Butttala Yatiyallathota Archaeological Reserve

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Arial view of Butttala Yatiyallathota Archaeological Reserve - යටියල්ලාතොට පුරාවිද්‍යා ස්ථානය — Arial view of Butttala Yatiyallathota Archaeological Reserve – යටියල්ලාතොට පුරාවිද්‍යා ස්ථානය
photo source : Ruins in and Around Yala National Park in Sri Lanka.

Hidden by jungles off Buttala, Yatiyallathota Archaeological Reserve is a hidden archaeological jewel in the southern part of the country.

The site lies hidden on the route to the ancient Kutumbala Rajamaha Viharaya in Yatiyallathota with a Padanagara, a large pond, a Tampita Viharaya, and remains of other buildings conserved by the Department of Archaeology.

Padanagaraya

Padanagara Complexes were used by the meditating monks and are located away from the cities and human settlements. Padanagara is built on a unique architectural style with a moat surrounding it. Quite often, these structures were built as twin structures on a rocky outcrop surrounded by a moat. Sometimes, there are waterways even inside the moat underneath the buildings.

Padanagara were popular during the 7th to 8th centuries, and no such structures were built after the 10th century. Out of 30 or so Padanagara discovered, the bulk are found around the outskirts of Anuradhapura.

Plan of Butttala Yatiyallathota Archaeological Reserve - යටියල්ලාතොට පුරාවිද්‍යා ස්ථානය — Plan of Butttala Yatiyallathota Archaeological Reserve – යටියල්ලාතොට පුරාවිද්‍යා ස්ථානය
source : Ruins in and Around Yala National Park in Sri Lanka.

Plan of Patanaghara of Butttala Yatiyallathota Archaeological Reserve – යටියල්ලාතොට පුරාවිද්‍යා ස්ථානය
source : Ruins in and Around Yala National Park in Sri Lanka.

As in most other Padanagara, the structures at Yatiyallathota are built with finely cut large blocks of stone void of any decorative carvings. The larger platform is 9m x 13m in size, and the smaller platform is 7.2m x 9.8m in size. The stairs to the platform lie on the larger unit. There are no stairs connected to the smaller platform. The two platforms are connected by a narrow bridge-like passage.

Tampita Viharaya

An exquisitely made water pond, partly using natural rock, too, has been conserved at the site. Only the granite stumps remain in the Tampita Viharaya (marked as building C). There are 16 stone pillar stumps laid in a 4×4 matrix at this location. These were popular structures for image houses during the 17th to 19th centuries. A timber frame is laid on the granite stumps, and a wooden platform is laid on the frame. The walls of a Tampita Viharyaya are generally made of wattle and daub.

On 06 June 2008, the Department of Archaeology officially gazetted (Gazette No. 1553) the Tampita Viharaya, Patanagara, and other ruins at Yatiallatota Archaeological Site in Yatiallatota Grama Sevaka Division, under the jurisdiction of the Buttala Pradeshiya Sabha in Monaragala District, as a protected archaeological site.

How to Get There

To reach the site, travel 6 km from Buttala and take the Dole Lanka Farm Road to the right, which lies just before the entrance to the Budugallena Monastery. Travel about 900 meters on this road and take the side road to Kutumbala Rajamaha Viharaya and cross the Menik Ganga River. The site is hidden inside the jungle, and you need to take a footpath for about 300 meters to reach the site.

Ruins at the Butttala Yatiyallathota Archaeological Reserve

Ruins of a pond at the Butttala Yatiyallathota Archaeological Reserve

Remains of a Tampita Viharaya at the Butttala Yatiyallathota Archaeological Reserve

Remains of the Padanagaraya at the Butttala Yatiyallathota Archaeological Reserve

A plain granite balustrade at the Butttala Yatiyallathota Archaeological Reserve

Remains of an ancient stupa at the Butttala Yatiyallathota Archaeological Reserve

An inscription at the Butttala Yatiyallathota Archaeological Reserve

A pillar inscription at the Butttala Yatiyallathota Archaeological Reserve

Also See

References

Okamura, T., 2021. Ruins in and Around Yala National Park in Sri Lanka. 1st ed. Tokyo: NPO-SARERS – South Asian Ruins Exploration and Research Society.

Map of Butttala Yatiyallathota Archaeological Reserve

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