Emerging city – Hambanthota and surrounding historical places

History of Hambanthota (හම්බන්තොට)

When the Kingdom of Ruhuna was established it received many travellers and traders from Siam, China and Indonesia who sought anchorage in the natural harbor at Godawaya, Ambalantota. The ships or large boats these traders travelled in were called “Sampans” and “thota” means port or anchorage so the port where sampans anchor came to be known as “Sampanthota” (which is now known as Godawaya). After some time the area became to be called “Hambanthota”.

Hambanthota District is part of the traditional south known as Ruhuna. In ancient times this region, especially Hambanthota and the neighboring areas was the centre of a flourishing civilization. Historical evidence reveals that the region in that era was blessed with fertile fields and a stupendous irrigation network. Hambanthota was known by many names ‘Mahagama’, ‘Ruhuna’ and ‘Dolos dahas rata’.

After a personal dispute with his brother, King Devanampiyatissa of Anuradhapura, King Mahanaga established the Kingdom of Ruhuna in the south of the island. This region played a vital role in building the nation as well as nurturing the Sri Lankan Buddhist culture. Close to Hambanthota, the large temple of Tissamaharama was built to house a sacred tooth relic.
(Source – en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hambantota )

Hambanthota is being rapidly developed during last few years. Hambanthota new port, Mattala (මත්තල) international air port and international conference center are newly added parts to this city.

Tourist attractions of Hambanthota.

Martello tower and old light house.

This is situated within the Hambanthota city. You have to go along the Kachcheri (කච්චේරි) road to reach both structures. Both structures are situated close each other.

Martello tower
This tower was built by the British military shortly after defeating the Dutch in Ceylon, end of 18th century. The builder was Captain Goper around the years of 1801 and 1803. It was built on the tip of rocky mountain close to the lighthouse. There is a panoramic view of Hambanthota town and sea on top of this tower. Later it was a part of Hambanthota Kachcheri where the land registry branch was placed. Former tower was restored in 1999 and fisheries museum was there. Now it has been renovated by archeology department and awaiting for opening.

The tower is 25feet in height and 40 feet in diameter.

Martello towers are small defensive forts that were built across the British Empire during the 19th century. They stand up to 40 feet (12m) high with two floors and typically had a garrison of one officer and 15-25 men. Their round structure and thick walls of solid masonary made them resistant to cannon fire, while their height made them an ideal platform for a single heavy artillery piece, mounted on the flat roof and able to traverse, and hence fire over, a complete 360 circle.
(Source-en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martello tower – 177kWikipedia)

Martello tower

On top of Martello tower

View of Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksha Port (මාගම්පුර මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ වරාය)

Staircase to go down

Ground floor with rooms – They said photography of the inside of tower is not allowed till it’s reopening.

Old light house
This light house is not functioning at the moment.

Old light house of Hambanthota

Lamp of the light house

Then we turned back and stepped towards the old quarters used by British civil worker and famous author Leonard Wolf. Then we took the road on right hand side when just pass the quarters. It went to a circuit bungalow and we entered the beach through circuit bungalow gate. Hambanthota gallows can be seen there.

The quarters used by Leonard Wolf. Renovated and awaiting for reopening as presidential house of Hambanthota.

Hambanthota Gallows
This gallows was used during British colonial period for hanging people. It’s height was around 30feet. At the moment we can see only a part of this gallows. British rulers used this gallows to hang rebellions of 1818 rebellion. Leonard Woolf has watched this death penalty through the window of his house.

Gallows distance view

Hambanthota beach-Gloomy due to rainy weather.

Hambanthota Gallows.

Hambanthota beach

Catholic cemetery-Hambanthota
It is situated few meters from Hambanthota main bus stand towards Amablanthota (අම්බලන්තොට). Mr. H. E. Engelbrecht’s tomb stone is situated here. Most of the time it’s gate is closed and have to get the key from Catholic Church. But this tomb stone can be seen even at the entrance.

