Dimbulagala දිඹුලාගල (Gunner’s Quoin) Expedition

Dimbulagala is a main religious attraction at Polonnaruwa. It is 534.5m high rock range situated 12miles from Polonnaruwa.

Historical Background of Dimbulagala

1.  Old literature mentions it as “Udumbaragiri” (උදුම්බරගිරි). Udumbara means wood apple. Because the rock is having large number of wood apple trees called “Udumbaragiri”. Later it became Dimbulagala. “Dimbul” (දිඹුල්) means wood apple.
2. The history goes back before arrival of Prince Wijaya (විජය කුමාරයා). Dimbulagala was a center of Yaksha community (යක්ෂ ගෝත්රිrකයෝ). Their main village was the Yakkure (යක්කුරේ) which was situated close to Dimbulagala. Once they have lost “Sheershawasthupura” (ශීර්ෂවස්තු පුර)-main Yaksha city of Sri Lanka where Kuweni (කුවේණි) belongs, they migrated here to join with Yaksha people here.
3. Another female Yaksha leader called Chethiya (චේතිය) who lived at Dimbulagala has helped Prince Pandukabhaya (පණ්ඩුකාභය කුමාරයා) to capture Sinhala Kingdom. Literature says Prince Pandukabhaya has lived here about 4 years.
4. The Prince Mutaseewa (son of King Pandukabhaya) (මුටසීව කුමාරයා) has born at Dimbulagala cave and later became the King of Anuradhapura. King Dewanmpiyathissa (දේවානම්පියතිස්ස රජතුමා) was the son of King Mutaseewa. King Dewanmpiyathissa has built temples all over the island for priests and he offered Dimbulagala cave to priests.
5. Kuththagaththathissa Arahath Thero (කූතගත්තතිස්ස රහතන් වහන්සේ) has lived here till his death. Therefore King Walagamba (වළගම්බා රජතුමා) has built number of temples at Dimbulagala for Kuththagaththathissa Thero.
6.  Maliyadewa Thero (මලියදේව රහතන් වහන්සේ)-The last Arahath Thero of Sri Lanka has preached Megawarna story (මේඝවර්ණ කතාවස්තුව) here. Then he also lived at Dimbulagala for a long time.
7. At the time of Pollonnaruwa kingdom (The time of King Wijayabahu I) Dimbulagala has become a Buddhist educational center. It was a popular place among Buddhist world.
8. The great King Parakramabahu (මහා පරාක්ර මබාහු රජතුමා) has divided priests of Dimbulagala into two groups. One group was who were doing Buddhist religious activities (Grantha Dhooraya) ග්රtන්ථ ධූරය. Other one is doing meditation (Widarhsana Dhooraya) විදර්ශනා ධූරය. The area called Namal Pokuna (නාමල් පොකුණ) in Dimbulagala was allocated for priests of Grantha Dhooraya. Then the area of Mara Weediya (මාරාවීදිය) was allocated for Widarhsana Dhooraya. He offered a large area of paddy fields for the purpose of all these priests. There was a paint in Mara Weediya showing sun and moon. It means if someone uses these paddy fields for his purpose, they would be born as dogs and craws till sun and moon persists.
9. After invasion of Kalinga Maga (කාලිoග මාඝ) following the period of King Nisshankamalla (නිශ්ශoකමල්ල රජතුමා) Dimbulagala was started to get forested. (A.C1203)
10. Current refreshment of Dimbulagala temple was initiated due to Ven. Kithalagama Seelalankara Thero (කිතලගම සීලාලoකාර හිමි) who was shot dead on August 08, 1995 by L.T.T.E.

Ruins and expedition of Dimbulagala can be divided into three.

1. Namal Pokuna ruins (නාමල් පොකුණ නටබුන්)
2. Herbal ponds, Mara Weediya and Akasa Chaithya (මාරාවීදිය, අකාශ ස්තූපය)
3. Climbing of Sinha gala (සිoහ ගල)-Highest point of the rock range.

To reach Namal Pokuna, Akasa Chaithya, Mara Weediya and Herbal ponds you don’t need a guide as foot pathways and steps can be seen clearly.

For Sinha gala expedition needs a guide.

Different views of Dimbulagala rock range from different places

.Click Map to Enlarge

Click Map to Enlarge

Here I tried to connect two parts of the map to show Dimbulagala range as one. Unfortunately lines are not overlapping. Different views of the rock from different places are given below.

