Ruins of Thirappane Gal Palama (Stone Bridge) over Malwathu Oya – තිරප්පනේ පුරාණ ගල් පාලම 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.

In addition to the most popular stone bridge over Malwathu Oya in Anuradhapura, ruins of another stone bridge over Malwathu Oya exists in Thirippane area. Remains of the bridge lies 800 meters upstream from the new bridge over Malwathu Oya on the Anuradhpura – Kekirawa road. Now the river flows in a double horseshoe bend in this area. Based on marks made during quarrying of pillars, this bridge could be dated to the Anuradhapura era.

The river is about 18 meters in width at this location. The ruins are spread in an area of about 15 meters. Fortunately number of pillars are preserved still standing vertical. There are 14 pillars still standing on the original location constructed over a millennia ago. Eight of the pillars are of full height. These are about 2.5 meters high. The rest are broken at various places. These pillars have been fitted in to squire cavities carved in a rock surface at the bottom of the river. Sizes of these pillars vary from 20×20 cm to 30×30 cm.

Three rows of pillars could be identified among the ruins. The distance of the pillars is about 1.5 – 2.0 meters. These pillars would have been interlocked with horizontal bars and rock slabs would have been laid on to these bars. Some of the rock slabs can be still seen submerged in the water of the river. From the positioning of the pillars this bridge would have been about 4 meters wide. Due to a later change of path of the river, left part of the bridge has been buried in the banks.

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 shown below on the Google Map is approximate based on the provided directions.

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 Thirappane Gal Palama over Malwathu Oya

Traveling Directions to the Thirappane Gal Palama (Stone Bridge) over Malwathu Oya