Heritage

Ruins at Kimbulagala Rock in Vavuniya (කිඹුලාගල බෞද්ධ නටබුණ්)

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Passing the vibrant town of Vavuniya, proceeded along the Vavuniya-Horowpathana road. Turning to the Mamaduwa road Passing Mahakachchakodiya and Eropothana, travel on this road for 9.8 km to reach the ancient monastery on the rock called Kimbulagala or Crocodile Rock.

The Kimbulagala Rock is encircled by Kebithigollewa, Anuradhapura, Vavuniya and Mullaitivu districts on all four sides and the magnificent Eropothana Tank and the Mamaduwa Tank is also visible as shimmering water bodies in the distance. The Eropothana Rock formation – another significant archaeological sight closely related to the history of Kimbulagala Rock stands majestically, rising from the forest close by.

Surveying the top see the reason why the rock is named ‘Kimbulagala’ or the crocodile rock – the three largest rocks on top resembled a gaping crocodile, each rock reminiscent of the head, body and tail.

Kimbulagala Rock formations contain several caves at the bottom as well as at the top with drip ledges (kataram). These ledges are cut into the rock at the entrance of the cave to stop rainwater falling off the rock surface from seeping into the cave. Most of the caves have inscriptions below the dripledge. These inscriptions are written in Early Brahmi script. The early Brahmi scripts were used in the period between the 3rd century BCE and the 1st century CE.

The surface of the rock has been flattened and shaped in several places inside these caves as well as outside for the use of the meditating bhikkhus. Small drains have been cut into the rock at some of these rock seats to drain the water out. There are a number of natural rock ponds on the rock surface which has been used by the meditating monks.

References

Jayawardhana, S. (2019) in වව්නියාවේ පුරාවිද්‍යා උරුමය . 2nd edn. Kegalle: Self Publshed, pp. 32–33.

Also See

නන්දිමිත්‍ර යෝධයාගේ ගමට ගියෙමු

Map of Ruins at Kimbulagala Rock

Please click on the button below to load the Dynamic Google Map (ගූගල් සිතියම් පහලින්)

Show Location (ගූගල් සිතියම)

The map above also shows other places of interest within a approximately 20 km radius of the current site. Click on any of the markers and the info box to take you to information of these sites

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Travel Directions to Ruins at Kimbulagala Rock

Route from Anuradhapura up to Ruins at Kimbulagala Rock

Distance : 69 km
Travel time : 1.30 hour + hike
Driving directions : see on google map

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References

Also See

Map of Ruins at Kimbulagala Rock

Travel Directions to Ruins at Kimbulagala Rock

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