Ruins of Thimbiripokuna Palamgala Gal Palama (Stone Bridge) and Gal Amuna – තිඹිරිපොකුණ පාලම්ගල පුරාණ ගල් පාලම හා ගල් අමුණ නටබුණ්

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Anuradhapura was the first real capital of Sri Lanka over two thousand two hundred years ago. The road network was in a highly developed stated during this era, with major roads leading to Trincomalee, Mannar, Jaffna and the southern kingdoms from Anuradhapura. These roads were not only used for foot traffic but carts carrying goods traveling on trade and commercial activities. With the development of the road network, the ancient kings built sturdy bridges out of granite slabs and pillars. Ruins in various bridges around Anuradhapura can be found across Malwathu Oya, Hal Pan Ela, Kandara Oya, Yan Oya, Kala Oya and Deduru Oya.

Outside the more popular stone bridges over Malwathu Oya and Halpan Oya, ruins of few other bridges have been discovered. There may be many more still  undiscovered stone bridges across the unknown ancient routes.

Ruins of such an ancient stone bridge can be found at across the Kala Oya bodering Anuradhapura and Kurunegala districts some kilometers downstream from the Rajanganaya reservoir in the remote village called Thimbiripokuna. According the the research paper “පුරාණ ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ ශෛලමය පාලම් නිර්මාණ කිහිපයක් සහ එහි තාක්ෂණය පිලිබඳ මූලික විමසුමක්” the ruins lie at the Rajanganaya left bank Yaya I area. It is located about 1.5 miles downstream of the Neelabemma Ancient Weir (Amuna) which has been renovated. The location of the map uses this direction to mark it on the map.

This ancient bridge has been built on a rocky surface on the river bed. This rock surface spread across the river from the bank to bank and four rows of square holes has been dug on this rock.The holes are drilled in sizes between 24x23x13 cm to 25x25x22 cm. This is considerably smaller than the holes found in bridges across Malwathu Oya and Mahakanadarawa bridges. Thus the pillars would have been smaller.

Unfortunately no rock pillars are found in the vicinity. However a large number of blocks of rock which would have been used to reinforce the bridge are found downstream Kala Oya indicating an extensive flood destroying the bridge and carrying the rocks downstream.

On the left bank of the river near the rock surface, you can still find part of the reinforcing wall built with large blocks of rock. This retaining wall has been extended towards the rock surface to build the bridge. This rock wall has been damaged towards the rock bed leaving only 3 rows of rocks at this end.

An amuna (weir) too seems to have been built here along with the stone bridge. Ruins of a canal which diverted water can be found about 250 meters above the Amuna. Today known as Raja Ela, this canal has been completely destroyed with later human activity. The canal has been 3.5 meters wide at the bottom and the walls has been reinforced with clay bricks. The size of a brick is 40x20x6 cm. The gradually sloping brick wall has been built on both sides of the canal. The upper sections has been further strengthened by a layer of rock. This wall is about 4 meters high.

Based on the technology and bricks used in the stone bridge as well as Amuna, both these constructions has been dated to the mid Anudradhapura era.  Ruins at this site was been gazetted as a protected archaeological site on 6th June 2008.

The renovated Neelabemma Amuna lies 2.8 km from the Kala Oya bridge on the Puttlam – Anuradhapura road. The Amuna can be reached by taking a left turn from Saliyawewa. After the Amuna, a gravel road continues along the Kala Oya for next few kilometers. The ruins lie approx 1.5 miles (2.4 km) according the reference documents.

There are at number of stone bridges discovered  in Sri Lanka. These are in various states while some have been conserved to an extent. The most popular is the bridge over the Malwathu Oya.

1. Stone Bridge over Malwathu Oya (Anuradhapura)
2. Stone Bridge over Halpan Ela (Anuradhapura)
3. Stone Bridge close to Mahakanadarawa Reservoir (Mihintale)
4. Stone Bridge at the Girihandu Seya  (Tiriyaya)
5. Kayankerni Stone Bridge  (Eastern Province)
6. Habagama Stone Bridge
7. Yanoya Stone Bridge
8. Weliela Mankada Stone Bridge
9. Palamgala Stone Bridge
10. Alubedda Stone Bridge
11. Palugaswewa Stone Bridge
12. Thirappane Stone Bridge
13. Ebawalapitiya Stone Bridge
14. Thulawelliya Stone Bridge

Note that the location marked below is approximate based on the directions given.

References

• පුරාණ ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ ශෛලමය පාලම් නිර්මාණ කිහිපයක් සහ එහි තාක්ෂණය පිලිබඳ මූලික විමසුමක් – ආචාර්ය චන්දන රෝහණ විතානාච්චි

Also See

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

Map of the Ruins of Thimbiripokuna Palamgala Gal Palama (Stone Bridge) and Gal Amuna

Traveling Directions to the Ruins of Thimbiripokuna Palamgala Gal Palama (Stone Bridge) and Gal Amuna