Buduruwayaya archaeological site – hidden historical treasure – By Arundathie Abeysinghe
Located in the south west of *Wasgamuwa National Park, approximately six kilometers from Bakamuna town in Polonnaruwa District of North Central Province and situated amidst spectacular vistas of paddy fields spread endlessly, blending into breathtaking mountains, Buduruwayaya archaeology site is rarely visited by local and foreign tourists.
Tropical dry mixed evergreen forest characterized by tall trees, including Weera (Drypetes sepiaria), Palu (Manikkara hexandra), Buruta (Satin – Chloroxylon Swietenia) Ehala (C. Fistula), Milla (Vitaex Pinanata) and Kaluwara (ebony- Diospyros Ebenum) including the endemic Galsiyambala (Dialium ovoideum) and engulfed by diverse endemic and dry zone vegetation, the forest is also home to many wild animals.
Scholars are of the view that remains of several small rainwater reservoirs and ruins of Buddhist Temples, indicate that this region had been a well-developed village, many years ago.
According to archaeologists, the ruins date to 1800 years. There is a reclining Buddha Statue at Buduruwayaya. There are also ruins of a palace with stone pillars found in an island in a canal known as “Kalinga Yoda Ela” constructed by *King Parakrambahu in the 12th century.
There had been a dagoba (stupa) in the premises. Currently, the site has a mound of earth and broken pieces of bricks overgrown with scrubs. There are also guard stones, a moon stone including a stone pillar indicating the location of an ancient temple. A stone inscription and a siripatula stone (stone slab on which the Buddha’s Sacred Foot Print is carved) have been placed under a tree. There is also an enormous figure of the recumbent Buddha carved on a rock. Scholars are of the view that the Buddha Image is similar to the recumbent Buddha Image at Gal Vihara in *Polonnaruwa.
At the feet of the Buddha Image on the rock boulder, there is an indication that two figures had been molded, which historians are of the view that they were of King Parakramabahu. There would have been a roof supported by stone pillars to protect these figures, in the past.
Archaeologists are of the view that some ruins including an ancient palace, rock caves with drip ledges and *Brahmi inscriptions are located inside Wasgamuwa National Park. In front of the Buddha Image, a few feet away, the fence separating the boundary of Wasgamuwa National Park is located.
- Brahmi inscriptions – The earliest writing system developed in India after the Indus script and considered as an influential writing system. All modern Indian scripts as well as several hundred scripts that are in South Asia, Southeast and East Asia are derived from Brahmi writing system.
- Chola conquest – This was a military invasion of the Anuradhapura Kingdom by the Chola Empire of Southern India, one of the longest ruling dynasties in world history. Initially, the Anuradhapura Kingdom was invaded in 993 AD and absorbed it into the Chola Empire of Southern India.
- King Parakramabahu – Parakramabahu I (1153–1186) also known as “Parakramabahu the Great” was the king of Polonnaruwa. He united the island (Sri Lanka) under one rule, oversaw the expansion and beautification of his capital, reformed Buddhist practices, revived arts and crafts, constructed extensive irrigation systems, reorganized the country’s army and also undertook military campaigns in South India and Burma. He designed a government of 12 provincial governors, princes, army generals and leading merchants. He allowed Hindus freedom of worship. The adage “Not even a drop of water that comes from the rain must flow into the ocean without being made useful to man” is one of his most famous utterances.
- Polonnaruwa – The Kingdom of Polonnaruwa or the ancient city of Polonnaruwa (also known as “Pulastipura”) was the second capital of Sri Lanka for three centuries from 11th to 13th centuries. After the *Chola conquest of Anuradhapura Kingdom, the center of administration was shifted to Polonnaruwa until 1232. Polonnaruwa has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
- Wasgamuwa National Park – Spanning over 36,900 hectares and bordered by Mahaweli River and Amban Ganga (Ganga meaning River in Sinhala), tropical dry mixed evergreen forest predominates the Park. Rainfall in the area is mainly during the northeast monsoon (Maha) during the period from October-February with inter-monsoon rains occurring during the period from March-May. Large herds of elephants are the main attractions of the Park and the best time to enjoy the sight of large herds are from November to May. During the rest of the year, the elephants mostly migrate to adjacent Minneriya and Kaudulla National Parks.
