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source : Ruins in and Around Yala National Park in Sri Lanka
Yala National Park, including 5 blocks and the adjoining Kumana National Park consist of one of the largest land areas of Sri Lanka which wildlife roam free. Although a wildlife park now, many centauries ago, This area was covered in thriving cities of the Ruhuna Magama kingdom.
Kottadamuhela is one of the many rocky outcrops in Yala with ruins of the ancient Rununu kingdom in the pre christian era. This rock lies inside Yala Block 2 which a Strict Nature Reserve where no visitors are allowed. This site consists of two ruined stupas on the peaks and number of caves with dripledges with Brahmi inscriptions. These inscriptions have been dated to 2nd century BCE (Punchihewa, 2004).
Dhatuvamsa mentions about a dynasty of Dasaba kings (දසබෑ රජ පරපුර) who ruled the southern part of Sri Lanka from around the 3rd century BCE. Mahavamsa those kings are mentions these kings as Kataragama Kshatriyas (කතරගම ක්ෂත්රියවරුන්). It is also mentioned in Dhatuvamsa that Gotabhaya of Rohana, who killed the ten kings of Kataragama, built a thousand temples on both sides of the river Mahaweli as punishment.
The Kataragama dynasty was crucial in the evolution of the politics and expansion of Buddhism in the southern part of Sri Lanka in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE. This family used the fish as the royal emblem and inscriptions of donations by the members of this dynasty are scattered all over the south eastern part of Sri Lanka.
In studying the members of this mysterious dynasty, Kottadamuhela early Brahmi cave inscriptions plays a part of identifying some of the members of this family. A lady who belonged to this lineage has donated seventeen caves between Bowattegala and Kottadamuhela. One inscription at Kottadamuhela records the donation of a cave to the Buddhist community. Her name is mentioned as Abi Savera, the daughter of Maha Siva, granddaughter of Dama Raja and consort of Aya Tissa, son of Aya Abaya.
With the inscriptions in Bowattegala, Kottadamuhela, Henannegala, Kal-Udupotana and Kusalankanda, parts of this dynasty has been re created as below;
List of Archaeological Sites inside Yala and Kumana National Parks
- Akasa Chethiya
- Athurumithurugala (see map below)
- Athurumituruwewa
- Bambaragastalawa
- Bembawa
- Bowattegala
- Brahmanatota
- Dematagala
- Dikkandanegala
- Divulanagoda (Veheradivulana)
- Gonagala
- Goyankola Mayagala
- Handuneruwa
- Iriyapola
- Kanabiso Galge
- Katupila (see map below)
- Katupila Mankada (see map below)
- Kiripokunahela
- Mahakiriwedumagala
- Kongala
- Kottadamuhela
- Lunuatugalge (Lunuatu Galge)
- Sithulpawwa Magul Maha Viharaya
- Malwariyakema
- Mandagala
- Mandagala Wewa
- Mayagala (Wadambuwa)
- Minihagalkanda
- Modaragala
- Nelumpath Pokuna
- Padikema Patanangala
- Pilimagala
- Pillinnawa Stone Pillars
- Pimbyramakanda
- Silavakanda
- Sithulpawwa Viharaya
- Thalaguruhela
- Uda pothana
- Veeragala
Also See
Map of Archaeological Ruins of Kottadamuhela in Yala
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
Zoom out the map to see more surrounding locations using the mouse scroll wheel or map controls.
Travel Directions to Archaeological Ruins of Kottadamuhela in Yala
The park can be reached through Southern Highway. It is 275 kilometers away (shortest path through Ratnapura avoiding the Highway but travel time is longer) from Colombo.
| Route from Colombo to Yala National Park (Ruhuna) Entrance | Route from Kataragama to Yala National Park (Ruhuna) Entrance |
| Through : Southern Highway – Mattala – Tissamaharama – Kirinda Distance : 275 km Travel time : 4.30 hours Driving directions : see on google map | Through Tissamaharama – Kirinda Distance : 40 km Travel time : 45 minutes. Driving directions : see on google map |
