Ruins of Weliela Mankada Gal Palama (Stone Bridge) and Amuna at Ipalogama (වැලිඇල මංකඩ පුරාණ ගල් පාලම හා 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 state 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 travelling for 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 a few other bridges have been discovered. The undiscovered bridges may be a lot more.

The ruins of Weliela Mankada Gal Palama lie in the Ipalogama PS division in Anuradhapura,  across Kala Oya with the Haye Ela Kagama on the right bank and Erabadugama lower area on the left bank. The bridge has been built across a rocky part of the river. The river at this place is about 43 meters wide with the rock bed exposed for the most part during the dry season.

You can observe square holes cut into the rock for about 30 meters across the river. These holes are about 20 centimetres on a side but do not lie in a straight line. The holes are spread along a 6.1 metre wide area giving an indication of the width of the bridge.

Sadly parts of the ancient bridge is also not seen today. These rock pillars and granite slabs have probably washed away during heavy rains or floods. However, there are ruins of an ancient canal diverting water to the right bank about 20 meters upstream from the bridge ruins. This indicates the existence of an ancient Amuna (Anicut) along with the stone bridge in ancient times.

This site can be reached from Kekirawa by travelling to Ipalogama.  From Ipalogama turn left to Pahala Wembuwa Road which is a road running along the banks of Yodha Ela to reach the hamlet of Kagama. You can reach the banks of Kala Oya where the ruins lie over gravel roads in the village.

Other Stone Bridges of Sri Lanka

There are many 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. Alubedda Stone Bridge
  2. Angammedilla National Park Stone Bridge (Polonnaruwa)
  3. Ebawalapitiya Gal Palama (Stone Bridge) over Deduru Oya
  4. Girihandu Seya Stone Bridge (Tiriyaya)
  5. Habagama Stone Bridge
  6. Halpan Ela Stone Bridge (Anuradhapura)
  7. Kayankerni Stone Bridge  (Eastern Province)
  8. Mahakanadarawa Wewa Stone Bridge (Mihintale)
  9. Nirawiya Farm Gal Palama (Thambuttegama)
  10. Palugaswewa Stone Bridge
  11. Pavakkulam Stone Bridge (Vavuniya)
  12. Perimiyankulama Gal Palama over Malwathu Oya (Anuradhapura)
  13. Sukara Nijjara Gal Amuna and Stone Bridge
  14. Thimbiripokuna Palamgala Gal Palama
  15. Thirappane Stone Bridge
  16. Thulawelliya Stone Bridge
  17. Ullukkulama Stone Bridge
  18. Vannadi Palama (Vannadi Stone Bridge) and Amuna
  19. Weliela Mankada Stone Bridge
  20. Yanoya Stone Bridge

References

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

Also See

Map of the The Ruins of Weliela Mankada Gal Palama

Please click on the button below to load the Dynamic Google Map (ගූගල් සිතියම් පහලින්)
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The map above also shows other places of interest within a approximately 20 km radius of the current site. Click on any of the markers and the info box to take you to information of these sites

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Traveling Directions to the Ruins of Weliela Mankada Gal Palama

Route from Kekirawa to The Ruins of Weliela Mankada Gal Palama
Through : Ipalogama
Distance : 17 km
Travel time :30 – 45 mins
Driving directions : see on google maps

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