Hennaanigala Rajamaha Viharaya – හෙනන්නේගල පුරාණ රජමහා විහාරය

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Hennaanigala (Henannegala) is a massive  rock similar to Sigiriya Rock lying on the Maya Oya – Aralaganwila Road, about 11 km from Maha Oya inside the Maduruoya National Park.  Its is believed that this area was the last place which prince Dutugemunu combined all his forces before launching his final attack on Elara, the South Indian Invader who ruled in the capital of Anuradhapura. Thus this area was known and Senanigala which later became Hennaanigala.

Below the Hennaanigala (Henannegala) rock lies ruins of a ancient monastery which has been dated back to the 3rd – 1st century BC. Underneath this massive rock which is much larger than Sigiriya is one of the longest drip ledge caves in Sri Lanka which is 1500 feet to 2000 feet long having a height of 10 – 80 feet. 3 drip ledges at different levels have been carved above cave to avoid any water dripping in to the cave.

At one side of the cave is a small stupa partially  destroyed by LTTE terrorists and treasure hunters and restored by the Department of Archaeology in November 2014.

Further down the cave, you can observe partial walls of what has been a row of rooms underneath the cave. They have been made using bricks and stone. A thin layer of plaster has been applied on the walls and  frescoes similar to Sigiriya can be seen at some places. These ruins reveal at least 21 chambers and at least 300 frescoes. These chambers are believed to be have been residences of monks at one time.

At the top of rock is foundation of a larger stupa with a circumference of 275 feet , remains of what could a large image house and a natural pool on the rock.

There are cave paintings on a cave at the top of the rock. These are said to be cave drawings of indigenous Veddhas who had occupied these caves long time ago.  In addition to the cave and the now restored small stupa, there are parts of ancient Buddhist buildings scattered all around including remains of 2 Buddha statues broken in to pieces by treasure hunters, stone balustrades of ancient buildings and remains of a image house at the end of the cave.

The caves of Hennaanigala (Henannegala) has produced number of pre historic tools suggesting that Hennaanigala (Henannegala)  has been a pre-historic settlement before being convered in to a Buddhist Monastery. Later evidence indicate that these caves have been used by the Sri Lankan aborigines – the Veddhas.

At one point of the large cave is a inscription about the donation of the cave. Prof. Paranavithana believes the names in the inscription refers to the father of King Kavanthissa ( Grandfather of King Dutugenunu) while Ven. Ellawala Thero believes that the inscription refers to King Yatalatissa and his brother Gotabaya.

Hennaanigala (Henannegala) lies close the then LTTE Tamil Tiger Terrorist’s stronghold Thoppigala. Despite the risk to his life, a lone buddhist monk called  Dankumbure Selalankaara Thero dwelled till 1986 in Hennaanigala (Henannegala) with the closest human habitat over 10 kilometers away. True to their definition, the LTTE brutally murdered the priest in 1986 and destroyed much of Buddhist heritage and used it as base of the terrorists. The temple was beyond reach for almost 25 years until the LTTE was destroyed by the Sri Lankan forces.

With the LTTE terrorists gone, Ven Gonawela Sudasselankara thero had cleared the area and took charge of the monastery. Living in a small hut, over 10 kms away from any civilization, the monk was barely surviving on the donations of Mahaoya Buddhists and Maduru Oya army camp.

The temple made headlines in  2011 when this lone thero cried foul to the treatment by Department of Wildlife officials when he put up a banner made out of one of his old robes to celebrate the 2600 the Buddhist anniversary which was celebrated throughout the island in a grand fashion. Not only the wildlife officials destroyed all the decorations and banner, the responsible officials dragged the priest to the courts of Dehiattakandiya as the respondent to case filed by them. The responsible wild life official S.P.P Lionel informed that meditating and lighting of oil lamps distracts wild animals in the national park and requested the priest to be remanded and not to allow bail.  In contrast to the wildlife departments hard stance of protecting wildlife, consider the current crisis at Wilpattu National Park where Muslim colonies are being settled by clearing large parts of  Wilpattu National Park where the department is turning a complete blind eye even with such a public outcry.

To reach the Hennaanigala (Henannegala) you need to take the Maduru Oya Road from Mahaoya. The famous Mahaoya hot wells too lies on this road. Travel approx 10.5 kilometers on this road to reach the Ruins. Today this road is carpeted up to the Maduruoya Dam.

Also See

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

Map of Hennaanigala (Henannegala)

Driving Directions to Hennaanigala (Henannegala)