Ruins of Thulawelliya Gal Palama (Stone Bridge) over Kanadara Oya – තුලාවෙල්ලිය 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.

Thulawelliya is a remote village off Medawachchiya. The second rock bridge over Kanadara Oya lies about 1km below the ancient Mahadaragallaka Wapi which is now called the Mahagalkadawala Wewa which has been completely destroyed and about 500 meters upstream to the Kanadara Oya ancient Amuna.

The bridge has been built at a place where Kanadara Oya flows over a rock surface. The bridge over the river has been destroyed but a large amount of rock pillars and slab can be seen at the left bank of the river. Some parts of the pillars still can be seen standing in their original positions. Based on the scattered pillars, the pillars of the bridge has been about 2 meters high.

Location marked at the map is only approximate and a location close to Thulawelliya on the Kanadara Oya.

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 Thulawelliya Gal Palama (Stone Bridge) over Kanadara Oya

Traveling Directions to the Thulawelliya Gal Palama (Stone Bridge) over Kanadara Oya