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.

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.