Ruins of Ebawalapitiya Gal Palama (Stone Bridge) over Deduru Oya – එබවලපිටිය පුරාණ ගල් පාලම නටබුණ්

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Anuradhapura was the first real capital of Sri Lanka over two thousand two hundred years ago. The road network was in a highly developed stated during this era, with major roads leading to Trincomalee, Mannar, Jaffna and the southern kingdoms from Anuradhapura. These roads were not only used for foot traffic but carts carrying goods traveling on trade and commercial activities. With the development of the road network, the ancient kings built sturdy bridges out of granite slabs and pillars. Ruins in various bridges around Anuradhapura can be found across Malwathu Oya, Hal Pan Ela, Kandara Oya, Yan Oya, Kala Oya and Deduru Oya.

Outside the more popular stone bridges over Malwathu Oya and Halpan Oya, ruins of few other bridges have been discovered. There may be many more still  undiscovered stone bridges across the unknown ancient routes.

Ebawalapitiya lies about 9 kilometers off Padeniya on the Anuradhapura road. According to reference documents, the stone bridge over Deduru Oya lies about 1 km downstream of the ancient Sukara Nijjara (සූකර නිජ්ජර) Amuna built by the king Parakramabahu the Great (1153-1186) before being consecrated as the king. Sukara Nijjara Amuna (weir) lies 4 km down stream from the ancient Ridibendi Amuna which has been renovated by D. S. Senanayake when he was the Minister of Agriculture and Lands during 1942–1947.

Ruins of the Ebawalapitiya Gal Palama (Stone Bridge) lie about 2 km downstream from the bridge over Deduru Oya on the Padeniya Anuradhapura road in the area surrounding Ebawalapitiya Viharaya. The Sukara Nijjara Amuna about 1 km downstream from the bridge. The marker on the map has been marked in the approximate area of the ruins and if this area is correct, the path to this area is through the road to Ebawalapitiya Temple.

The bridge has been built at a place where Deduru Oya flows over a rock surface. The bridge has been completely  destroyed leaving only the cavities on the rock where the stone pillars have been placed. The cavities are about 40×40 cm in size with the same depth. Therefore the the pillars have been estimated to be slighly larger (40-50 cm) in size. There are 2 rows of holes across the river. These are spaced at about 2.5 meters indicating the bridge to be about 3 meters wide. According to Dr Withanachchi the pillars would have been about 2 meters high.

There are at number of 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.

1. Stone Bridge over Malwathu Oya (Anuradhapura)
2. Stone Bridge over Halpan Ela (Anuradhapura)
3. Stone Bridge close to Mahakanadarawa Reservoir (Mihintale)
4. Stone Bridge at the Girihandu Seya  (Tiriyaya)
5. Kayankerni Stone Bridge  (Eastern Province)
6. Habagama Stone Bridge
7. Yanoya Stone Bridge
8. Weliela Mankada Stone Bridge
9. Palamgala Stone Bridge
10. Alubedda Stone Bridge
11. Palugaswewa Stone Bridge
12. Thirappane Stone Bridge
13. Ebawalapitiya Stone Bridge
14. Thulawelliya Stone Bridge

Note that the location shown below on the Google Map is approximate based on the provided directions.

References

• පුරාණ ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ ශෛලමය පාලම් නිර්මාණ කිහිපයක් සහ එහි තාක්ෂණය පිලිබඳ මූලික විමසුමක් – ආචාර්ය චන්දන රෝහණ විතානාච්චි
• මහා පරාක්‍රමබාහු රජුගේ වාරි කර්මාන්ත : ශාස්ත්‍රපති සමන්තිලක විජේවර්ධන දිවයින පෙබරවාරි 22, 2012

Also See

• Hydro Heritage of Sri Lanka
• Ancient Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka
• Other Places of Interest Within Close Proximity

Map of the Ruins of Ebawalapitiya Gal Palama (Stone Bridge) over Deduru Oya

Traveling Directions to the Ebawalapitiya Gal Palama (Stone Bridge) over Deduru Oya