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This place is situated in Sabaragamuwa, Sri Lanka, its geographical coordinates are 7° 11' 0" North, 80° 29' 0" East and its original name (with diacritics) is Kuragala.
Kuragala Buddhist Monastery
Proceeding 21 kilometers from Balangoda, along Kalthota road Thanjantenna can be found. Next 1.5 kilometers further to wards the south starting infront of the Thanjantenna school is the kuragala rock. Kuragala rock which is situated 1000 feet above sea level is a scenic beauty consisting with several steep rock fortresses. These rock fortresses are very elegant, environmentally & historically important places within Rathnapura district which can be explored & toured.
A plane surface can be found After waiting for about an hour at the kuragala rock bed & surpassing a path consisting with rocky steps. A nother rock, called Navgala is situated about 300 feet above this plane area. (Navgala is now called Kapparamale) The total land area consisting with these rocky outcrops is called “Kuragala.”
The history bound to kuragala is much complex & important phenomena far beyond what the naked eye can grab. The history actually runs towards the period of king “Ravana”. King Ravana was said to possess seven kingdoms built upon rocks and Kuragala was said to be one of them being famed as “Indragiri Kingdom” According to the “Ramayana” of waalmikee Ravana had Kidnapped Princess “Seetha” from India and Rama along with Laxman Hanumanth and the rest had come here to find her “Wibheeshana” brother of Ravana who condemned the ruling strategy of the latter was said to help Rama to successfully fight and win back Seetha Kuragala (Indragiri Kingdom) was said to be complimented to wibheeshana by Rama to appreciate his help during the context.
Another historic note is that king “Walagambha” famous for rock cave related war organizing strategy; had operated similarly, hiding at Kuragala.
A plane surface can be found After waiting for about an hour at the kuragala rock bed & surpassing a path consisting with rocky steps. A nother rock, called Navgala is situated about 300 feet above this plane area. (Navgala is now called Kapparamale) The total land area consisting with these rocky outcrops is called “Kuragala.”
The history bound to kuragala is much complex & important phenomena far beyond what the naked eye can grab. The history actually runs towards the period of king “Ravana”. King Ravana was said to possess seven kingdoms built upon rocks and Kuragala was said to be one of them being famed as “Indragiri Kingdom” According to the “Ramayana” of waalmikee Ravana had Kidnapped Princess “Seetha” from India and Rama along with Laxman Hanumanth and the rest had come here to find her “Wibheeshana” brother of Ravana who condemned the ruling strategy of the latter was said to help Rama to successfully fight and win back Seetha Kuragala (Indragiri Kingdom) was said to be complimented to wibheeshana by Rama to appreciate his help during the context.
Another historic note is that king “Walagambha” famous for rock cave related war organizing strategy; had operated similarly, hiding at Kuragala.
More About Kuragala
How ever, it is quite clear that “Kuragala” is having a long history related to it. hence. It has been declared as an archeological reserve. Infact, the name “Kuragala” was dubbed to this rock due to the tunneled cave with holes. There is an opening to this dark rock cave and thus the place was initially called “Kuragala” which means tunneled rock. Which is believed to ultimately become Kuragala. Within the premises, a ruined stupa i.e.a. pagoda with about 10 feet high and made of bricks and some more ruined historical remains within a rock can be seen.
There are about 30-40 natural rock caves within the premises, some of them were Kataramed th ere is a naga lacuna little below the large cave in surface of the Navgala. About 2000-3000 people can stay with unhindrance in this enormous cave and a large Kalugal Uluwassa was said to be closeby though it is not identifiable now. considering all these, it can be concluded that this was an ancient rich Buddhist religious place where. Rahathan wahanse were said to be occupied.
