The view of the valley below Beragalle on the Badulla road, Sri Lanka.

You can see the glitter of the Udawalawe reservoir close to the horizon, beyond the mountains, in the center of this picture.

Diyaluma waterfalls, Koslanda, Sri Lanka.

Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJkvDe2ZQiU

An improvised table and a monkey at the car park, Yudaganaawa, Sri Lanka.

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

'Yudaganawa', statues and an uncompleted Dagoba, Butthala, Sri Lanka.

‘Being angry at these words spoken by his royal father, the Prince(Gamini) fled to Gilimale, and having hid himself there for several days went to Kotmale’.

          ‘Kavantissa reigned 60 years from his coronation and passed {at death} to Tusitapura. On the demise of the King, Prince Tissa came, put his royal father in his coffin and repaired to Digamadulla, taking with him the Kadol elephant and his mother Vihara Mahadevi. Prince Gemunu having heard of his father’s death, left  Kotmale and returned to the city of Magama. Whilst there, he wrote to Prince Tissa asking him to send their mother and the Kadol elephant which was born on the same day as himself; but Tissa sent them not. The request was repeated three times; but still he did not send them. Prince Gemunu then set out to fight, taking his forces, and the two brothers joined battle in Yudaganapitiya. Of his army 30,000 men having fallen, Dutugemunu was defeated in the battle and fled, and Tissa persued after him; but when he saw that the great community of monks had come and barred his way, he returned to Digamadulla.’ A translation from the Sri Lankan Chronicle ‘RAJAVALIYA’ – (The line of Kings).

On a second single man combat Tissue was defeated and was pursued by Gamini. Tissue sought refuge at a Vihare – identified as ‘Demetamal Vihara’ close to Butthala.


Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WJl3Sq_aew

'Drift-wood art', Maligawila, Sri Lanka.

Near the entrance to the Maligawila Monastery Complex at Butthala, there was this one-man exhibition of drift-wood art. These are some pictures I took of same.

Statue of Bodhisattwa and a 'Guard stone' - Maligawila, Butthala, Sri Lanka.

A 'Mandapa' and a 'Guard stone', Maligawila, Butthala, Sri Lanka.

Perspectives of a statue, Maligawila, Sri Lanka.

'Guard stone', Flower platform and water trough made of stone, Maligawila, 7th Century AD, Sri Lanka.

'Guard stone' - 'Doratu paalaka' S, Flower platform - 'Mal aasana S, and a water trough are on display near the colossal Buddha statue, the latter is made of sand-stone.

Maligawila Monastery Complex, off Butthala, Sri Lanka.

Video:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFl7MO-PnZg

'Demetamal Vihare', Buththala, Sri Lanka, it's place in history.

Tissa and Dutugamini sons of Kavan Tissa, 2nd Century BC, fought two battles at 'Yudaganaava', near Butthala, Sri Lanka, on the plains of Uva. Tissa won the first battle, Gamini losing nearly 30,000 soldiers.
Tissa was defeated in the second battle at Yudaganaawa near Butthala, on a contest of single-man combat with Gamini and was pursued by Gamini.. 
‘Tissa took shelter among the monks, whilst Gemunu kept up the pursuit and watched at the Vihare entrance. The monks having seen Gemunu pursuing Tissa, when the latter took shelter among them, those who were sitting stood up and those who were standing sat down. When Gemunu asked them “My Lords where is Tissa who has just come here?” they answered, “We have not seen him either sitting or standing”. The monks bore out Tissa as if they carried a dead monk swathed in yellow robes, and Gemunu having perceived it said, “There goes Tissa, a powerless body on the shoulders of monks:” and taking with him the elephant Kadol and his mother repaired to the city of Magama.” – A translation from the Sri Lankan historical narrative 'RAJAVALIYA' - 'The line of Kings'.

Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bD4EhMgI7Ts 

Renovated building, Demetamal Vihare, Butthala,Sri Lanka.

Scenes outside the historic 'Demetamal Vihare', Buththala, Sri Lanka.

