MANDAGALA CAVES

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

At least six caves (CEYLON TRAVELLER 1983: 174) or modified natural rock shelters with pre-Christian inscriptions chiselled on their rock faces include –>Kanabisunge galge, which is for selected cave collectors a cave of particular interest. SITUATION: Four miles (6.5 km) east of the rock Athurumiturugala or Athurumithurugala (note 1) above the delightfully named tank Athurumituru wewa or Athurumithuru Wewa (note 2) is a green parkland covering the bed of the Mandagala Tank or Mandagala Wewa (note 3). Here, above the dimbul trees rises the striking split-faced Mandagala rock reaching over 500 feet [152.5 m]. This rock is one of the four peaks in the Mandala range [note 4] (CEYLON TRAVELLER 1983: 173-174). APPROACH: Mandagala is easily reached by foot along game trails from the Kumbukkan oya or by a rough track (which also leads to Athurumituru wewa) turning north at Nabadagas wewa [note 5] near Potana [note 6] on the Yala - Kumana jeep track (CEYLON TRAVELLER 1983: 174).At least six caves (CEYLON TRAVELLER 1983: 174) or modified natural rock shelters with pre-Christian inscriptions chiselled on their rock faces include –>Kanabisunge galge, which is for selected cave collectors a cave of particular interest. SITUATION: Four miles (6.5 km) east of the rock Athurumiturugala or Athurumithurugala (note 1) above the delightfully named tank Athurumituru wewa or Athurumithuru Wewa (note 2) is a green parkland covering the bed of the Mandagala Tank or Mandagala Wewa (note 3). Here, above the dimbul trees rises the striking split-faced Mandagala rock reaching over 500 feet [152.5 m]. This rock is one of the four peaks in the Mandala range [note 4] (CEYLON TRAVELLER 1983: 173-174). APPROACH: Mandagala is easily reached by foot along game trails from the Kumbukkan oya or by a rough track (which also leads to Athurumituru wewa) turning north at Nabadagas wewa [note 5] near Potana [note 6] on the Yala - Kumana jeep track (CEYLON TRAVELLER 1983: 174).