Ruins of Stone Bridge inside Angammedilla National Park (අංගම්මැඩිල්ල තුල පිහිටි ගල් පාලම නටබුන්)

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Ruins of a stone bridge over a smaller tributary of Angammedilla Canal which feeds Parakrama Samudraya in parallel. - අංගම්මැඩිල්ල තුල පිහිටි ගල් පාලම නටබුන් — Ruins of a stone bridge over a smaller tributary of Angammedilla Canal which feeds Parakrama Samudraya in parallel. – අංගම්මැඩිල්ල තුල පිහිටි ගල් පාලම නටබුන්
photo source : Ruins in Central Eastern Area of Sri Lanka

These ruins of an ancient stone bridge are located in the southwestern part of Parakrama Samudraya reservoir in Polonnaruwa built by King Parakramabahu the Great (1153-1186), inside the national park of Angammedilla. These remains of a bridge are located across a small tributary that flows from the west into the ancient Angamedilla Yoda Ela, which carries water to Parakrama Samudraya. These tributaries become dry during the dry season. GPS measurements were 7 degrees 53 minutes 02.5 seconds north latitude and 80 degrees 56 minutes 41.1 seconds east longitude.

From Polonnaruwa, drive around the paved road from the south bunt to the west shore of the reservoir, and walk across the Angammedilla canal to the opposite shore After that, proceed along the bank of the irrigation canal, to arrive at the dried up tributary. You can walk along this path up to the ruins.

Both banks where the bridge lies are open rock boulders. There are six stone pillars of the bridge remaining on the dried-up river bed which is 14 meters wide at this point. The height of the stone pillars from the riverbed is approximately 1.7 meters. Eight steps are carved in the east-west direction on the slope of the rock on the right bank side (south side). Three 12 cm square pillar holes were found at 2 m intervals on the upper part of the open rock that goes up the stairs to the east, including a cornerstone. Therefore there would have been a building on this rock in the past.

The stone pillars used as piers have a groove at the top where wooden beams as girders of the bridge would have been placed. Although some pillars are tilted or collapsed, it is estimated that they stood at intervals of about 1 meter. Natural stones about 30 cm are lined up on the shore upstream from the pier on the left bank (north bank) to stop the river bank from being washed away. Wooden planks would have been laid across the bridge along the beams when it was functional.

In addition, a stone gutter of about 50 cm square x 1m in length was found on the riverbed indicating that the water on this stream had been diverted through a stone gutter and carried elsewhere for some unknown purpose.

Other Stone Bridges of Sri Lanka

There are many stone bridges discovered in Sri Lanka. These are in various states while some have been conserved to an extent. The most popular is the bridge over the Malwathu Oya.

Alubedda Stone Bridge
Angammedilla National Park Stone Bridge (Polonnaruwa)
Ebawalapitiya Gal Palama (Stone Bridge) over Deduru Oya
Girihandu Seya Stone Bridge (Tiriyaya)
Habagama Stone Bridge
Halpan Ela Stone Bridge (Anuradhapura)
Kayankerni Stone Bridge (Eastern Province)
Mahakanadarawa Wewa Stone Bridge (Mihintale)
Nirawiya Farm Gal Palama (Thambuttegama)
Palugaswewa Stone Bridge
Pavakkulam Stone Bridge (Vavuniya)
Perimiyankulama Gal Palama over Malwathu Oya (Anuradhapura)
Ritigala Gal Palama (Anuradhapura)
Sukara Nijjara Gal Amuna and Stone Bridge
Thimbiripokuna Palamgala Gal Palama
Thirappane Stone Bridge
Thulawelliya Stone Bridge
Ullukkulama Stone Bridge
Vannadi Palama (Vannadi Stone Bridge) and Amuna
Weliela Mankada Stone Bridge
Yanoya Stone Bridge

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 Stone Bridge inside Angammedilla

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Travel Directions to Stone Bridge 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 City	Route 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 : Maradankadawala – Habarana Distance: 103 km Travel Time: 2 hours Driving Directions: see on Google map
Route from Anuradhapura to Polonnaruwa Sacred City	Route from Batticaloa to Polonnaruwa Sacred City
Through : Maradankadawala – Habarana Distance: 103 km Travel Time: 2 hours Driving Directions: See on Google map	Through : Maradankadawala – Habarana Distance: 103 km Travel Time : 2 hours Driving Directions: see on Google map

Route from Polonnaruwa to Stone Bridge inside Angammedilla

Through : Parakrama Samudraya Bunt Road
Distance : 13 km
Travel time : 25 minutes
Driving directions : see on google map

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