Panduwasnuwara

 The oldest of the royal capitals in the North-Western Province was Paduwasnuwara, easily accessible an the Chilaw-Wariyapola road. Legend claims Paduwasnuwara as the capital of King Panduwadeva ( circa  C.B.C ), successor of Vijaya, founder of the Indo-Aryan dynasty of Sri Lanka. The archaeological remains however date from the  century. A.D. as this was the interim capital of Parakramabahu I, s stepping stone to his great citadel at polonnaruwa. The impressive, sprawling ( fifty-acre), moated and walled “sleeping city ”, some of it still unexcavated, was an expertly planned and well laid-out metropolis of stately palace, royal audience hall, storehouses, granaries, monastic complexes, shrines, bath-houses, toilets and ponds. Beautifully proportioned platforms, terrces, pavements and doorways enhance its architecture, handsome stone sculptures and carvings record adorn it and rock inscriptions record its events and happenings. The small archaeological museum has an interesting collection of period antiquities unearthed during excavations consisting of sculptures, carving, coin and jewellery. Panduwasnuwara is a ‘must ’ on any Wayamba itinerary and is approximately 39Km, from Kurunegala, the provincial capital.

 Arankele

            The fascinating sixth centure Buddhist fores hermitage of Arankele, where the saintly hermit monk Maliyadeva and other hermits and sages lived in solitude and neditation is anther of Wayamba’s memorable experiences. Arankele is in two parts – impressive ancient hermitage consists of moats, waterways and stone walls, a complete ancient hospital with stone herbal bath, herb-grinder, sick rooms, meditation and preaching halls, a large and beautifully designed bath, a handsome circular shrine and a faultless drainage and sanitary system and the ancient Sakman maluwa, the remarkable ‘meditation walk’ paved with dressed stone, shaded by hoary forest trees. And though the walls of ashlar, splendid though unornamented, have fallen and only pillars, platforms, pavements and terraces remain, the path to peace and serenity still runs straight and true at Arankele. Above, on the huge Dolukande rock and ancient herb forest still thrives; its quiet sylvan glades have made the ancient hermitage into a beautiful natural bird sanctuary. West of the ancient complex, a hermit community of about twenty five monks live in solitude and deep meditation in bare cell and caves in the forest. Devotees visit the monastery daily to bring offerings of food, drink and other necessities to the monks, listen to discourses and meditate; a visit will give an interesting insight to Buddhist contemplative life. Arankele is an easily accessible 25 km, from the provincial capital, Kurunegala

 Haththakuchi & Rajangane

Haththakuchchi (“Elephant’s belly”) near galgamuwa, ic an impressive rock temple complex of great atmosphere, dating back to the  century B.C.; it is also closely associated with legends of the heroic and saintly King Sri Sangabo. Built reveled a group of four handsome shrines and a curious rotunda, probably and image house with pavement and foundations intact.

            A similar ancient  century complex is found at Rajangane, also near Galgamuwa. A handsome circular pillared shrine with four entrances, raised on a terraced platform, many other notable structures, cave shrines, ponds an d1st to century A.D. rock inscriptions make this an ancient site of much interest.


 Rock Temple

         Wayamba contains no less than ten other ancient Buddhist rock temple, mostly with century B.C. roots, with wall and ceiling frescoes, colossal Buddha images, stone inscriptions and sculptures dating from the early medieval to the  century ( Kandyan ) period. Among these temples which make a dramatic impact, are full of the atmosphere of a far-age  and well worth visiting are Paramakanda, with its curious  century A.D. rock inscription on the fishing tax, Wellagala, with its remarkable wall paintings and gigantic ( 32 cubit ) reclining Buddha, Madawala, which has a beautiful entrance arch carved with mythical beasts and the Resvehera ( Sasseruwa), famed for its stunning 40-ft, rock cut standing Buddha, of century vintage. The Raja maha Vihara at Nagolla has priceless ancient manuscripts and bronzes, Kebellelena, old wall paintings and gigantic sculptures and at the Ridi Vihara ( the Silver Temple ) visitors will see and  century wall paintings, an exquisite medieval doorway with intricate carving of ivory inlay, a curious pavement inside the main sanctuary, of Delft tiles on Biblical themes, (the gift of an  century Dutch Consul ) and a beautifully cared moonstone ( stepping stone ) of the pre-  century classical period. Most rock temples also have entrancing views of the surrounding countryside, perched as they are on precipitous rock summits.

         The North-Western Province also has a number of  medieval temples and edifices raised on pillars or small boulders such as Kahatawilagedera Tampita Vihare, the Dorabawila, Bihalpola Vijayarama, Budumuttewa and Dalukgolla temples. All of them contain medieval period wall paintings, sculpture, carvings, woodwork, images and distinctive period architecture and are worth visiting. The beautiful century wayside rest-hall, the Panavitiya Ambalama is an architectural gem, decorated with twenty eight exquisitely carved wooden pillars and ornate beams.