Arangala/Nalanda Rock (782m) and few surroundings

Nalanda Rock (Arangala) is situated at Arangala-Naula with the height of 782m. It’s distance view is shape of an ear ring (Arungala (අරුoගල) ->Arangala අරoගල) gave the name Arangala. This isolated mountain is best seen when you travel from Dambulla to Matale via A-9 road, once you reach Naula bus stand. It has three peaks which makes the shape of an ear ring.

The map – click to enlarge ( Nalanda Rock and our approach)

View of Arangala over Bowathenna Reservoir

View of Arangala from Opalgala (ඕපල්ගල)

View of Arangala from Manikdena (මැණික්දෙන)

Classic view of Arangala from Naula. On my first day attempt is shown by black arrow-failed one. Second day attempt is shown by white arrow-correct one.

In my first attempt to climb this mountain was failed as we couldn’t find the pathway to overcome the rock. On that day we loitered around the rock and came back. It happened first time in my life. According to Ashan and Anupama (who previously climbed the mountain) it was not that much difficult. So I decided to give a second chance.

The gravel road towards Naula Rock starts when you pass Youth development Center at Arangala. After about 500m road ends and a foot pathway starts parallel with the tap line. Initial climb is under the tree canopy and later this foot pathway gets disappeared. Major obstacle is overcoming the rock. Therefore always walk towards left hand side. It can be easily climbed if you walk towards left hand side. If you go more in left hand side, no need of rock climbing and you can easily be on Mana patch. (What we realized on our way back down)

End of the gravel road and starting of the foot pathway.

Under the tree canopy

These arrows were marked by youth crops. But after certain distance it would vanish.

Climbing up

Climbing up

It was not that much difficult

Small rock climbing part to overcome the rock

Once you reach the Mana patch (grassy area) you can view two peaks and there was an easy climb through Mana to reach the flat area where you can view all three peaks of the mountain. We walked from one peak to another and enjoyed the surrounding view.

Surrounding peaks can be named as Beliya kanda in Galewela side, nearby giant- Manikdena peak, Yakkurugala, Erawulagala with Koth Gal Kanda, Gedaragalapathana, Knuckles massif and Ambokka. Etipola and Wilshire were seen beyond Ambokka peak.

Bowathenna and Nalanda reservoirs were clearly visible clearly and Erawula Lake was given a faint sight. Naula town, Galewela area, and A9 road were also seen.

Companions of the journey

View of 3rd peak. So called the rock we couldn’t overcome in first day

Climbing up

Climbing up

View of 1st peak

View of 2nd peak

Heading to 1st peak

Front line of Knuckles massif….Riverstone, Gammaduwa and Karagahathanna where transmission towers are placed.

Black arrow-Gedaragalapathana (ගෙදරගල්පතන)-759m and red arrow-Naula town with play ground

Manikdena (865m) is shown by the star

Green star shows Erawulagala (695m) + Gal Koth Kanda (652m). Erawula lake is seen back. Yakkurugala is shown in red star…..might be next target

Nearby Maratuluwa (672m)

Bowathenna Reservoir

Bowathenna dam-zoomed. After few hours we were on top of it

On top of first peak

Moving from first peak to second peak

On top of second peak

Bowathenna and Nalanda reservoirs

Team ….on top of second peak

Third peak

This part is placed on third peak

Team on top of third peak

Getting down..

Refreshed from well

We started the climbing around 9.30am and returned back around 1pm. As there was no nearby water stream, we refreshed ourselves from a well. After having the lunch we headed towards Nalanda Gedige and then to Bowathenna Reservoir.

Nalanda Gedige

This is one of the hall marks of Sri Lankan architecture and was shifted to the present place due to construction of Bowathenna reservoir. It’s initial place was believed as the center of Sri Lanka.

Nalanda Gedige is a Buddhist image house built in Hindu architecture style called Pallawa (පල්ලව) tradition. There are no that much information about it’s history. It is situated 1km from main road.

Historical information

Gate	Nalanda Gedige

Moon stone and entrance

Sculpture with man-woman-lion

Gedige with nearby pagoda

Fine architecture

Gedige

What they have done should be appreciated

Different view of Gedige

Bowathenna Reservoir and dam

The road towards Bowathenna dam will come across about 1km towards Naula from Arangala. Bowathenna Dam is situated 2.5km from the main road.

Bowathenna reservoir was made by building of a dam crossing Amban Ganga (අඹන් ගග) and it’s water is discharged to Dambulu Oya and then to Kala Wewa (කලා වැව) and Kandalama Tank (කන්ඩලම).

Bowathenna Dam is a 30m high gravity dam at Bowathenna, built in 1981. A40 MW power station is also there. The dam consists of six spillways measuring a combined width of 68m.

Bowathenna Reservoir

Arangala/Naula rock is seen above Bowathenna

Water measurement

Bowathenna Dam

Water spill

Bowathenna turn to lakes in Rajarata

Information about the gate

IMS Popham arboretum

This arboretum was made by Mr. Sam Popham in 1963. Initial land size was 7.5arces and he has converted scrub jungle into an arboretum. It is unique because of the only arboretum found in dry zone.

In 1989 arboretum was handed over to IMS and it’s woodlands is 27arces. The management of arboretum was given to Ruk Rakaganno (රුක් රෑකගන්නෝ) in 2005.

At arboretum and wood lands you can see many trees and shrubs which are mainly seen in dry zone of Sri Lanka. Then you can view some endemic bird species and reptile species.

This center is carrying out some educational programmes and visitor’s center is a valuable palace. There is a guest room at Popham’s arboretum where you can spend the night and can watch Lorries.

This place is situated about 3km in Dambulla-Kandalama road.

At entrance

Foot pathways

Visitor’s center was the cottage of Mr. Sam Popham.

Directions

Visitor’s center was built like a ship. It was designed by famous architecture Jeffry Bawa.

To be distributed

Secondary forest

Purpose of arboretum

Somawathi Stupa at Dambulla (දඹුල්ල සෝමාවතී වෙහෙර)

Somawathiya is one of a sacred place of Buddhist. Our well known Somawathi stupa is situated at Polonnaruwa. Apart from that there are two Somawathi temples situated in Sri Lanka. One is closer to Dambulla Temple.

According to some literature Somawathi stupa is situated at Dambulla. This archeology site is well preserved by archeology department and you can see Somawathi stupa, ruins of a Bodhigaraya (බෝධිඝරය) and Uposathagaraya (උපෝසතාගාරය). There are about 50 caves at this archeology site extending to Dambulla temple site as well. (Some of them have not been researched yet).

When you travel from Dambulla to Matale in A9 road, once you pass Dambulla temple there is a road towards Walagamba Pirivena (වලගම්බා පිරිවෙන). This road will bring you to this archeology site.

The road towards archeology site

Archeology site

Somawathi Dagoba

Somawathi Dagoba

Ruins of Uposathagaraya

Ruins of a Bodhigaraya

Ruins of a Bodhigaraya

Thanks for reading