Bike Ride along Railway – Ganemulla to Mirigama Stretch – 15 Feb 2015

Riding bike is an exciting thing for some but I enjoy it by going on odd roads, where no other vehicle can be driven. I drove to Bopitiya and Uswetakeliyawa last time in July 2013 and this time it’s along the railway to Mirigama.  

There are always “Alternatives” exist, this applies to roads too. Mirigama can be reached from Ganemulla on Kandy road by turning Pasyala and on the other way via Naiwala-Veyangoda-Mallawa Junction road. But going closer to the railway is really challenging and need to get the support of locals. Some of these paths are not clearly visible in google maps either. Some of these roads are full of mud holes, muddy and ruts and most of them are slippery. Careful driven is required throughout the session and need to concentrate on the road.

I started at around 10 o’clock in the morning. It was a very hot day and sunny, not a good time for a ride but due to time limitation, I decided to go ahead. The ride was begun from Ganemulla Station and went to Mirigama on the closest road to the railway. There are 14 Stations including Ganemulla and Mirigama between these two continuums. My bike was C 50- Honda bike, a very basic one, according to me perfect one for these type of rides.

 

When pass Gampaha, there was a large paddy field, it was amazing, when I was in somewhere middle of it, all around was green. Before I reached to Daraluwa, the next station, Ketawala anicut was seen. People use to come and bath in this place. There were couple of remarkable places on the way, but I did not visited any of them due to time constrain. Poorwarama Purana Viharaya in Daraluwa and Dadagamuwa Temple in Hindeniya-Pattigoda (I had been into this place before) are two of these places.

It was noted that environment is more or less same upto Pallewela & Ganedoda, then from Wijaya Rajadahana, there was little change in the atmosphere. I saw a small range of mountain to the east of railway along the Wijaya Rajadahana to Mirigama stretch. I inquired about it from a local and it was told it is a forest reservation, but I cann’t remember the name he told.

I was able to reach Mirigama around 2.30 in the afternoon, it was so tired I was fed-up, but I enjoyed the ride. I felt that I accomplished a task, and decided myself that next bike ride should be planned out properly, especially the timing.

Followings are the stations from Ganemulla to Mirigama;   Ganemulla – Yagoda – Gampaha – Daraluwa – Bemmulla – Magalegoda – Veyangoda – Wadurawa – Keenawala – Pallewela - Ganegoda - Wijaya Rajadahana – Mirigama. 

Pictures of eye catching sceneries and roads;

  

 
 

 

Heritage of Gampaha District_02 - Dikkanda - Pettagam Gala - 08 Feb 2015

We’ve been living in Gampaha District and close to Gampaha city for decades, perhaps not known its importance in terms of geographically and archeologically. This was previously named “Siyane Korale” and its history goes back to Anuradhapura era and beyond that. There are several historical temples and places close to Gampaha city, particularly in and around Yakkala, Kiridiwela, Nittabuwa and Veyangoda.

We visited Dadagamuwa Temple in July 2014. (Visit my blog: - http://simple-travels.blogspot.com/2014/07/pansal-01-dadagamuwa-temple-july-2014.html). I categorised this visit as “Pansal” but it can also be marked as one of the Heritages in Gampaha District. Thereby “Dikkanda-Pettagam Gala” is considered as Heritage of Gampaha District_02.

Briefing;

Date         :– 08 February 2015

Time        :– Evening

Crew        :– Podi Malli and Me

Transport :– By Bike

Route     :– This place can be reached from turning Dikkanda Junction to Urapola Road (B434). Dikkanda Junction is on the Yakkala-Kiridiwela Road.

Note        :– We started in evening around 5 o’clock from Weeragula. I told Podi Malli my idea and then he got the location by calling one of his friends and got there by inner roads. Netha was not accompanied due to time constrain.

“Pettagam Gala” rock is on a top of a hill and there is a Monastery called “Isiwara Thapo Wanaya”. This hill is surrounded by a small jungle and most of part of the hill consists of rocks. There is a steep climb to the rock and the road is concreted, but it is difficult to go to the top by a car or van, easiest way is to go by a bike or on foot.

There are several monks in the Monastery and they do medication at this place. We met chief monk and got some information about historic value of the place and the Monastery. According to Loku Hamuduruwo, this place is called “Pettagam Gala” because of the specific shape of the rock at the top of the hill, which is like a “Pettagama”. This rock is visible to an extent, where we saw it from Urapola-Dikkanda road. This place was believed to be used by King Walagamba before his reign to organize his army and build temples in this vicinity like Warana, Maligakanda and Pilikuththawa etc. Further it was told King Kept his treasury in a cave right under the “Pettagam Gala” and Gala was used as main security of the treasury, where it was arranged to roll down the Pettagam Gala at any threaten.

Loku Hamuduwo told about the present situation of the place and according to him the main threat is the quarry. This place is victim by the quarry and its noise disturbs the medicating monks and it will destruct the historic cave under the Pettagam Gala in near future. There are few buildings constructed at this place to facilitate the meditating monks and devotees. A separate place is built for "Mehenin Wahane" as well. There is a Stupa on the Pettagam Gala, which was buit by Loku Hamuduwo. This was done in golden colour and it is called “Golden Stupa”. According to him, this was constructed after his visit to Myanmar and he saw a same structure on a famous temple in Myanmar. 

When it is closely looked at, Pettagam gala is barely touched the underneath of the base rock. I’ve not seen such a place before other than on TV (The place in Myanmar, visited by Loku Hamuduruwo). But Podi Malli said he hardly remember same place in Sri Lanka. We enjoyed the tranquility of the place and scenery. Sunset and the panoramic view were amazing. Since it was getting dark we did not climb down to the cave.

 

We left the place with our memories and planned to visit other archaeological places around Yakkala again in a next time.    

Visit flickr for pics - https://www.flickr.com/photos/97932574@N06/sets/72157651526146529/