Butttala Yatiyallathota Archaeological Reserve (යටියල්ලාතොට පුරාවිද්‍යා ස්ථානය)

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Hidden by jungles off Buttala, Yatiyallathota Archaeological Reserve is a hidden archaeological jewel in the southern part of the country.

The site lies hidden on the route to the ancient Kutumbala Rajamaha Viharaya in Yatiyallathota with an Padanagara, a large pond, tampita viharaya and remains of other buildings conserved by the department of archaeology.

Padanagara Complexes were used by the meditating monks and are located away from the cities and human settlements. Padanagara are built on a unique architectural style with a moat surrounding them. Quite often these structures were built as twin structures on a rocky outcrop surrounded by the moat. Sometimes there are waterways even inside the moat underneath the buildings.

Padanagara were popular during the 7th to 8th centuries and no such structures has been built after the 10th century. Out of 30 or so Padanagara discovered, bulk are found around the outskirts of Anuradhapura.

Plan of Butttala Yatiyallathota Archaeological Reserve - යටියල්ලාතොට පුරාවිද්‍යා ස්ථානය
Plan of Butttala Yatiyallathota Archaeological Reserve – යටියල්ලාතොට පුරාවිද්‍යා ස්ථානය
source : Ruins in and Around Yala National Park in Sri Lanka.
Plan of Patanaghara of Butttala Yatiyallathota Archaeological Reserve
Plan of Patanaghara of Butttala Yatiyallathota Archaeological Reserve – යටියල්ලාතොට පුරාවිද්‍යා ස්ථානය
source : Ruins in and Around Yala National Park in Sri Lanka.

As in all most other Padanagara, the structures at Yatiyallathota are built with finely cut large blocks of stones void of any decorative carvings. The larger platform is 9m x 13m in size and the smaller platform is 7.2m x 9.8m in size. The stairs to the platform lies on the larger unit. There are no stairs connected to the smaller platform. The two platforms are connected by a narrow bridge like passage.

An exquisitely made water pond partly using the natural rock too has been conserved at the site. Only the granite stumps remain in the Tampita Viharaya (marked as building C). There are 16 stone pillar stumps laid in a 4×4 matrix at this location. on the These were popular structures for image houses during 17th-19th centuries. A timber frame is laid on the granite stumps and a wooden platform is laid on the frame. Walls of a Tampita Viharyaya are generally made of wattle and daub.

To reach the site, travel 6 km from Buttala and take the Dole Lanka Farm Road to the right which lies just before the entrance to the Budugallena Monastery. Travel about 900 meters on this road and take the side road to Kutumbala Rajamaha Viharaya and cross the Menik river. The site is hidden inside the jungle and you need to take a footpath for about 300 meters to reach the site.

Also See

References

  • Okamura, T., 2021. Ruins in and Around Yala National Park in Sri Lanka. 1st ed. Tokyo: NPO-SARERS – South Asian Ruins Exploration and Research Society.

Map of Butttala Yatiyallathota Archaeological Reserve

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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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Driving Directions to Butttala Yatiyallathota Archaeological Reserve

Route from Buttala to Butttala Yatiyallathota Archaeological Reserve
Distance : 7  kilometers
Travel time : 30 minutes
Driving directions : see on google map

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