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.

Scenes from Mahiyangana, Sri Lanka.

A lake in front of the Chaithya.

A statue of Lord Buddha.

A sales van for Lumala bicycles.

Mahiyangana with its surrounding green paddy fields, is changing fast. Here are a few photos I took in October 2012.
Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiTTLZ5-hDI

The bed of the Mahawely Ganga, Mahiyangana, Sri Lanka.

A view of the distant hills from the river bed.

The river bed of the Mahawely.

Looking upstream.

The waters of the mighty Mahawely Ganga have been partially tamed. I took these pictures during the dry season. A vast area of sand covers about 6o% of the river bed. All the retained water is being used in irrigation and power generation. What a stupendous task has been achieved during our living memory. The green paddy fields in Mahiyangana during a severe drought in the country stands as testimony to this massive undertaking by successive governments.

Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BENdWIdFhJ4

Dawn at Mahiyangana, Sri Lanka.

Dawn at Mahiyangana.

Mahout is greeted by the elephant at dawn.

The Mahout arrives at dawn and interacts with the elephant before going out to do its days work and a bath in the Mahawely Ganga.
Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqhN52IzghA

'Kapruka Pooja', Mahiyangana Chaithya, Sri Lanka.

The Chaithya.

Carrying the stitched cloth aloft

Surrounding the Chaithya with the cloth.

The completed effort.

A 'Kapruka Pooja' - Wish fulfilling pooja - is made by surrounding the sacred Chaithya with a string of Buddhist flags stitched lengthwise. The Chaithya at Mahiyanga is said to contain the hair relic and a neck bone of Lord Buddha.
Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1Gmwhl4h8M

Sorabora Wewa seen from the 'look-out point' past Madugoda, Sri Lanka.

View of the Mahiyangana valley with the Sorabora Wewa.

'Look-out point'

Vehicle park

The other side of the road.

The highway leading from Hunnasgiriya to the 'look-out point' before the descent to Hasalaka by the 18 hairpin bends is a scenic panorama not to be missed. Spend some time at the 'look-out point' feeling the force of the cold wind which will drag your clothes away. Then drive down past the 18 hairpin bends leading to Hasalaka. If you want to appreciate the scenery tell the driver to go slow even though the surface of the road might tempt a higher speed.

Videos:-

Hunnasgiriya - Madugoda

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h80RXLSoH5M

An elephant  getting a ride

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3mhIjHLh9k

The 18 hairpin bends after the 'look-out point'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KoNsI8wMnI

Hunnasgiriya, Sri Lanka.

The wayside town of Hunnasgiriya.

Looking down into the Mahiyangana valley.

The highway from Kandy to Mahiyangana on the left side of the Mahaweli Ganga crosses the Ganga at Kundasale. It goes past Pallekale, Theldeniya and climbs up to Hunnasgiriya. Then it goes downhill past Madugoda, Hasalaka to Mahiyangana. This is a beautiful drive and on a sunny day is like being in Paradise.

Statue on a hill overlooking the Dumbara valley, Sri Lanka.

Statue of Lord Buddha on a hill seen from Hunnasgiriya town  on the Kandy - Mahiyangana road.

The statue seen with the 30X zoom in operation on my Fuji HS 20 and the camera 'hand-held''.

Hunnasgiriya town is the highest point on the highway from Kandy to Mahiyangana. I saw this statue close to Madugoda, far away on the top of a hill - see the first photo. I used the 30X zoom on my camera to get a close-up - second photo

Video:-

Ascent to Hunnasgiriya from Theldeniya
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4U2gdcYyKKM

Gangaramaya Raja Maha Vihara, Lewalla, Kandy, Sri Lanka.

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Bordering 'Udawaththekale' on the road to Lewalla this historic temple has a few old buildings and temple paintings of the 'Kandyan Era' of Sri Lankan history.

The Dalada Maligawa environs, Kandy, Sri Lanka.

The 'Queens bath' bordering the Kandy lake across the road.. 

The promenade bordering the Kandy Lake.

The Queens bath was the building where the female members of the royal household of the Kandyan Kings went for bathing. It housed a library but is now used as a Police Station.

Dalada Maligawa, Kandy, Sri Lanka, scenes.

The Audience Hall.

Incense-stick burners.

Smoke from burning incense-sticks.

Entrance and exit stairways.

The average worshipper at the Maligawa does not pause to see these sights. If you linger you will see beauty at every turn.