Ruins of Yanoya Gal Palama (Stone Bridge) and Amuna – යාන් ඔය පුරාණ ගල් පාලම සහ 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 (and a Amuna) can be found at close to the Horowpathana – Trincomalee road. The ruins lies across Yan Oya, some distance upstream in a forest patch from the new bridge over Yan Oya on the Horowpathana – Trincomalee road. Large number of rough rock pillars and slabs are scattered across the river banks. Some broken pillars can be seen still standing on the river bed. Approximated height of pillars has been calculated as 2 meters and there are 30cmx30cm is size.

Traveling 55 km from Anuradhapura towards Trincomalee will bring you to the Horowpathana town. Traveling a further 6 km passing the town will bring you to the new bridge over Yan Oya. The ancient Amuna cum Stone Bridge lies about 2.7km upstream from this bridge.

No historical records are found about the origins of this Stone Bridge/Amuna. However a surveyor named Victor has noted about this structure in a 1887 administrative report of the archaeological department. He states that the Amuna is built using two large rocks in the river. It is 130 feet long, 50 feet wide and 6 feet high from the river bed. The canal cut on the Yan Oya to divert the water from the amuna is also still visible. However since the river has flown around the amuna with time and it flows along the canal for some distance. Doctor Chandana Vithananchchi of Rajarata University states current observations of the site is in confirmation of this report.

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

References

• විතානාච්චි, ච. රෝ. සහ මෙන්ඩිස්, ඩී. තු. , 2017. මද්‍ය යාන් ඔය නිම්නයේ කොක්එබේ මෙගලිතික සුසානය ආශ්‍රිත පුරාවිද්‍යා කැනීම හා තදාශ්‍රිත ප්‍රදේශයේ පුරාණ මානව ජනාවාසකරණය. 1st ed. මිහින්තලේ: ශ්‍රී ලංකා රජරට විශ්ව විද්‍යාලය.
• පුරාණ ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ ශෛලමය පාලම් නිර්මාණ කිහිපයක් සහ එහි තාක්ෂණය පිලිබඳ මූලික විමසුමක් – ආචාර්ය චන්දන රෝහණ විතානාච්චි

Also See

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

Map of the The Ruins of Yanoya Gal Palama

Traveling Directions to the Ruins of Yanoya Gal Palama