Ritigala Kanda historical climbing experience
M A R Manukulasooriya - Hiriyala group correspondent
Ritigala Kanda (Ritigala mountain) lying in the southern part of the
North Central Province bears a legendary, historical and monastic past,
unsurpassed by any other mountain retreat in Sri Lanka.
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Po and friends |
Today, Ritigala Kanda is a sanctuary and a protected area maintained
by the Department of Forest Conservation. It is the highest peak rising
from the great central plain of Sri Lanka and reaches beyond the
elevation of Sigiriya, Mihintale and Dambulla – the more famous
neighbouring rock hills emerging from the same plain.
Ritigala Kanda lies midway between the two ancient cities of
Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa and is approximately 16 kilometres east to
Habarana. It is bounded to the south by the
Habarana-Maradankadawala-Anuradhapura road and to the west by the
Ganawalpola-Halmillewa road.
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Banda Pokuna. Pictures by M.A.R. Manukulasooriya Hiriyala
group correspondent |
History records that Ritigala Kanda had been a natural habitation for
aboriginal tribes, religious devotees, princes and royal fugitives
biding their time to wage war for the kingship.
For over 1,500 years its unique importance remained until its
monastic complex was destroyed in the pillage of Sri Lanka by the
invading Cholas from the Tamil kingdom on the lower east coast of India
at the end of the 11th and beginning of 1th Century AD.
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Entering the reserve |
A visit to the Ritigala monastery precinct begins at the
Arachaeological Department Office close to the foot of the Banda Pokuna.
A few stops up takes one to the top of the bund and gives an excellent
view of the tank and of the ring of mountain slopes behind it. This tank
is being renovated by the Ministry of Environment under the ‘Green
village’ programme.
We walked along a road made of stone slabs to reach the top of the
mountain. There are ruins of several buildings including that of an
ayurvedic hospital.
The names of our ancient kings Pandukabhaya and Dutugemunu are
connected with this mountain. These kings have used this mountain as a
hiding place.
Today Ritigala kanda has become a very popular place among both local
and foreign tourists. |
