Yudaganawa
Yudaganawa Temple is located close to Buttala on the Wellawaya– Buttala Road. This is one of the largest Stupas in the country and dates back to 2 nd century BC. This is thought to be place price Tissa and his brother price Gamini (Later The great king Dutugemunu) had a major battle after the death of his father King Kavanthissa (2 nd century BC)
The Rajavaliya descries this battle
".... Prince Gemunu coming to know that his father has died, left Kothmale and arriving at the city of Magama, sent word to prince Tissa requesting him to dispatch the mother and the tusker, who was born on the same day. But prince Tissa did not heed that request. Letters were sent 3 times and when there was no response prince Gemunu setout to fight, taking with him his men. The two brothers met each others at Yudaganapitiya. Thirty thousand soldiers of prince Gemunu fell in the battlefield and and taking defeat he started to flee. When Prince Tissa was chasing after his brother, the maha sanga came and blocked his way, and noticed that prince Tissa returned to Digamadulla. ..........."
The stupa standing like a massive wall in front of you |
This colossal stupa with a circumference of 317 meters (1038 feet) was
initially thought to be a Kota Vehera. A large stupa built half way and a smaller
stupa built on top of that. There are 4 such stupas around the country with
minor differences.
-
Dadigama Kota Vehera
-
Dealiwala Kota Vehera at Rambukkana
-
Damila Maha Seya at Polonnaruwa
- Lahugala Kota Vehera
But according to the Dr. W.H. Wijepala, Director-General of Archaeology,
the recent excavations have proved that this was a not a Kota Vehera but a complete
stupa at one time. This stupa is also known as "Kinkini
Stupa" among
the locals.
After thousands of years of negligence, stupa is now under restoration. You can still see massive trees on the upper platform of the stupa which has not been uprooted yet. Also waking around the stupa you can see the platform of the stupa has been cleared after excavating about 3 feet.
Just before the Yudaganawa car park you will pass a small stupa on the road side. This is identified as the "Chulangani Viharaya" belonging to the 12th century. But the Buddha statues inside the image house (see photos) have been dated to the 6-7th centuries.
How to reach
You can reach the site from either Wellawaya or from Kataragama depending on which route you take.
Trees grown inside the stupa
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You can reach Wellawaya in through many roads. If you are coming
from Badulla or Bandarawela you must tale the Ella Road
which lies between Badulla-Bandarawela Road. On the way you will also
pass the beautiful Ravana Ella (Ravana Waterfall) too on
the way. There is a another road from Koslanda. Taking this road will
take you through the 220 metre high waterfall "Diyaluma". Koslanda lies
between the Balangoda – Haputhale Road. The distance from Wellawaya
to the turn off to Yudhaganawa is approx. 16km.
If you are coming from Kataragama, use the Buttala Road
and from Buttala town turn to Wellawaya Road.
Travel approx 1.2 km from the Butala junction on the Wellawaya Road. There
is a large board at the turn off to the temple. Turn right to this by road and
travel another 2 km to the temple. This by lane is a tar road and you have
to walk about 100 meters from to new temple to the this archeological site.
On this route, you will be also passing places such as
Maligavila Statues and Dematamal
Viharaya.
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Created : 21 July 2004
Updated :
December 19, 2009
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