Gal Oya National Park was established to protect the catchments area of the Senanayake Samudraya. In addition to elephants, the park is home to leopards, bear, spotted deer, sambur, wild boar etc. Among other fauna are several species of monkeys, Porcupine, a number of fish species, reptiles and four species of butterflies such as the Crimson rose and Glassy Tiger have been recorded.
Senananayake Samudraya (“Inginiyagala Reservoir” or or the “Gal Oya Reservoir”) is one of the most iconic reservoirs buit after independence with the Inginiyagala Mountain in the backdrop.
Govinda Hela also known as the Westminister Abbey, is a majestic rock rising upto 500 meters which is said be have been a fortress for king Buwanekabahu VI.
Ruins of an ancient monastic cave complex known as Bingoda caves lies hidden away in the jungles of Govinda Hela in Monaragala excavated only by treasure hunters.
The ruins at the deserted Helamulla Degalhela Viharaya at the foot of the Degalhela Rock is another unexplored and unknown ancient Buddhist site in Siyambalanduwa.
Weherapudama is a remote rock plateau with ruins of an ancient buddhist temple complex. This is unknown to many even the villagers living in this area.
Weherapudama is a remote rock plateau with ruins of an ancient buddhist temple complex. This is unknown to many even the villagers living in this area.
The name Newgala translates to ‘Ship Rock’, a rather unusual name for for a rock so faraway from any sea. Forklore states that this mystic rock hides gold weighing a ship underneath and thus the name name ‘Newgala’ has been given to this rock and later to the village.
The ancient stupa of Kandanketiya Ancient Temple has been completely destroyed and a new one built. Bricks of the ancient stupa can be seen scatterd around the new stupa.
Taking a flight of steps which leads to the rocky plateau at the top you will find a newly built stupa of the Sandakebella Aranya Senasanaya. The site is scattered with clues of its antiquity.
Siyambalanduwa Sri Manabarana Rajamaha Viharaya is believed to have been built by the regional king Manabharana of Rohana Kingdom in the 12th century. Like many ancient temples in the area, this temple had been a highly dilapidated stupa which had almost turned in to a mound of bricks.
it has been found that the Seemapauwa Forest Monastery at Angunakolapalessa has been in existence 1-2 centuries even before the Christ. It is believed that this has been a active Buddhist center during or around the rule of of King Wattagamini Abaya (104-101 BC), better known as king Walagamba.
The hermitage has been so named due a bed carved on a rock underneath a cave. Drip ledges have been carved on all the caves of this hermitage, an indication that this site has been occupied by similar forest dwelling meditating monks thousands of years ago.
Built on a cluster of drip ledge caves of an ancient Buddhist monastic complex, Thissa Len Arannya Senasanaya (Thissa Forest Hermitage) is today a forest hermitage located in a tranquil forest patch off Wellawaya.
Ruins of ancient buildings and buddhist monuments lie scattered around the Udawela Rajamaha Viharaya. An ancient bodhi tree lies next to an ancient stupa resembling a mound of bricks.
Legend states that Siyagul Rajamaha Viharaya got its name since this was the 100th temple built by King Dutugemunu. At the temple you will see an ancient Bodhi tree and underneath it an unrestored ancient stupa covered with weed and almost resembling an mound of earth.
Traveling on the Namunukula – Ranugalla road, the Kandahena Ella lies about on the Kandahena Estate. There is a road from Miyanakandura toward the estate and traveling about 2 km on the estate road you can reach this waterfall.
According to legend, Ranugalla Ravana Cave was the entrance to the waterway built over 5000 years ago by Kumbakarna, the brother of King Ravana and also the minister in charge of Agriculture.
Nestled on the banks of the Menik Ganga, Sella Kataragama is a serene yet sacred haven steeped in legend. Believed to be where God Skanda met his beloved Valli, this multi-faith pilgrimage site continues to draw devotees seeking blessings, love, and divine connection across generations.
Crossing Kirindi Oya over a hanging bridge at Kurudana Gangathilake Rajamaha Viharaya you will come across ruins of a stupa resembling a mound of earth, granite pillars of ancient buildings and other artifacts scattered across the area.
