Monday, April 13, 2015

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/                           

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