Nelumpath Pokuna Ruins in Yala

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Bowattegala Monastery Ruins
Photo courtesy of Dr. Ashan Geeganage

Hidden deep within the jungles of Kumana, the Nelumpath Pokuna ruins reveal a forgotten monastery marked by ancient stupas, stone ponds, and a 2nd-century inscription of King Kanittha Tissa, offering a rare glimpse into the lost heritage of Gosagala Mahavihara.

The villages of Kumana and Panama, once part of an ancient flourishing civilization, today are a thick jungle teeming with wildlife. Kumana National Park as known today is home to a large number of sites of ruins scattered on various rocky outcrops throughout the jungle.

In the upper valleys of Kumbukkan Oya and inside the thick jungle belonging to the Batticaloa District, stands one of these rocky outcrops close to a pond known as Nelumpath Pokuna. On the rock are a few stupas, now vandalized and destroyed by treasure hunters and some other ruins such as stone pillars, foundations and brick walls.

The two natural stone ponds supply water to the wild animals throughout the year, even in the drought seasons. An inscription possibly of King Kanittha Tissa (164-192 CE) on a flat rock at Nelumpath Pokuna gives the ancient name of the site as Gosagala Mahavihara and grants to it shares in water revenues at Mahanakaraka.

This site lies about 3 km passing Bambaragasthalawa Ruins over a rough four-wheel trail.

Nelumpath Pokuna Inscription

TEXT
Sidam 1 Naka-maharajaha puta Malutisa-maharaji Mahanakaraka-pideliyehi.
daka-pati kara kadaya Gosagala-maha-viharahi ariya-vasa-vața koțu dini.
TRANSLATION
Success [1*]The great king Kanittha Tissa, son of the great king Nāga, having remitted the taxes on the water revenue of Mahanakaraka-pideliya, granted the same for the purpose of maintaining the Ariyavasa festival at the great monastery of Gosagala.
(Paranavitana, 2001, pp. 148–150)

The script reflects the stylistic norms of the second century. The inscription is composed of two lines, with letters that are uniform, precisely shaped, and finely engraved. Except for the fourteenth character in the first line, every letter remains fully legible.

The text records a donation made by King Kanittha Tissa for conducting the ariya-vasa ceremony at the monastery of Gosagala.

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

References

Medhananda Thero, E. (2005). The Sinhala Buddhist heritage in the East and the North of Shri [i.e. Sri] Lanka (1st ed.). Dayawansa Jayakody & Co.
Nicholas, C. W. (1963). Historical Topography of Ancient and Medieval Ceylon. Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, New Series, Volume VI (Special Number).
Paranavitana, S. (2001). Inscriptions of Ceylon : Volume II Part II Containing Rock and Other Inscriptions From the Reign of Kanitthatissa (164-192, A. D.) to Mahasena (276-303, A . D .): Vol. II-Part II (M. Dias, Ed.). Archaeological Survey Department.
Studio Times. (1973). Handbook for the Ceylon Traveller (1st ed.).

Also See

Map of Nelumpath Pokuna Ruins in Kumana

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Travel Directions to Nelumpath Pokuna Ruins in Kumana

Entrance to Kumana is from Okanda. Although the fastest route is through the Southern Expressway, The route through Balangoda – Beragala is very scenic.

Route I from Colombo to Kumana Park Entrance at Okanda	Route II from Colombo to Kumana Park Entrance at Okanda
Through : Southern Highway – Mattala – Thanamalwila – Wellawaya – Monaragala – Potuvil – Panama – Okanda Distance :420 km Travel time : 7.30 hours. Driving directions : see on Google map	Through : Balangoda – Beragala – Wellawaya – Monaragala – Potuvil – Panama – Okanda Distance :345 km Travel time : 9.30 hours. Driving directions : see on Google map
Route from Potuvil to Kumana Park Entrance at Okanda
Through : Potuvil – Panama – Okanda Distance :32 km Travel time : 1 hours. Driving directions : see on Google map