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Wondering In Kurunegala 2, Getting To The Top Of Ethugala Rock

This post is from my visit to the Ethugala rock on 20/06/2010. This place is of historical, ecological, and cultural importance. The kind of wildlife I've observed there will be available on my wildlife blog soon.  Ethugala is very closely associated with the ancient era when Kurunegala was the Capital. That era starts from the year 1293 according to the resources. Actually the history of Kurunegala stretches back way beyond that, but I need to do a lot of studies before going in to it any deeper.

There is a twisting tarred road that takes you to the top, and there is a steep route too, with steps engraved on the rock itself. I took these images on the way to the top along the tarred road.

   

These I took from various spots on the top.

An escape to the paradise of Knuckles Range

Some of my workmates and I have decided to do some frequent traveling, with one another's families. The first trip of the scheme took place on last Sunday.  Our destination was Reversturn, a peak of the Knuckles range. We also spent a litle time in Pitawala Pathana and had a cool and soothing bath in Thelagamu Oya river. The route we took was from Kurunegala to Thalgodapitiya Junction along Dambulla road, tp , Mathale from there, and to Reversturn across Rattota, Then to Pitawala Pathana and Thelagamu Oya. Our trip being a short one didn't stop us from having a good time. The weather was very mild and the wind was ferocious as you see in the videos.   A tiny bit of info in a wildlife sense is on my wildlife blog.

Wondering In Kurunegala

Kurunegala is where I currently reside.  It's the capital of the North West Of Sri Lanka. It is one of the ancient capitals of the country too. The sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha was once kept there in that far gone time.


This is Ethugala , a rock that gets its name having the shape of an elephant. Situated about the middle of the city, this is the land mark of Kurunegala.

The wewa is one of my two favorite spots in the area.  A wewa is a man made water reservoir with the purpose of storing rain water and distributing to the paddy fields in the dry seasons. These were built more than a thousand years a go. Their technology still marvels today's engineers.

 

 Paddy and Coconut  are the main crops of Kurunegala. Coconut was grown in big scale, but seems to be fading gradually.

Well, there are so many interesting places in Kurunegala, but even having lived there  for five years, I've not been to many of them. When I do, I'll post about them too. 

  

Happy Time At Lake Bolgoda

I recently visited my old place in Panadura. I did not forget to hang around Lake Bolgoda, a man- made canal from the colonial times. Around lake Bolgoda is a very sensitive wetland echo system with a significant bio diversity.

Here is a villager, a fisher probably, paddling his canoe. This reservoir is abundant in local and introduced fresh water fishes and prawns.   

A glimpse of the flora and fauna about the lake for you.

This is a wooden platform used by people cross the canal. It's operated by a rope suspended on a pull. The passengers just have to pull the rope to keep the platform moving.

This bridge was recently built replacing a similar platform.