Anamaduwa - charming archaeoligical site of Paramakanda
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Anamaduwa is a city in northwestern Sri Lanka, rarely visited by foreign tourists. The Paramakanda Vihara close to the city is one of the few archaeological sites in Puttalam District. Actually, the Paramakanda rock with a cave temple is a quaint destination, worth a visit for those travelling across this area. The vistas are breathtaking and the top of the rock is easily accessible by a modern stairway.
Anamaduwa is anything but a “must” on the tourist map, but it’s at least the most important archaeological site in the Puttalam district, which is admittedly rather poor in terms of historical sights.
Anamaduwa is anything but a “must” on the tourist map, but it’s at least the most important archaeological site in the Puttalam district, which is admittedly rather poor in terms of historical sights.
Location
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The small town of Anamaduwa is located 23 km (14 miles) southeast of Puttalam on the A10 road via Kurunegala to Kandy, where it is crossed by the B60 road from Chilaw, which is 45 km (28 miles) southwest. Tavelers from Colombo or Negombo to Anuradhapura could use this latter road as an alternative side route, allowing a visit of Anamaduwa.
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Paramakanda - Rock and Cave Temple
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The main attraction of Anamaduwa is Paramakanda rock and cave temple to the northwest outside of the town. Between the town center and Tonigala vistors have to turn north onto a cul-de-sac and follow it for about four kilometers (2.5 miles). Then travelers will see the rocj already from a distance and then arrive at one of Sri Lanka's typical cave monasteries. This temple called Paramakanda Raja Maha Viharaya is on the opposite northern side of the rock formation. Today's monastery nestles closely against the rocks that rise vertically here.
The typical monadnock is an 80 m (260 feet) high, lonely granite hill that, like so many of Sri Lanka's rock colossuses, served as a retreat of Buddhist monks. At the foot of the rock, remains of an ancient vihara from the Anuradhapura period were excavated. The most important excavation find was a bronze Buddha. Today's Paramakanda rock temple has a typical Kandy-style cave temple. It's aso one of the numerous cave temples claiming to go back to the reign of King Vattagamani Abhaya in the 1st century BC, The king is known better under his Sinhala name Walagamba. The site has been formally recognised by the Government as an archaeological site. |
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The very remote Paramakanda rock temple near Anamaduwa is interesting for individual travelers for two reasons. Firstly, this is one of the granite rocks that can be climbed without any mountaineering skills. The summit offers a fantastic panoramic view over the plains of the North West Province. Secondly, the surrounding area is rich in bodies of water, which is why Anamaduwa is particularly recommended as a place to stay for bird watchers.
The climb is a well-developed stairway that you can easily find by simply walking straight ahead through the monastery area. The height difference to be overcome is also not as great as in Sigiriya or Pidurangala. So it’s a comfortable climb indeed. You then arrive at the mountain saddle, where a huge boulder lies on the monadnock in such a way that it only touches it in a few places, it looks as if giants had placed it here. There is even a small pond below the boulder.
In all directions the view falls on the plain. To the west there are no more elevations between Anamaduwa and the coast near Puttalam. In the northeast you can see the hills of the Cultural Triangle in the Hatthikucchi area in the distance.
Anamaduwa is best known among historians as a site of significant rock inscriptions.
The climb is a well-developed stairway that you can easily find by simply walking straight ahead through the monastery area. The height difference to be overcome is also not as great as in Sigiriya or Pidurangala. So it’s a comfortable climb indeed. You then arrive at the mountain saddle, where a huge boulder lies on the monadnock in such a way that it only touches it in a few places, it looks as if giants had placed it here. There is even a small pond below the boulder.
In all directions the view falls on the plain. To the west there are no more elevations between Anamaduwa and the coast near Puttalam. In the northeast you can see the hills of the Cultural Triangle in the Hatthikucchi area in the distance.
Anamaduwa is best known among historians as a site of significant rock inscriptions.
Thonidala Rock Inscriptions
The two Thonigala Rock Inscriptions are found 5 km (4 miles) west of the Paramakando rock. Each inscription measuring about 30 m (100 feet) in length, concerning size they are the largest in Sri Lanka. The Brahmi inscriptions date back to the first century BC, being attributed to the reigns of he famous King Vattagamani Abhaya, known as Walagamba in Sinhala, and his son Mahaculi Mahathissa. The inscriptions record donations of a lake and a village to a Buddhist Monastery named Achagirika Tissa Pabbata, which is probably today’s Paramakanda Raja Maha Viharaya.
