BELIHULOYA
Kuragala monastery complex can be sighted following a 2.25 km distance from 14th mile post in Balangoda-Uggal Kalthota route. This is a Buddhist traditional heredity which has seen the light and developed synchronous to archaic monasteries like Vessagiriya, Ritigala, Dimbulagala, Sithulpavuwa and Mihinthalaya. Among the few caverns, which are famous in relation to their religious, national, cultural and historical value, this cavern holds an inimitable place second to none. According to folklore, the old name of this massive rock is “Kuharagala”, not “Kuragala”. Though this place is called Kuragala in common, actually there are two rock-apical namely Kuragala and Hituwangala, which is named by dint of its natural site with a natural concavity in the east slope of the rock. This rock concavity is 5-6.5 m deep and large enough for two people to go in at once. 78 SABARAGAMUWA Before reaching Kuragala one has to climb the old stair case made picking the rock and in a 100 m distance there is an annular cant. Thence from left the cave complex in which antecedent Brahmi letters inscribed can be accessible. Hituwangala cave is situated at the right side of this. According to the Haputhale map, Kuragala can be described as the highest vertex in the precipice that spreads as a sloppy dyke in between 150-450 m contour lines directed to south and south-east. Following the map this precipice is long about 16 km from Bellangala Mountains that stretches to north-east and south-west directions to Diyainna, Kapugala and Bambaragala. This range of Rocky Mountains can be considered as a dense deposit of charnockite or “granite migmenise”. When observing the vicinity of Kuragala, the sight from south direction is the hydro-merge of Chandrika Wewa and Udawalawa that resembles horizon. From south-east, two massive reservoirs namely “Bindinu Mankada” and Hambegamuwa can be sighted. From north-east direction, Haputhale range of mountains and Koslanda plateau add colour to the attraction. There are only few caverns in the east Kuragala rock. The first cave is about 20 m long and 13.4 m high with dripledges. Also there is a long lithographed inscription with antecedent Brahmi letters including the phrases mentioned below. “o;yi m%yf,fK” (dathahasa prahalene) means “the cave offered by Daththa”. “mreuliuh” (parumakasamaya) means “the main cavern”. There is another inscription written in double columns that would measure 10 m high in a separate cave in the same rock-hill. “mreul ^iq& u ^k& y” (parumaka (su) ma (na) ha) means “the chief Sumana’s cave and….” Currently, this sanctuary which was dedicated to Buddhist monks in day one, is now a major holly place of Muslims whose shrine is called by the name “Dathaththaselan” is situated on the second rock. Though this name is considered as one of their holly names it resembles the same word “Dathahasapada Lena” inscribed in a stone-inscription. According to old Sinhala, this cave might have been referred as “Dathahalana” before contributing it to monks. The rock in Signature of Sri Lanka 79 which the cavern is located might have been referred locally as “Dathahasela” in days of yore. Ven. Gnanavimala thero shows the Muslims who came here have changed the Sinhala name as “daththaselan” into an easy way for them to pronounce. Some of them believe that these Brahmi letters are the letters of Koran. The location of this sacred place is not easy to reach. One of the stretches of caverns that could be found by descending a short distance from the peak to the declivity is denominated as the place of worship. There is also a very abstruse rock chasm. Many years ago, a devoted Muslim ecclesiastic has once gone into this chasm never to return. Thence they believe that this chasm ends in Mecca. It is sited that Kuragala cave has a long history that has descended from the epoch of aborigines. Dispersed ruins have evidenced the fact Kuragala is not a secluded hermitage. Most of the mountain caverns in Sri Lanka belong to hermitage genre including Kuragala too, which descends from 2-1 centuries B.C. Today the terrain is designated as an archaeological conservation.
BELIHULOYA
This natural attractive is located in a 1 km distance in Uthuwana route from Uthuwan Kanda village not far from MawanFalls in Colombo-Kandy road. It is rather famous as the dwelling place of worldwide popular Soora Saradiyel who is known as “Sri Lanka’s Robin Hood” alias “Sinhala Robin Hood”. The fabulous hill is 431 m high from sea-level. The gigantic rock on hilltop which is considered as a remarkable creation of Mother Nature, states the legend of sole antipathy against inequity and injustice of a brave Sinhalese. At that time Uthuwana village was a blooming area of coconut cultivation. Using the sound “Uthu”, which means in Sinhala coconut, the area name was denominated as “Uthuwana” that declares the meaning, forest of coconuts. The limestone cavern that is considered to be the dwelling of Saradiyel can be met on top of the hill even Signature of Sri Lanka 247 today. The space in the cavern gradually falls short from stand hight of a man to a lesser space enough only to crawl. There are several high rocks on the cave and the peak of these rocks open up a clear view of the vicinity including ColomboKandy route. “Soora Saradiyel” might have used this rock to be safe from wild animals and to scrutinize the rival invasions afore. The documentaries that untwist the secrets about Sinhala Robin Hood are police reports written in imperial administrative period, news reports and petitions of mudaliers. The legends about Saradiyel declare that he had showed a morale and courage that surpasses the brawn of his own meager body against injustice and inequity. Lots of people have brought out lots of viewpoints about Saradiyel. He has looted from British rulers and wealthy chetties and has ladled out among the oppressed poor in the society. However, he did adieu forever on 7th May, 1864 spending only 32 years as a hero of the poor.
