Yahangala Archealogocal Ruins at Hambantota (හම්බන්තොට යහන්ගල නටබුන්)

RATE THIS LOCATION :1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (4 votes, average: 3.25 out of 5)
Loading...

The sky was cloudy and not so bright in the evening when we drove toward Yahangala off the 155th milepost on the Matara-Tissamaharama-Kataragama Road. Yahangala was on the road leading to Badagiriya, a serene farming village in the Hambantota District where a wealth of archaeological ruins and ancient dagobas of the Ruhuna have been brought to light. A short distance on this narrow road leads to Badagiriya colony, where water buffaloes and curd are abundant.

The area is dominated by the curd making farming community, and in front of each house, the skull of a buffalo hangs on a tree or from the house itself. Through the shutter of my vehicle, I glimpse a huge rock outcrop at a distance, which lies in ruins, a noteworthy type of dagoba built in bricks.

It is Yahangala rock temple. The rock boulder is believed to have been the hallowed adobe of Arahats in ancient times. This rock boulder has equal dimensions, which legend says was the act of the Arahats who had taken abode there.

During the time of King Gajabahu’s reign in the 1st century AD, there was a province called Keliyapura Nuwara close to Yahangala. The shape of this dagoba is unique and striking. It is called Bubulakara –a bubble shaped dagoba. Steps have been carved out on the rock itself coming down from an ancient time.

Some steps are wasting away due to the elements. From the summit of the Yahangala, one can have an aerial view of the whole landscape. On its western flank is the vast blue ocean, while on its southwestern side lies Malala Lagoon. Badagiriya, the other ruined dagoba lies on twin rock outcrops having two separate dagobas, which
are also visible.

On the far eastern side looms the profiles of the sacred mountains of Kataragama. The whole landscape is studded with lush paddy fields and lakes. On my visit to Yahangala, it was not developed. The place is deserted and the dagoba is overgrown with creepers. Sometime back, in the mid-’80s, the place witnessed much progress and looked quite inviting. Among the archaeological artefacts found at the site are a stone-carved Buddha statue minus its head, and stone pillars, scattered among its ruins. Fading Brahmi inscriptions have been carved on a rock near the flight of steps.

BY W.A.M. WIJESINGHE
The Nation EYE

Also See

Map of Yahangala Archealogocal Ruins at Hambantota

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

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.

Traveling Directions to Yahangala Archealogocal Ruins at Hambantota

Route from Hambantota to Yahangala Archealogocal Ruins
distance : 15 km
Travel time : 25 mins
Driving directions : see on google map

Leave a Reply