Polonnaruwa Mada Vehera Ruins inside Angammedilla National Park – අංගම්මැඩිල්ල තුල පිහිටි මැද වෙහෙර බොදු නටබුන්

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Polonnaruwa Mada Vehera Ruins inside Angammedilla National Park - අංගම්මැඩිල්ල තුල පිහිටි මැද වෙහෙර බොදු නටබුන්
Polonnaruwa Mada Vehera Ruins inside Angammedilla National Park – අංගම්මැඩිල්ල තුල පිහිටි මැද වෙහෙර බොදු නටබුන්
photo source : Ruins in Central Eastern Area of Sri Lanka
Polonnaruwa Mada Vehera Ruins inside Angammedilla National Park - අංගම්මැඩිල්ල තුල පිහිටි මැද වෙහෙර බොදු නටබුන්
Polonnaruwa Mada Vehera Ruins inside Angammedilla National Park – අංගම්මැඩිල්ල තුල පිහිටි මැද වෙහෙර බොදු නටබුන්
photo source : Ruins in Central Eastern Area of Sri Lanka

Unexplored ruins of Meda Vehera lies on the western border (on the opposite bank from embarkment) of the massive Parakrama Samudraya reservoir in Polonnaruwa built by king Parakramabahu the Great (1153-1186). These ruins were explored by an Japanese archeology team in 2011 and has been documented in detail in a Japanese publication. The GPS location and the following information has been extracted from this report.

This site is located on the opposite bank of the old town of Polonnaruwa, with Parakrama Samudraya in between, and is about 3 km west in a straight line. GPS measurements were 7 degrees 56 minutes 55 seconds north latitude and 80 degrees 58 minutes 29 seconds east longitude.

From Polonnaruwa, we initially drove on the national highway leading to Giritale. After getting off at the northern end of the lake, we walked south on the dry bottom of the lake and bush for about 2 km to reach the ruins. This route cannot be used when the lake has a lot of water, but there seems to be no other route that can be approached by land (it is unknown whether the approach can be done by water). Although this site is located in Angammedilla National Park on the map, it was investigated without applying for entry permission.

This has been a large temple complex with a pagoda, a Buddhist temple, and of multiple buildings in the precincts of 100 square meters. The outer bounty of the complex, built on a slope that gently descends toward the lake, consists of a retaining wall made of a combination of large molded stones with a side of 1 to 2 meters (Photo 9-1 and 9-2). There is a pagoda in the northwest corner, a pagoda in the southeast and a little closer to the center In the precinct, and building traces in the north center and southwest corner. From the size and shape, it can be inferred that it is a temple built in the style of Pabbatha Vihara. formulated in the capital Anuradhapura at that time since the 9th century. Due to the size and the time available for the survey, it was not possible to make a detailed survey of each part, so in this report I would like to limit myself to the outline and explanation of the characteristic remains. (Fig. 9-1)

Ruins of the Stupa

Ruins of a large pagoda with a diameter of about 35 m, and a brick pile with a height of about 9 m remains on the mound. There is a large pit excavated by treasure hunters at the top of the mound. The shape and original height of the platform cannot be guessed due these damages (Photo 9-3).

Ruins of the Image House

A 10m x 8m rectangular structure is built using bricks at a elevation of about 1m higher than the surrounding area (Photo 9-4). A pedestal base for a Buddha statue is found near by and pieces of a Buddha statue is scattered all over the precinct indicating these damages are due to treasure hunters running amuck among the ruins (photos 9-5 to 9-8). In addition, there were scattered decorative stone pillars, stones used for water services, stone urinals, etc. (see photo 9-10-9-12).

Note : Although the research team writes that the site lies inside the Angammadilla National Park, the GPS point given by the team lies in a populated area near a minor road. Therefore there may be mistake in the GPS point during publication.

References

  • Okamura, T., 2015. RUINS IN CENTRAL EASTERN AREA OF SRI LANKA — at the jungle of Amban Ganga Basin and the outskirts —. Tokyo: South Asian Ruins Exploration and Research Society (SARERS).

Also See

Map of Mada Vehera Ruins inside Angammedilla

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

Travel Directions to Mada Vehera Ruins inside Angammedilla

The modern town of Polonnaruwa is also known as New Town, and the other part of Polonnaruwa remains the royal ancient city of the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa.

Route from Colombo to Polonnaruwa Sacred CityRoute from Kandy to Polonnaruwa Sacred City
Through : Central Highway – Kurunegala – Dambulla
Distance from Colombo :230 km
Travel Time : 4.45 hours
Driving Directions : see on Google map
Through : Matale – Dambulla – Habarana
Distance : 140 km
Travel Time : 3.5 hours
Driving Directions : see on Google maps
Route from Anuradhapura to Polonnaruwa Sacred CityRoute from Batticaloa to Polonnaruwa Sacred City
Though : Maradankadawala – Habarana
Distance : 103 km
Travel Time : 2 hours
Driving Directions : see on Google map
Though : Chenkaladi – Valachchena
Distance : 97 km
Travel Time : 2 hours
Driving Directions : see on Google map
Route from Polonnaruwa to Mada Vehera Ruins
Through : Parakrama Samudraya Bunt Road
Distance : 6 km
Travel time : 15 minutes
Driving directions : see on google map

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