KOTIYAGALA VIHARA CAVE TEMPLE

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A so-called cave temple which may consist of a modified natural rock shelter or a true cave used as a temple cave, contains a statue of the recumbent (reclining) Buddha and paintings (rock art): The cave roof and walls must once have been fully covered with paintings. Much evidence of them remains --elephants gambolling among lotus and olu flowers, horses, hares, serpents, swans, parrots, buffaloes, and female figures similar to those of Sigiriya (CEYLON TRAVELLER 1974: ?; 1983: 350). SITUATION (CEYLON TRAVELLER 1983: 350): Apparently in the province of Uva and accessible by a six-mile walk (10 km without orientation) simply through jungle from a place called Kotiyagala (note 1), which itself is said to lie some 12.5 miles (about 20 km without orientation) on the road to a place called Wattegama (note 2) that is reached from the Wellawaya - Pottuvil road (note 3) via a turn off at the 174th mile on the Wellawaya - Pottuvil road (note 4).A so-called cave temple which may consist of a modified natural rock shelter or a true cave used as a temple cave, contains a statue of the recumbent (reclining) Buddha and paintings (rock art): The cave roof and walls must once have been fully covered with paintings. Much evidence of them remains --elephants gambolling among lotus and olu flowers, horses, hares, serpents, swans, parrots, buffaloes, and female figures similar to those of Sigiriya (CEYLON TRAVELLER 1974: ?; 1983: 350). SITUATION (CEYLON TRAVELLER 1983: 350): Apparently in the province of Uva and accessible by a six-mile walk (10 km without orientation) simply through jungle from a place called Kotiyagala (note 1), which itself is said to lie some 12.5 miles (about 20 km without orientation) on the road to a place called Wattegama (note 2) that is reached from the Wellawaya - Pottuvil road (note 3) via a turn off at the 174th mile on the Wellawaya - Pottuvil road (note 4).