Maduru Oya National Park Archives

Town located in the Badulla District of Sri Lanka – ‘ Mahiyanganaya ‘ – By Malsha – eLanka Mahiyanganaya is a town located in the Badulla District of Sri Lanka. It is situated in the Uva Province, which is in the central part of the country. Mahiyanganaya is known for its historical and religious significance. One of the most significant landmarks in Mahiyanganaya is the Mahiyangana Raja Maha Vihara, which is an ancient Buddhist temple. According to Buddhist tradition, Lord Buddha visited Mahiyanganaya during his third visit to Sri Lanka, and it is believed that he left a sacred hair relic at the temple. The Mahiyangana Raja Maha Vihara is an important pilgrimage site for Buddhists and attracts many devotees. Apart from its religious importance, Mahiyanganaya is surrounded by beautiful natural landscapes. The town is situated near the Maduru Oya National Park, which is known for its diverse flora and ...

Thoppigala – spectacular archetypal inselberg – By Arundathie Abeysinghe Image Source : dilmahtea The highest peak located between *Dimbulagala near *Polonnaruwa and the East Coast situated 543 meters above sea level, the inselberg “Thoppigala” (in Sinhala) and “Kudumbimalai” (in Tamil) meaning “hair-knot” rock is surrounded by protected dry zone scrub jungle within an area of 400 square kilometers. The nearest village Manamptiya situated approximately 14 kilometers away from Thoppigala was developed due to the Mahaweli Irrigation Scheme. Thoppigala is also part of the traditional *Veddah community situated in the vicinity of the Maduru Oya National Park abundant with large herds of deer, elephants and leopards that are roaming in the wilderness between Thoppigala and Maduru Oya. This rocky edged mountain was also known as “Piyagalaka Agali Pawatha” in the past. The British had called this enormous spectacular monadnock as “Baron’s Cap” (during the British Colonial Era) due its distinctive shape of ...