Yatagala Raja Maha Viharaya

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A quiet rock temple (LONELY PLANET, Sri Lanka 2003: 141), cave temple (man-made rock chamber), or temple cave (modified natural cave or rock shelter) without specified nature or character is used for religious purposes. SITUATION (LONELY PLANET, Sri Lanka 2003: 141): Yatagala (note 1) lies just 4 km without orientation (north?) from Unawatuna (N06°01': E080°15') or Una Vatuna (Eckrich 1984 Mss: Bat cave distribution map), which itself lies about 5 km (LONELY PLANET, Sri Lanka 2003: 141) along the road south-east of Galle (N06°3'13”: E080°12'42” WGS84). CULTURAL HISTORY - rock art: The Great Monastery [of the] King [at the] Yata Rock (in Singhala: Yatagala Raja Maha Viharaya) contains not only air and dust but also a 9 m long statue of the reclining (recumbent) Buddha and Kandyan period mural paintings. CAVE POTENTIAL: Also found in the vicinity of Unawatuna (Una Vatuna) is the cave of the –>Imprisoned Sea Serpent and the so-called –>Una Vatuna cave.A quiet rock temple (LONELY PLANET, Sri Lanka 2003: 141), cave temple (man-made rock chamber), or temple cave (modified natural cave or rock shelter) without specified nature or character is used for religious purposes. SITUATION (LONELY PLANET, Sri Lanka 2003: 141): Yatagala (note 1) lies just 4 km without orientation (north?) from Unawatuna (N06°01': E080°15') or Una Vatuna (Eckrich 1984 Mss: Bat cave distribution map), which itself lies about 5 km (LONELY PLANET, Sri Lanka 2003: 141) along the road south-east of Galle (N06°3'13”: E080°12'42” WGS84). CULTURAL HISTORY - rock art: The Great Monastery [of the] King [at the] Yata Rock (in Singhala: Yatagala Raja Maha Viharaya) contains not only air and dust but also a 9 m long statue of the reclining (recumbent) Buddha and Kandyan period mural paintings. CAVE POTENTIAL: Also found in the vicinity of Unawatuna (Una Vatuna) is the cave of the –>Imprisoned Sea Serpent and the so-called –>Una Vatuna cave.