්‍රයෝජනවත් වූ අතර එහි මෙම විහාරය “පස්යොදුන් මහා විහාරය” ලෙස දක්වා ඇත. ප්‍රධාන ලෙනෙහි වූ රියන් 18 සැතපෙන බුද්ධ ප්‍රතිමාව මානාබරණ විසින් ඉදිකරන්නට ඇතැයි සැළකේ. මුල්සමයේ මැටියෙන් ඉදිකොට තිබූ ප්‍රතිමාව ක්‍රි.ව. 1800න් පසු එහි ආරක්ෂාව උදෙසා නැවත හුණු පිරියමින් පිළිසකර කොට තිබේ.

ලෙන් විහාරය

වරකගොඩ පන්සලේ ලෙන් විහාරය ඇතුල් කොටස හා පිට කොටස යනුවෙන් කොටස් දෙකකින් සමන්විත වේ. මින් ඇතුල් කොටස ලෙන් විහාරයේ පැරණිතම කොටස වශයෙන් සැළකෙයි. ලෙන තුලට ජලය ගලා ඒම වළක්වා ගැනීම පිණිස ලෙනෙහි පියස්සේ ගලෙහි කපන ලද කටාරම් වේ. ඇතුලත ලෙන් බිත්ති මැටි බදාමයෙන් ආවරණය කර ඇති අතර ලෙන් විහාරයෙහි දැකගත හැකි වත්මන් බිතුසිතුවම් කරන්නාගොඩ සමගිවර්ධන සමිතිය විසින් 1946 වර්ෂයේදී නිමවා තිබේ.

පුරාවිද්‍යා ස්මාරක ස්ථානය

මදුරාවෙල ප්‍රාදේශීය ලේකම් කොට්ඨාශයේ අංක 816B වරකාගොඩ උතුර ග්‍රාම නිළදාරී වසමට අයත් වරකගොඩ ගල්ලෙන පුරාණ විහාර පරිශ්‍රයෙහි වූ පැරණි ලෙන හා දේවාලයද, විහාර පරිශ්‍රයට යාබද ඉඩමෙහි වූ කටාරම් කෙටූ ලෙන 2002 නොවැම්බර් 22වන දින හා 2016 මාර්තු 9වන දින ප්‍රකාශයට පත් රජයේ ගැසට් නිවේදන මගින් ආරක්ෂිත පුරාවිද්‍යා ස්මාරක ලෙස නම් කොට ඇත.

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