Hulannuge Tharulengala Rajamaha Viharaya at Lahugala (හුලංනුගේ තරුලෙන්ගල රජමහා විහාරය)

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Hulannuge Tharulengala Raja Maha Viharaya (Tharulengala Forest Hermitage) is located on a 633 feet high rocky hill called Karadahela in Lahugala Divisional secretariat in Ampara District is a fine example of the grandeur of the ancient Digamdulla heritage. Built by King Kanvantissa before the 2nd centenary BC it has been developed constantly throughout ancient Eastern history.

This temple has been known as the Karadahela Viharaya (the name of the rocky hills) and as Habutagala Viharaya in the ancient past. An inscription on the site states that the Habutagala Vihare was founded by Kakavana Tissa Maharaja (Kakavana Tissa or Kavan Tissa was the ruler of the Rohana kingdom in the 2nd quarter of the 2nd Century BC). The name Habutagala may be synonymous with Hambugallaka Vihara of the Mahavamsa, the place where the thera Tissa persuaded the offended Ministers of Vattagamani Abhaya to become, reconciled with their king (Nicholas, 1963).

Currently functioning as a forest hermitage, today this temple covers over 20 acres of thick jungle scattered with stone ruins long since buried with time.  Unfortunately, no proper excavations have been carried out on this site by the Archaeology Department.

Today, the area is administrated by the Chief Prelate of the Kudumbigala forest monastery. Kudumbigala is about 40 km west of the Kumana forest sanctuary in the Yala East National Park, dates back to the Third Century and was a reputed Buddhist monastery in the East.

Hulan Nuge Tharulengala Raja Maha Viharaya ( Tharulengala Forest Hermitage) has two unique attractions. The temple houses a 41-foot reclining Buddha Statue made out of bricks and clay which is considered the 2nd oldest reclining Buddha statue in the country. This statue lies in a drip ledge cave which is 175 feet long, 41 feet deep and 31 feet high which serves as the main image house at the entrance of the temple. Unfortunately, this statue has not escaped the treasure hunters and has been badly damaged by them.

Once the plastered and mural-adorned inner walls and ceilings of this cave had given away to the perils of time revealing earlier drawings of the Vedda community, who had called the caves their home prior to the construction of the monastery. The drawings include scenes of hunting, war and animal flocks, suggesting a pre-historic lifestyle that was long lost. The entrance to the cave is adorned with a simple rock-carved stairway and a moonstone that lies in ruins today.

Climbing to the top of the summit there are two fairly newly built stupas, a Buddha statue and a natural pond. One stupa looks like the Sanchi Stupa in India, although much smaller.

To reach the second unique feature of this site, you need to go past the stupas into the jungle and walk about 1/2 a kilometre on a footpath. Here you will find what is considered to be the longest drip ledge cave in Asia. This 512-foot (156.06 meters) long drip ledged cave is 30 feet (9.144 meters) wide and 82 feet (25 meters) high at the highest point with eight levels in its interior. The signs of brick layered interiors and polished and cemented inner walls still remain within the cave indicating that the cave was utilized as worship or a gathering hall for the monks of the monastery.

Nearby this mammoth cave is another cave of 200 feet in length, drip ledged and constructed with the same interior finish, believed to have been used as a community quarter than an individual abode.

Hulannuge lies on the border of the Ampara and Moneragala districts. The village got its name from a huge nuga tree on a rocky hillock which used to create a screeching noise on windy days – thus the name ‘hulan’ (wind) ‘nuge’ (nuga tree). Hulannuge is a farming colony established in early 1943 with its main road constructed in 1936. Until the destruction of the Tamil LTTE terrorists, this was one of the bordering Sinhalese villages which faced the brunt of the terror of the LTTE and faced numerous attacks on the village.

Photos : curtsy of Dr. Ashan Geeganage

References

  • C. W. Nicholas, 1963. Historical Topography of Ancient and Medieval CeylonThe Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, New Series – VI (Special number).

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Map of Lahugala Hulannuge Tharulengala Rajamaha Viharaya

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Travel Directions to Lahugala Hulannuge Tharulengala Rajamaha Viharaya

Route from Colombo to Lahugala Hulannuge Tharulengala Rajamaha Viharaya Route from Siyambalanduwa Junction to Lahugala Hulannuge Tharulengala Rajamaha Viharaya
Through : Ratnapura – Balangoda – Wellawaya – Monaragala – Siyambalanduwa
Distance : 294 km
Travel time : 7 hours
Driving directions : see on google map
Through :
Distance : 14 km
Travel time : 20 minutes
Driving directions : see on google map

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