(1 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)
Loading...
The village of Yatimadura lies hidden bordering the Victoria Randenigala Rantambe Sanctuary and on the border of Central and Uva province. This hamlet lies far away from any busy road network amidst the lush paddy fields bordering the Kuda Oya River which marks the border of the wildlife sanctuary. With the only road leading to this village being a dead end, no traffic passes through this village and the only visitors are to the popular Golumale Bathing area on the Kuda Oya.
According to legend, King Walagamba (89-77 BC) had two palaces built in this area. The palace in the upper area has been known as “Uda Maligaya” and the lower area has been known as “Yati Maligaya”. These two areas have gradually evolved to Uda Maligaya -> Uda Medura -> Udamadura and Yati Maligaya -> Yati Madura -> Yatimedura.
According to another legend, a Brahmin named Mundaka obtained three saplings from the Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura and has been travelling through this area and he had stopped for the night in the area known as the Pujathanne in Dambagolla. When he was about to leave, he realized one sapling had been rooted to the ground thus planted it there and left with two saplings. The next day he rested at Yatimadura and then he observed that his second tree had rooted to the ground and thus planted it at the same location and left. It is said that this second tree is the ancient Bodhi tree found at the Yatimedura Rajamaha Viharaya.
King Walagamba had attempted to build a temple here but for some reason, work had never been completed. Large granite pillars can be seen scattered around the Bodhi Maluwa from this period. An abandoned ancient quarry where granite pillars had been carved out can be still seen close to the temple. More pillars ready to be moved before abandoning can be seen at this quarry. In addition to the scattered granite pillars, an unread pillar inscription lies at the Bodhi tree.
To reach this site, you need to take the Udupusellawa road from Walapane and travel up to Dambagolla junction which lies 11 km from Walapane. From Dambagolla take the picturesque road of Madulla through small hamlets, forests and paddy fields.
Also See
Map of Yatimadura Rajamaha Viharaya and Other Places of Interest
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
Zoom out the map to see more surrounding locations using the mouse scroll wheel or map controls.
Driving Directions to Yatimadura Rajamaha Viharaya
| Route from Kandy to Yatimadura Rajamaha Viharaya | Route from Nuwara Eliya to Yatimadura Rajamaha Viharaya |
| Though : Raja Mawatha – Keerthibandarapura – Walapane – Dambagolla Distance : 83 km Travel time : 2.45 hours Time to spend : 30-45 mins Driving directions : see on google map | Though : Kandapola – Harasbedda – Walapane – Dambagolla Distance : 53 km Travel time : 2 hours Time to spend : 30-45 mins Driving directions : see on google map |
0-09 m (80) 10-19 m (69) 20-29 m (42) 30-39 m (47) 40-49 m (23) 50-99 m (43) Ambalama (152) Ancient Anicuts (31) Ashtapala Bodhi (5) Attraction Article (3) Attractions (200) Beaches (7) Biosphere Reserves (3) Botanical Gardens (3) Bridges (34) Caving (7) Church (11) Cities (9) Destinations (16) Dethis Pala Bodhi (15) Devalaya (41) Flora and Fauna (44) Forts (49) Heritage (1605) Heritage Article (28) Historic Events (5) History (7) Hot Springs (9) Hydro Heritage (85) Irrigation Article (4) Islands (15) Kovil (25) Lighthouses (27) Memorials (28) Mile Posts (6) Mosque (3) Museums (8) National Parks (22) over 100 m (15) Pabbatha Vihara (10) Personalities (7) Pillar/Slab Inscriptions (35) Pre Historic Burial Sites (19) Prehistory (37) Ravana (12) Reservoirs (44) Ruins in Wilpattu (5) Ruins in Yala (24) Santuaries (7) Sluice Gates (11) Stone Bridges (18) Strict Nature Reserves (3) Survey Towers (13) Tampita Vihara (239) Travel (3) View Points (9) Walawwa (12) Waterfalls (375) Wildlife Article (24) Yathuru Pokuna (4)
Abhayagiri Monastery (19) Ampara District (191) Anuradhapura District (194) Badulla District (105) Batticaloa District (19) Colombo District (62) Galle District (58) Gampaha District (49) Hambantota District (99) Jaffna District (69) Kalutara District (47) Kandy District (177) Kegalle District (147) Kilinochchi District (11) Kingdom of Anuradhapura (80) Kingdom of Kandy (14) Kingdom of Polonnaruwa (55) Kurunegala District (127) Maha Vihara (14) Mannar District (47) Mannar Island (10) Matale District (63) Matara District (26) Mihintale (22) Monaragala District (70) Mullaitivu District (19) Nuwara Eliya District (108) Polonnaruwa District (107) Puttalam District (24) Ratnapura District (142) Trincomalee District (44) Vavuniya District (28) z Jaffna 1 (20) z Jaffna 2 (22) z Jaffna 3 (11)