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Yudaganawa

Yudaganawa Temple is located close to Buttala on the Wellawaya– Buttala Road. This is one of the largest Stupas in the country and dates back to 2 nd century BC. This is thought to be place price Tissa and his brother price Gamini (Later The great king Dutugemunu) had a major battle after the death of his father King Kavanthissa (2 nd century BC)

The Rajavaliya descries this battle

".... Prince Gemunu coming to know that his father has died, left Kothmale and arriving at the city of Magama, sent word to prince Tissa requesting him to dispatch the mother and the tusker, who was born on the same day. But prince Tissa did not heed that request. Letters were sent 3 times and when there was no response prince Gemunu setout to fight, taking with him his men. The two brothers met each others at Yudaganapitiya. Thirty thousand soldiers of prince Gemunu fell in the battlefield and and taking defeat he started to flee. When Prince Tissa was chasing after his brother, the maha sanga came and blocked his way, and noticed that prince Tissa returned to Digamadulla. ..........."

The stupa standing like a massive wall in front of you

This colossal stupa was probably was not completed and it seems that the top of the partially constructed stupa was leveled and a smaller stupa was built on top it at a later stage. This stupa is also known as "Kinkini Stupa" among the locals.

After thousands of years of negligence, stupa is now under restoration. You can still see massive trees on the upper platform of the stupa which has not been uprooted yet. Also waking around the stupa you can see the platform of the stupa has been cleared after excavating about 3 feet.

Just before the Yudaganawa car park you will pass a small stupa on the road side. This is identified as the "Chulangani Viharaya" belonging to the 12th century. But the Buddha statues inside the image house (see photos) have been dated to the 6-7th centuries.

How to reach

You can reach the site from either Wellawaya or from Kataragama depending on which route you take.

You can reach Wellawaya in through many roads. If you are coming from Badulla or Bandarawela you must tale the Ella Road which lies between Badulla-Bandarawela Road. On the way you will also pass the beautiful Ravana Ella (Ravana Watherfall) too on the way. There is a another road from Koslanda. Taking this road will take you through the 220 metre high waterfall "Diyaluma". Koslanda lies between the Balangoda – Haputhale Road.

If you are coming from Kataragama, use the Buttala Road and from Buttala town turn to Wellawaya Road. On this route, you will be also passing places such as Maligavila Statues and Dematamal Viharaya.

The by-road (turn off) to this historic site is few kms form the Buttala town and there was no clear indication at the turn off. So its best to ask for the turn off from a local. This by lane is a tar road and you have to walk about 100 meters form to new temple to the this archeological site.

Photo Gallery

Monks on a pilgrimage to Yudaganawa	Original state of the stupa before restoration	The amount of earth excavated to unearthen the base of the stupa
Stupa and the image house	Pilgrims	Murals in the Image house
Entrance to the Image house	Makara thorana at the top of the entrance to the image house	Entrance to the Image house
Murals in the Image house	Chulangani Stupa	Chulangani Image house
Broken Buddha Images in the Chulangani Image house	Broken Buddha Images in the Chulangani Image house	Broken Buddha Images in the Chulangani Image house

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July 22, 2007
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