Dimbutulu Gala is a small rocky outcrop lying on the edge of the massive Parakrama Samudraya reservoir in Polonnaruwa built by king Parakramabahu the Great (1153-1186).
As you enter the road over dam of Parakrama Samudraya from the Archaeology Musium of Polonnaruwa, turn left and drive passing statue of Parakramabahu. Pothgul Viharaya and the Kok Duwa island for a distance of 8.1 km and you will find the road curving to land side around a large rocky plateau on the edge of the reservoir.
There is a ruined stupa at the top of the open rock hill, a 16-step carved staircase on the bedrock at the south end, and a platform trace that seems to be a building trace at the northwest end. A terrace was confirmed at the southeastern end, but no stones was found. A quarry with rectangular wedge hole was found from the north and south sides of the rock indicating that this rock also supplied material for other buildings at one time.
Access to the top is over a stairway with 16 steps cut in to the rock. A step is about 90 cm wide 5 cm high. (Photo 7-2). The stupa at the top has turned in to a mound of rubble with bricks scattered all over. It has a diameter of about 7 m and a height of about 2 m remains. A large 1.8 meter wide hole has been dug at the top of the stupa mound by treasure hunters.
A row of coarse cut stones with a side of about 20 cm extends linearly from the southwest to the northeast with a length of about 7.5 m indicating some kind of a building. However, since only the stone rows on one side can be confirmed, details such as scale and shape are unknown. It is unknown whether the stone rows formed the terrace or the foundation of the building. (Photo 7-1)
Cut out stones remain in the remains of the quarry on the north and southeast sides of the rock hill, and from the shape of the rectangular wedge holes, it can be inferred that it is the remains from the Polonnaruwa era after the 11th century.
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 Dimbutulu Gala Ruins
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Travel Directions to Dimbutulu Gala Ruins
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 : Matale – Dambulla – Habarana Distance : 140 km Travel Time : 3.5 hours Driving Directions : see on Google maps |
Route from Anuradhapura to Polonnaruwa Sacred City | Route 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 Dimbutulu Gala Ruins |
Through : Parakrama Samudraya Bunt Road Distance : 8.2 km Travel time : 15 minutes Driving directions : see on google map |