Duvili Falls
This magnificent waterfall crumples lamenting as loosened plait of hair of a beauty from summit to deep water receptacle at the cliff. Dispersed delicate driblets float in milieu as a cloud of dust. The rainbow created penetrating the driblet cloud by solar rays is extremely intriguing. Duvili Falls can be reached by turning to right at 16th mile post in BFallsngala Village at Balangoda-Kalthota route and proceeding 4 km through the jungle. Another path that leads to the waterfall is Kalthota-Medabedda road that traces left to Ilukpelessa. Out of the five dusty falls in Sri Lanka, Duvili Falls is pre-eminent. It is reported that a British proconsul who was hunting elephants has found this cascade. Folklore reveals that a prince lived in ancient history has ensconced his jewels in Signature of Sri Lanka 133 a stone cavity at this fall when he was standing at the bay. Villagers carry a belief that in the deep water receptacle at the feet of the waterfall lives an eel a guised in golden earrings and a golden ash pumpkin. It is also said that “Katharagama deity” has brought Duvili falls into existence. The root-cause of Duvili falls, which would count 40 m high, is Walave River. When visiting this waterfall which is located in a dense forest of slopes and precipices one must beware of wild elephants. A species of vipers called “Trimeresurus trigonocephalus” is abundant in this forest. Two tele-dramas namely “Wana Wadule Wasanthaya” and “Ganga Addara Kele” have been recorded based on this waterfall. Bellangala area that encompasses the fall in denominated to be a preservative zone, as it is a rare herbal wild abundant in endemic herbs. As the first reserved lock of land of herbs in Sri Lanka, Department of Wildlife Conservation with the intercession of international fund on nature has designated a land of 300 acres as the forest reserve. The splatter of muddy dusty driblets like a cloud in rainy season is like a gift from nature to withered tree victimized by dry weather. Species of butterflies and Ceylon spur fowls (a species of woodcock) can be involuntarily seen in this area. As an enchanting heritages of nature the jungle is dense with precious herbs like life-giver (species of Terminalia chebula), Sinu (Euphorbia tortilis), yellow myrobalan (Terminalia belerica), Emblic myrobaan (Phyllathus emblica), and large timber trees like Ebony (Diospyrus ebenum), Gammalu (Pterocarpus marsupius), and sandalwood (Santalum album). Villagers warn not to bath from the area around waterfall as it is dangerous. By now, the area around Duvili falls is designated as a touristic zone by Balangoda Municipal Council under the guidance of Ministry of Tourism, Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council. “So detail the origin of Walave located amid Uva and Sabaragamu climes The rainbows stair in when the sun starts shine The huge erect fall directed into circle and whirls Stone entrance tells the tale of Duvili Falls; a work of Sadipura deity”. (Folk Poem)
Surathali Falls
This cascade is located in between Halpe 169th km post and Marangahawela 170th km post in Colombo-Badulla main route. One who proceeds on this route can experience the splendor of Surathali falls which rains down from 62 m up. The origin of this fall lies in Horton Plains, Kadawath Oya, which begins from higher region of Bumton government estate in Mahaweli range of mountains, creates this waterfall. After the film titled “Surathali” has been filmed nearby this fall was popularized as “Surathali Falls”.
Silogama Community Tourism Village
Silogama Community Tourist Village, which is replete in natural beauty is a tourist site associated with Belihuloya Tourist Paradise. A program to accommodate lodging for tourists relating houses in the village has been actuated by Sabaragamuwa Province Ministry of Tourism. Especially through agricultural operations done in this village, traditional agro-industry that has been declining from us and rituals, language and mores that have been fabricated around traditional agro-industry could have been able to shield from eradication. Also most of the features that are generally discoverable in an ancient village still exist alive in this area. Especially, the paddy fields prepared according to terraced cultivation are picturesque and add more to the beauty of this touristy village. Signature of Sri Lanka 243 Streams and cascades that flow down through this village escalate its natural beauty. The splendid range of mountains leading to Hagala and Paraviyangala at one side and Samanala reservoir at the other end of this village creates an exclusive paradise for tourist activities. At the village travellers can have an enchanting view of Nonpareil area and lower part of the World’s End through comely Hagala and Paraviyangala mountains. As this village is located in intermediate climatic zone, it consists of a higher bio-diversity level. Thus, Silogama village is home to wide variety of fauna and flora. Travellers who visit this village can experience various tour activities as bird watching, rock climbing, bicycling, boatridding and fishing. Also this village procures a great assistance for researches of natural ecosystems and explores of village agro-industrial life-style in Sri Lanka.