Badulla, Sri Lanka.

The climb to Badulla

Entrance to the Muthiyangana Raja Maha Vihara.

Badulla in its jungle fastness has been a place of refuge to rulers of Sri Lanka from ancient times. Muthiyangana Raja Maha Vihara has been patronized by rulers from the beginning of historical times.

Scenes from Aandha Ulpatha to Badulla, Sri Lanka.

A catchment area for the waters of the diverted Mahaweli Ganga.

The distant hills of Uva.

A highway.

Highway over a bund.

The drive from Mahiyangana to Aandhaulpatha and following the turn off to Badulla via Meegahakiulla provides a changing landscape. It goes through a level plain bordering the waters of the diverted Mahawely Ganga. Later it goes through lush greenery ascending through hairpin bends to Badulla. It has fantastic scenery right along. The turn off to see 'Diyaluma' waterfalls is on this route.

'Nagadipa Vihara', Aandhaa-ulpatha, Mahiyangana, Sri Lanka.

A panoramic view of the Wewa and hills.

A 'Mal aasana' - Flower offering table .

A stone table.

A stone-rest for clay lamps ?

A stone table.

This vihara is off Aandhaa-ulpatha on the Mahiyangana - Bibile road. It is more than 2000 years old. I found these artifacts made of granite scattered all over. Surely these items are priceless and need preservation?

Sorabora Wewa, Legends, Mahiyangana, Sri Lanka.

An elderly couple admiring the scenery.

The legends about Sorabora Wewa being narrated.

The ice-cream vendor who narrated the stories on the bund of the Wewa.

We came across an ice-cream vendor selling his ware on the bund of the Sorabora Wewa. He was full of legends of the place and related some of them to us. See video below.

Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GG943YkmF0

Birds spotted at Sorabora Wewa, Sri Lanka.

Pelican

Indian Pond Heron

I spotted these birds within ten minutes of ascending the bund of the Sorabora Wewa. It is indeed a bird-watchers paradise.
Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=219Iy0dYWjI

Sorabora Wewa, Mahiyangana, Sri Lanka

The water channel

On the bund of the Wewa.

On the bund.

The wewa in the morning.

More than 2000 years of history is breath-taking especially when you see it still functioning and feeding the paddy fields to feed a nation. What beauty and serenity at this site which spans the centuries!

Sorabora Wewa legends, Mahiyangana, Sri Lanka.

The village adjoining the bund of the reservoir.

A hearth outside a tea boutique.

The water channel leading water from the reservoir to the paddy fields.

A villager living here is supposed to have brought Queen Vihara Maha Dewi, the mother of King Dutugemunu - who reigned from 161 BC to 137 BC - , and surprised her by showing her this water reservoir which he claimed to have built single handed. The Queen had come on a visit to Mahiyangana. So many legends surround the building of this reservoir which fed a large area of paddy fields in Mahiyangana.