'Demetamal Vihare', Buththala, Sri Lanka.

In the war between Dutta Gamini and his brother Tissa, in the 2nd Century BC, Tissa was defeated at a place called 'Yudaganaawa' in Buththala. The defeated Tissa took refuge in 'Demetamal Vihare' close by. Dutta Gamini pursued his brother and knew that Tissa was there. He left his army outside and went to meet the Cheif Priest of the temple. The priest answered truthfully ' I do not see him', when Tissa was hiding under a seat. Gamini left the place out of respect for the 'Sangha'. Tissa was later smuggled out disguised as the dead body of  a priest. Later the chief priest brought amity and concord between the two brothers. This is part of Sri Lankan history and this is the 'Demetamal Vihare' referred to. It lies a few hundred yards off the Butthala - Moneragala road, a few Kms outside Butthala.

Replicas of 'number plates' of cars nailed to trees, Sella Katharagama, Sri Lanka.

Replicas of number plates of cars are nailed to this group of trees as a vow to prevent accidents to the vehicles concerned.

'Vadihitikandha' - 'Kathiramalai' and a paddy field at its base.

The holy hill at dawn.

Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcJRSDC1uSI

The Dagoba, Kirivihare, Katharagama, Sri Lanka.

Dating back to the Second Century BC, this Dagoba was in ruins and was renovated over the last fifty years. It stands tall and beautiful especially on a full-moon - 'Poya' night.

'Katharagama' - 'Kathirkaamam' - The temple to 'Lord Skanda', Sri Lanka

'Two mothers' - Sithulpawwa, Sri Lanka.

Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRjrK2Rs9Ys

The water reservoir and rocks, Sithulpawwa, Sri Lanka.

This catchment area collects rain water in this area and was used by the residents. 

The rocky shrub jungle which makes the area.

Video:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9SR4zT6dP4

Stone pillars, Sithulpawwa, Sri Lanka.

In the absence of the technology of the use of concrete and the concept of an arch support, pillars for dwellings were chiseled from granite in the 2nd Century BC in Sri Lanka. Granite was available in plenty and was the raw material used. The picture shows some granite pillars at Sithulpawwa, Sri Lanka.

Newer construction, Sithulpawwa, Sri Lanka.

Stone stairway, Sithulpawwa, Sri Lanka.

An old ruin of a Stupa and the sacred Footprints chiselled on granite, Sithulpawwa, Sri Lanka.

Worship of an image of Lord Buddha was a later developement. In the early years of Buddhism only objects signifying the presence of the Master ('sankhetha'), like a pair of feet, an umbrella, a whisk or an empty throne were used. This was in keeping with the philosophy of attaining Nibbana when 'nothing remains'.

Sithulpawwa, Sri Lanka - Water reservoir and ruins.

Rain water collected in an open reservoir met the needs of the community of monks. The ruins of an ancient building are also seen from this photograph taken from a rock housing a stupa.

'Sithulpawwa', Sri Lanka.

This ancient site dating back to the 2nd Century BC is a mass of rock and trees. It has been used as a site of Buddhist meditation. The breezes from the ocean not far away give a tranquil atmosphere which owerwhelms one on a visit here. Click on the underlined web-link below to watch a video-clip of same:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9SR4zT6dP4

On the road to Sithulpawwa, Sri Lanka.

Emptied bottles of liquor form a barrier to wild elephants, at a check-point on the road to the historic site of Sithulpawwa. This place is a sacred area venerated by the Buddhists in Sri Lanka.

Tissa Wewa, Tissa, Sri Lanka.

The peace and tranquility near a Wewa is appreciated by viewing these pictures. Imagine a brisk breeze caressing your body and the sounds of the wild birds assailing your ears.

Click on web link below to see a video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EEFA7KMNOc

Common Kingfisher near the hot water springs, Sooriyawewa.

I saw this 'Common Kingfisher' in the vicinity of the hot water springs at Sooriyawewa, in a paddy field.