View from A. Taken at Dewagala. දේවගල

View from B…When I was travelling in Pollonnaruwa-Batticalo road

View from C. Taken on Kottaragala කොට්ටාරගල

View from D. Millana Lake (මිල්ලාන වැව) in front of the rock range

Heading to Herbal ponds and Mara Weediya (මාරාවීදිය)

I started the journey in the early morning with two of my colleagues and two of our staff members (One of them arranged everything for the tour-Thanks for him). Two Buddhist priests from Dimbulagala temple also joined with us and another villager also came.
We started from Dimbulagala temple towards Mara Weediya and Herbal ponds. Foot pathway and steps on the rock can be traced nicely. Surrounding view from Mara Weediya was fascinating.

Heading to Herbal ponds and Mara Weediya.

Akasa Chaithya captured on my way

Leafless tree. This is a Gal Siyambala tree. Common in this area and would be full in another 2-3 months.

Steps on the rock

Foot pathway in the dry zone forest.

Foot pathway towards Ahas Maligaya/ Akasa Chaithya. We followed the one to Herbal ponds and Mara Weediya.

Herbal Ponds, Caves and Mara Weediya
One place in the middle part of the rock facing to south west / south direction called Mara Weediya. Nobody knows the exact reason for this name. Some archeologists believe Mara means Pandya (පාණ්ඩ) people.
Dimbulagala was an international Buddhist center during Pollonnaruwa era. Therefore Kalinga people and Pandya people were also there. According to the literature there were two caves called Sanda Maha Lena and Hiru Maha Lena. The queen of King Wickramabahu 1(පලමුවන වික්‍රමබාහු රජතුමා)-Sundara Maha Dewiya (සුන්දර මහා දේවිය) has seen the difficulties devotees had in going from one cave to another by using ropes etc. Then she renovated these two caves and called it Kalinga Lena (කාලිoග ලෙන) (Because of Kalinga people) and the pathway called Mara Weediya (Because of Pandya people).

Small pathway on the side of caves called Mara Weediya

View of Sinhagala from Mara Weediya. Now they have placed an iron fence there for safety.

One of two herbal ponds. Wadda people have used this name “Herbal pond” as meditating priests had used these ponds.

Herbal pond 2. It is a perennial pond and diseases are cured by drinking water of it.

Stone inscription found at Mara Weediya. It mentions Sundara Maha Dewiya (Queen of King Parakramabahu) has constructed a lot of temples for Buddhist priests and offered them in a Poson full moon day.

Another Brahami inscription found at Mara Weediya.

There are combined caves with drip ledges situated at Mara Weediya. One of them called Pasbudu Lena. ( පස්බුදු ලෙන)

Still some parts of the wall can be seen

Ancient Buddha statue. Note the plaster on wall of the cave. According to the literature paintings were there. These paintings were destroyed by a person few decades ago. I couldn’t see any paintings.

Looked up….

Framed…

Sky from Mara Weediya

After enjoying the fascinating view from Mara Weediya, We wanted to climb up to get a good view of nearby area. Therefore we went up and found a higher point of the range.

Having a rest

Sinhagala

Longest river of Sri Lanka-Mahaweli River at Manampitiya area.

Omanugala (ඔමනුගල) and coconut farm

Millana Lake bunt-Zoomed

Knuckles mountain range

Pollonaruwa-Mahiyanganaya road

Then we walked towards another higher point of the rock range closer to the Ahas Maligaya called “Tower Kanda” (ටවර් කන්ද)-because of a telecommunication tower which is no longer functions.

“Tower Kanda” and tower

Remaining of old Stupa at Tower Kanda

Giant lake of Rajarata-Parakrama Samudrya is shown by the arrow

Z Lake….water from Maduru Oya

Akasa Chaithya popped up

The pathway from Dimbulagala Temple to Akasa Chaithya

Namal Pokuna ruins

Dimbulagala temple and new constructions

Then we climbed down to the route we came and went to Akasa Chaithya.

The way towards Akasa Chaithya

Where we came…..Tower Kanda and rest of the range

Akasa Chaithya

One of the largest bell of SL…..brought by a helicopter

Sacred foot print

New constructions

Our team

Akasa Chaithya again

Getting back from the routine path

Covered only half of it….

