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The land mass between Monaragala and Yala’s northern border is filled with remote villages that mainly survive on paddy and Chena cultivations. Most of the land is covered in jungles and rock formations of various sizes and height rise at various locations. At most of these rock formations, you will find remains of ancient Buddhist monasteries providing a glimpse of the past of this area. Most of the ruins are not even discovered but a research party headed by Takashi Okamura from Hosei University in Japan made 2 research visits in 1985 and 1993 and has documented a significant number of hidden ruins in this area.
From the Kodayanna Junction between Galebedda and Siyalanduwa, you need to travel 14km southwards through jungle patches and paddy fields to reach the ancient Wattegama Rajamaha Viharaya. About 500 meters before the temple there is a gravel road to the right which will lead you towards the rock formation called Moramal Hela. This rock formation is home to a number of archaeological sites and on the northeastern slope of this rock formation in the area known as Kudagoda, 2 caves have been discovered and the team visited the site in 1985.
Ruins of the Ancient Ruhuna Civilization – In the Jungles of Kumbukkan Oya Basin SRI LANKA.
The site is located 1.6km east-northeast of Moramalhela. This ruin is situated on the slope of the east side of a nameless mountain. The site is not mentioned in any map. Two rock shelters with drip ledges are found on the eastern slope of a low rock hill called Kudagoda. A brick-built recumbent Buddha statue is seen in the rock shelter (A). No inscriptions are found at the site.
The cave (A) measures 24 meters long 5 meters deep and 2.5 meters in height. The cave has been fully covered by a brick wall of which one part is still retained. This part is 250 cm long and 60 cm thick. Remains of a Buddha statue made of bricks are found inside the cave. The head and feet have been destroyed by treasure hunters. The remaining part of the statue measures 280cm long 100cm high and 80cm in thickness. White and yellow coloured mortar is still seen on the part of its leg.
The second cave B is found a short distance southwest, close to cave A measuring 13.5 meters long, 10.5 meters deep and 2.5 meters in height. Even though this cave too has a drip ledge, no pieces of bricks or inscriptions had been found.
No further information on this site after the research was carried out in 1985 was found.
References
- Okamura, T., 1999. Ruins of the Ancient Ruhuna Civilization – In the Jungles of Kumbukkan Oya Basin SRI LANKA. Tokyo: Exploration Club of Hosei University.
Also See
Map of Kudagoda Ruins
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Travel Directions to Kudagoda Ruins
| Route from Monaragala to Kudagoda Ruins |
| Through : Distance : 28 km Travel time :45 mins Driving directions : see on google map |
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