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Photo courtesy of Dr. Ashan Geeganage
Kudagala is a rock formation in the Dehiattakandiya close to another huge rocky outcrop which has some resemblance to Sigiriya. In 1968 Professor Senarath Paranavithana explored this site and recorded cave walls adorned with frescoes similar to Sigiri Frescoes at this site. Thus this location is better known as “Kuda Sigiriya” or “Punchi Sigiriya” among the villagers. The caves on this rock formation have been adobe to the meditating Buddhist monks since the pre-Christian era. Even today the site serves as a Forest Hermitage for a few meditating bhikkhus. This site is also referred as “Kudagala Arannya” and “Kudagala Rajamaha Viharaya”.
Describing the frescoes seen in 1968, prof. Paranavithana notes that these frescoes could have been male figures even though they looked like female figures. He had placed these frescoes in a period between the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa Periods. Unfortunately, the frescoes seen by Prof. Paranavithana had never received any attention from the authorities and have disappeared leaving only an outline in some places just enough for the visitor to visualize what this rock would have looked thousands years ago.
To reach the site, travel 3.7 km towards Aralaganwila from Dehiattakandiya and turn right from the Aluthkade Junction. Another 7 km along narrow interior roads will bring you to the foothills of the Kudagala “Punchi Sigiriya” archaeological site.
These ruins of Kudagala were declared as a protected archaeological monument by the Gazette issued on 10th October 2014, and describes the location as follows ;
“Rock called Kudagala with drip ledged cave complex containing the remains of ancient painting and ancient dagoba (Kuda Sigiriya) and the hillock of ancient ruins at Kudagala vihara premises belonging to Kudagala village situated in Grama Niladhari Division No. 142/N, Kadirapura in the Divisional Secretary’s Division Dehiaththakandiya in Ampara District in Eastern Province. (Latitude 07º 40′ 53.2” N and longitude 081º 05′ 53.4” E).”
Also See
Map of Kudagala “Punchi Sigiriya” Archaeological Ruins
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
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Travel Directions to Kudagala “Punchi Sigiriya” Archaeological Ruins
| Route from Dehiattakandiya to Kudagala “Punchi Sigiriya” Archaeological Ruins |
| Through : Aralaganwila Road Distance : 11 km Travel time : 20 minutes. Time to spent : 1 – 2 hours Driving directions : see on google map |
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