Heritage

Hambantota Binkemhela Ruins (හම්බන්තොට දිස්ත්‍රික්කයේ බිංකෙම්හෙළ නටබුන්)

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Binkemhela is a solitary mountain range lying along the south-west to north-east axis in Tissamaharama. Several naturally formed cave shelters with dripledges carved in are found on the southern slopes of this mountain. According to Paranavitana, the practice of carving the drip-ledges on the cave roofs of the natural cave shelters was a common architectural activity of the period between 300 BCE to 50 CE.

One of these caves have been inspected by Somadeva in 1999 which had a inscription on the brow below the ledge. This inscription has been dated through palaeography to the period circa 250 BCE. This is a newly discovered inscription during this survey. Remnants of the plaster with ancient paint-pigments have been observed on the surface of the cave-roof. The Brahmi inscription has has been deciphered as below;

Transliteration: Upaśaka Devata Veluśa duve batikana
Translation: (The cave of) the two brothers of lay devotee named Devata Velu.

According to Somadeva, the name Devtha Velu probably has a Dravidian linguistic affiliation.

The Vinaya Pitaka (the book of discipline) prescribes the Buddhist monks to reside a place where not close to the human settlements and not to far from that. That place should be free from the people during the daytime and should be silence during the night. The location of Binkemhela well suited with the literary description and together with the inscription it can be concluded that the caves there had been used by the Buddhist monks. Binkemhela is situated about 1000 feet above the surrounding ground level.

References

Somadeva, R., 2006. URBAN ORIGINS IN SOUTHERN SRI LANKA. Doctoral Thesis in Archaeology. Uppsala University.

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Map of Hambantota Binkemhela Ruins

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Travel Directions to Hambantota Binkemhela Ruins

Route from Tissamaharama to Hambantota Binkemhela Ruins

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Distance : 16 km
Travel time : 30 mins + Hike
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References

Also See

Map of Hambantota Binkemhela Ruins

Travel Directions to Hambantota Binkemhela Ruins

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