The Environmental Value bound to Kuragala too, is remarkable as same as its historical value and the scenary beyond the pack of the rock is fabulous. Infact, Kalthota, Welipotha yaya and Meddebedda to the south of the rock peak and far away places like Hmabegamuwa, north part of the Udawalawe National Park and the Udawalawe reservoir were eye catching. “Budugala stupa” situated close to welipothayaya and can be seen as a bubble of milk through he mammoth tree tops, only, would heel the mind of an observer from the top of the rock. There was an ancient connection between Budugala and Kuragala. During the period of the Kaltota kingdom people had escaped by fleeing through a secret forest passage from Budugala to Kuragala. Some believe that there was a secret umaga from Budugala to Kuragala. Though there is a Buddhist background with kuragala its current authority is with the Muslims. Infact, they refer to this place as “Dafter Jailany”. They justify this by claiming that a paster named Dafter Abdul Jailany had lived there. Muslim believe him as a grandson of the Allah. The tunnel cave at Kuragala is the place where Allah had gone to the heaven. Due to the flag hoisting ceremony of the church on the 03rd of July and the concluding ceremony on 04th and 05th of August Muslims are gathering here by thousands annually. annually About 10,000 to 15,000 muslims, infact gather here from every parts of the country to the August feast. As said before, the biological and ecological value of the place in high as same as the historical value. Kuragala is nourished during the rainy season b/clear water streams and green flora but become a dry rough earth and a terribly unheralded vegetation during the dry season. There are heart breaking environment of them. Kuragala kanda was a fine venue for wild animals, yesteryear not only wild Buffalow. Deer, Samber but also wild elephant were lived here. Ar present, these animals are scarely seen here Hog Deer, Here and porcupine etc. only can be seen sufficiently. Burutha, Kone, Davilolu, Kohomba, Thelembu and kara are among the abundant trees within the mountain territory. A rich growth of lluk bushes are frequent within cleared forest surfaces.
“Indragiri Kingdom” of Ravana or Kuragala is an important place rich in historical and environmental value. This place can be highlighted as an area much suited for the enthusiastic explorers of environment, wild life and our historical inheritance.
There are about 30-40 natural rock caves within the premises, some of them were Kataramed th ere is a naga lacuna little below the large cave in surface of the Navgala. About 2000-3000 people can stay with unhindrance in this enormous cave and a large Kalugal Uluwassa was said to be closeby though it is not identifiable now. considering all these, it can be concluded that this was an ancient rich Buddhist religious place where. Rahathan wahanse were said to be occupied.
The Environmental Value bound to Kuragala too, is remarkable as same as its historical value and the scenary beyond the pack of the rock is fabulous. Infact, Kalthota, Welipotha yaya and Meddebedda to the south of the rock peak and far away places like Hmabegamuwa, north part of the Udawalawe National Park and the Udawalawe reservoir were eye catching. “Budugala stupa” situated close to welipothayaya and can be seen as a bubble of milk through he mammoth tree tops, only, would heel the mind of an observer from the top of the rock. There was an ancient connection between Budugala and Kuragala. During the period of the Kaltota kingdom people had escaped by fleeing through a secret forest passage from Budugala to Kuragala. Some believe that there was a secret umaga from Budugala to Kuragala. Though there is a Buddhist background with kuragala its current authority is with the Muslims. Infact, they refer to this place as “Dafter Jailany”. They justify this by claiming that a paster named Dafter Abdul Jailany had lived there. Muslim believe him as a grandson of the Allah. The tunnel cave at Kuragala is the place where Allah had gone to the heaven. Due to the flag hoisting ceremony of the church on the 03rd of July and the concluding ceremony on 04th and 05th of August Muslims are gathering here by thousands annually. annually About 10,000 to 15,000 muslims, infact gather here from every parts of the country to the August feast. As said before, the biological and ecological value of the place in high as same as the historical value. Kuragala is nourished during the rainy season b/clear water streams and green flora but become a dry rough earth and a terribly unheralded vegetation during the dry season. There are heart breaking environment of them. Kuragala kanda was a fine venue for wild animals, yesteryear not only wild Buffalow. Deer, Samber but also wild elephant were lived here. Ar present, these animals are scarely seen here Hog Deer, Here and porcupine etc. only can be seen sufficiently. Burutha, Kone, Davilolu, Kohomba, Thelembu and kara are among the abundant trees within the mountain territory. A rich growth of lluk bushes are frequent within cleared forest surfaces.
“Indragiri Kingdom” of Ravana or Kuragala is an important place rich in historical and environmental value. This place can be highlighted as an area much suited for the enthusiastic explorers of environment, wild life and our historical inheritance.