Namal Pokuna ruins (නාමල් පොකුණ නටබුන්)

Ancient Dimbulagala temple was situated at Namal Pokuna area. As I mentioned earlier during King Great Parakramabahu period this part of Dimbulagala was allocated for priests who are doing religious activities.
Nowadays a lot of ruins can be seen at this area. You can climb up to Akasa Chaithya from Namal Pokuna temple. Then you will meet the same road towards herbal ponds and Mara Weediya on your way. Climbing is easy from this side compared to previous pathway.

Reflection of Dimbulagala

The pathway

Climbing of stone steps

Brighten sky

Reaching to archeological site

Ancient stupa

Image house

Buddha statue

Another building

Parts of umbrella stones

“Bodhigaraya” බෝධි ඝරය

Should appreciate the work of archeology officers for preserving and maintaining this site. The foot pathway on right hand side of the archeology site will bring you towards Akasa Chaithya.

The pond next to archeology site. This picture was taken two years ago.

You will come across 5-6 caves on your way to Akasa Chaithya.

Cave with drip ledge

Stone inscription

Another cave

Another cave

Main cave out of these is the “Kashayapa Lena” (කාශයප ලෙන) where Dimbulagala Kashayapa Thero (දිඹුලාගල කාශයප හාමුදුරුවෝ) stayed.

“Kashayapa Lena”

Spacious

Stone inscription below the drip ledge

Vandalism

“Nil Diya Pokuna” (නිල්දිය පොකුණ)-picture taken 2 years back.

Dried “Nil Diya Pokuna”

Steps to “Nil Diya Pokuna”

Foot pathway through the forest

Directions

The foot pathway to herbal pond meets

Akasa Chaithya back

Heading to the peak of Dimbulagala-Sinhagala (සිoහ ගල)
Sinhagala is the highest point of this rock range. As this part of the rock is viewed as a face of lion, it is called Sinhagala.

Highest point of this rock range is show in a circle-Sinhagala

Sinhagala Zoomed-Face of the lion

This was the long awaited day for me. We decided to conquer Dimbulagala peak from Millana side. Six people gathered for this journey and we started it around 9.30am following our breakfast.

Starting of the journey.

Nice natural cave formation.

Typical dry zone forest. Better wear a pair of shoes as there are ample of stones on the ground.

Searching for a cave.

The journey was moderate strenuous. After about 500m of walk, the foot pathway was disappeared. We had to walk through typical dry zone forest with underlying rock formation. Total climb was about 3-4kms and after 2hours we reached a point which is somewhat lower than the highest point.

One of a great moment of the journey.

Accidentally noted.

Narrow escape.

Batticalo side after climbing of some distance.

He is trying to get on.

Another difficult place.

As this was the dry season we didn’t come across any water source till we get on to this place. There was a small pond filled with water (most probably rainy water). This place was good as a view point.

Sinhagala on side

After having a brief rest there we walked towards the highest point where you may not have a good surrounding view.
Any way none of these points will provide you a panoramic view. Z Lake from Maduru Oya, Dimbulagala Lake can be seen in north. Mahawali River, Parakrama Samudrya can be seen in west. Knuckles mountain range can be seen beyond this.
Omanugala and Maduru Oya reservoir are viewed in south and Thoppigala and Narakamulla area is seen east.-Simillar to previous point-Tower Kanda

Thoppigala

The drop.

The highest point of Sinhagala-But it is not a good view point due to surrounding trees.

The team.

Return journey was easier and we completed it by 1hour but not through the same route.

On our way back.

Nice ground covering

Getting down.

Where we were.

Beautiful landscape after harvesting.

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Current tourist attraction of Dimbulagala
Dimbulagala new temple is the main tourist attraction now. Therefore the report about Dimbulagala is not completed without mention it.

Statue of Ven. Kithalagama Seelalankara Thero. He is the hero behind all these development of Dimbulagala. We wouldn’t discuss about this place if he didn’t arrive there. Ven. Seelalankara Thero was shot dead by terrorists in 1995.

This cave was offered to Seelalankara Thero by Wadda community once he came here. Then it was converted to an image house.

Beautifully painted statues inside the image house. This indicates “Mara Parajaya” මාර පරාජය.

Another painting.

“Dalada Madura” දළදා මැදුර

There are several wooden Buddha statues made by priests of Dimbulagala hermitage. These Buddha statues can be seen in Dalada Madura.

“Saptha Maha Dewala” සප්ත මහා දේවාල is also another common tourist attraction. You can see seven Dewala here.

God Eshwara ඊශ්වර දෙවියෝ

Thank you very much for coming for Dimbulagala pilgrimage.