Lesser known historical places around Mahiyangana – Bibile

Places of Interest

Murungagala Ruin site

Rambaken wehera

Senasumgala Hermitage

Pattini amman kovil Amunakandura

Kotabowa kuda kataragama devalaya

Kalu haddamulla Temple

Gala oya

Bibilamulla temple

Thibbatuwawe temple

Kanulwela maligatenna

Galpoththewa galge

Map 1 – Click to enlarge

Map 2 – Click to enlarge

This was a journey I did more than a year ago and my focus was on some places close to Mahiyangana and Bibile – Medagama. On an overcast day I took a bus towards Padiyathalawa from Bibile and again took a bus towards Mahiyanganaya. Just before Wewatta temple there was a road to the left with Uva province tourism notice board directing towards Murungagala Archaeology site. A trishaw chap on top of that road took me to this place where a small Archaeology office could be found. This site had plenty of ruins and all the ruins suggested that this was once a monastery.

only 2km’s from Wewaththa

Murunga gala

the path

steps

a rock wall

huge rock slabs

scattered ruins

the cave

drip ledged

inside the cave

moon stone

evidence of a wall

vandalized

Mawaragala

Cokagala

Ulhitiya

a fork

wehera ibba

From here I took a bus towards Mahiyanganaya and got off at 50^th mile post where a sign board towards Rambaken vehera and Nagadeepa could be found. Traveling 7Km’s along Nagadeepa road will take one towards Kehelpola Rambaken vehera. The head priest was kind enough to show me around and even lend me a book on this temple. The ancient sthupa and the inscription pillar are the main attraction at this site.

Next was Senasum gala hermitage a must visit place. It was 2Km’s from Rambaken wehera and you could get directions easily from locals. When I arrived at the site it was raining and had to wait till the rain seized, the head monk was very talkative and he told me a lot about this place. The hermitage is located on and around a rocky mountain. The main drip ledge cave with the image house and two drinking water ponds on either side is very fascinating. There are some partitioned rooms with upstairs too in this long cave. The image house has some paintings belonging to kandyan era and a long budhdha statue. One could climb up to the summit and have a wonderful view but the bad weather didn’t allow me to do so ( You tube video ). Naghadeepa is also close by but I didn’t visit the place because I have been there before (check this report on Naghadeepa )

board at 50th mile post

Rambaken wehera

inscription

image house in ruins

ruins at Rambaken wehe

Sanasumgala hermitage cave temple

steps

pagoda

inside the cave

the statue

holy water at a pond in the cave

kokagala as seen from senasumgala

rooms inside the cave

some light

upstairs

the other pond

cave view

what a scenery

Nagadeepa lake

a wet day

greenery

Day two was all about unknown and unheard places along Monaragala – Bibile road. Here is a report on few other places I visited around Medagama & Bibile. On my way to Medagama just before Amunekadura School I came across Pattini amman kovil on the right side of the road where an inscription pillar which was painted could be found. Next destination was ancient Kotabowa kuda kataragama devalaya. After Kataragama devalaya this is the other main kataragama devalaya where one could appreciate a festival season just as Kataragama. The nearby Dahamal oya is the river used for “diya kepeema”. One could still appreciate few pillars and the old devalaya at the premises. To reach this place one could take the Medagama – Kotabowa road or Dahangama – Kotabowa road from Bibile – Monaragala highway. From Kotabowa I proceeded towards Bendiyawa and visited Kaluhaddamulla temple which was lying close to Gala oya where we later had a bath. There is an ancient sthupa and few scattered pillars found in the premises.

inscription pillar at paththini amma devalaya amunekadura

the circle of cattle

dahamal oya at kotabowa

Kotabowa kuda katharagama devalaya

note few pillars

taken during festival season

gini pegeema

Galgediyawa ancient sthupa badiyawa

siri patula

an altar at kaluhaddamulla

gala oya

a dip in the river

From Bendiyawa I returned to the main road and took the Bibilamulla road from Nannapurawa. Bibilamulla temple which is now a modified temple has only few pillars from ancient era. This temple is believed to be done by king Keerthi sri Rajasinge. Passing this temple I reached Kohukumbura junction where I proceeded towards Ellekona side. Thibbatuwawa Rja maha viharaya was found by the side of Ellekona road but other than few pillars nothings interesting was found. From here I returned back to the main road and headed towards Bibile Kanulwela junction where an archaeology board directing towards Maligatenna could be found. Walking few hundred meters I reached a forest patch with plenty of Madu trees but no ruins. I been disappointed named it Kanulwela Madugastenna :-P. from here I returned back to the junction and took a road on the opposite side to reach gala oya where a rock cave could be found close to the river. This was ancient Galpoththawa cave which is now used by a psychopath for his fantasies. After washing myself I decided to head back towards Monaragala to end this mini Archaeology hunt.

Bibilemulla temple

note few pillars at bibilamulla temple

few monoliths found at thibbatuwawa temple

a kutiya at thibbatuwawa temple allekona

The misleadin board, this should be named as Kanulwela Madu gas reserve

these are the only interesting things i came across in an archaeology reserve

Galpoththewa gal geya bordering gal oya

note the four holes

Thanks for reading!