Uduwila Diya Bibula (Sinhala: උඩුවිල දිය බිබුල) is a natural spring situated in Uduwila village situated north of Bambarenda in Matara District, Sri Lanka. Located in the middle of a paddy field, it is one of the few freshwater springs found in the area. Presently, the site has become a popular bathing spot among travellers.
Water springs
A spring represents the organic movement of groundwater from beneath the soil or rock surfaces, arising when the water table intersects the ground level (Arumugam & Ranatunga, 1974). Additionally, cracks in rock layers facilitate the emergence of water, contributing to the formation of springs (Arumugam & Ranatunga, 1974). The volume of water discharged by springs is influenced by the fluctuations in the groundwater table and if the water table drops below ground level, the spring may diminish, dwindle down or dry up (Arumugam & Ranatunga, 1974).
Springs in Sri Lanka are classified as natural, thermal or mineral according to the chemical composition of their water (Arumugam & Ranatunga, 1974). Natural water springs form the sources of streams and rivers. The spring at Uduwila village is considered a natural water spring.
Uduwila Spring
The Uduwila Spring is located about 350 m north of ancient Bambarenda Galkanda Viharaya. The name Bambarenda is mentioned as Brahmacola (or Bambaredda) in the Gramadarika Vatta story of the ancient Pali text Rasavahini and it records a story related to a pious girl and a spring of water that emerged from the ground (Vanarathana, 1994). The Uduwila Bibula water spring which is located near the present Galkanda Viharaya probably has a link with this story.
See Also
References
1) Arumugam, S. and Ranatunga, P. U., 1974. Springs of Sri Lanka. Survey of the island's water resources, Vol. I. Water Resources Board. Colombo. p.1.
2) Vanarathana, K., 1994. Matara Puravidyathmaka Ithihasaya (In Sinhala). ISBN: 955-9325-00-0. pp.158-159.
Attribution
#) LankaPradeepa.com extends its gratitude to Lalith Kekulthotuwage for providing the necessary photographs required for this article. All the photos are published here with the permission of the author.