Tomb stone of Mr. H.E. Engelbrecht

Mr. H.E.Engelbrecht was happened to be a Boer POW who was brought to Sri Lanka in 31st of May 1902. Later he became the Game sanctuary keeper of Yala National Park.

Hambanthota fish harbor
This can be seen from the main bus stand. This fish harbor was built recently and consider as an unsuccessful fishing harbor due to collection of sand there.

Hambanthota Fish harbor

The entrance for boats

Fishing boats

Andare’s Tomb (අන්දරේගේ සොහොන)

The road which brings you to Andare’s Tomb is situated in Hambanthota-Thissa road at Udamalala (උඩමළල) junction. You have to take the left hand side road from Udamalala junction where Andare’s statue is placed. After travelling about 1.5-2km in this road we came across the place where Andare was dead on his way to home.

Andare’s statue at Udamalala junction

Andare’s tomb

The last poem Andare has sung before his death.

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Hambanthota Lanka Salt plant and factory.
I was lucky enough to visit at factory of Lanka salt production. It is situated in Thissa-Katharagama road from Hambanthota.

Ralabadana (රළබදන) – Sea water is pumped from this bay towards salt plant. In old days sea water currents were used instead of pump

How they send sea water for salt production by pumping.

Salt plant

Lanka salt factory.

It is a long process to produce salt what we eat from raw salt. Although my friend described it I didn’t need to memorize it.

Production of salt.

Washing of salt is a main part.

Bulks of salt.

Yahangala (යහන්ගල) and Bandagiriya (බදගිරිය) archeological sites.
These two archeological sites are situated along the road towards Bandagiriya from Pallemalala (පල්ලේමළල) junction in Hambanthota-Thissa road. First you will come across Yahangala in 3-4kms and then Bandagiriya in 9kms.

Yahangala archeological site
This is considered as a Buddhist hermitage belongs to Anuradhapura period. It has two caves, two stupas, ponds and ruins of some other buildings. Two pagodas are situated close each other. This is an important character of this place.

Climbing Yahangala rock

Twin pagodas

Stupa 1

Stupa 2

Ruins of a shrine house

Scattered ruins

Cave 1

Cave 2

The pond

View of Bandagiriya from Yahangala

Bandagiriya archeological site
This also considered as an ancient Buddhist hermitage belongs to Anuradhapura period. It has two rocks. Two pagodas can be seen on one rock-similar to Yahangala. New temple is situated at the base of the rock. You can have a nice panoramic view on top of Bandagiriya rock.

Heading to Bandagiriya rock

Details of stone inscription

Stone inscription is protected

Twin Pagodas

Steps to new stupa

Other rock….Buddha statue is situated here

Scattered ruins

Bandagiriya Lake

Water purification project at Bandagiriya

Mountains at Katharagama side

View of Yahangala from Bandagiriya

Mattala air port is shown in white arrow and red arrow indicates Sooriyawewa International cricket ground.

Bird parade at Bandagiriya Lake

Hambanthota wind mills
This wind mill is situated in pool tank road from Hambanthota. It is the first wind farm of Sri Lanka.It has 5 turbines and total power generates is 3MW. It belongs to Central Electricity Board. (CEB)

Four out of five…..

Full height of the wind mill

Closer view

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Ranminithenna Tele Cinema Village (රන්මිනිතැන්න ටෙලි සිනමා ගම්මානය)

Ranminithenna Mahinda Rajapaksha Tele Cinema village was opened on 2010 March. It is the only cinema village located in Sri Lanka provides location for films. Then it has a modern studio and accommodation for actress and production staff. It expands over 230acres.
Tele cinema village is situated in Tissamaharama-Katharagama road.
It is opened from 9am to 5pm daily for public. Photography within the village is not allowed as shooting of an Indian film is going on these days. But somehow I managed it.

Appearance of old Bombay city for the Indian film.

They only build outer construction.

Another city.

How they build using hardboards.

Some buildings don’t carry roofs.

Massive constructions for new Bombay city.

The lake.

The tele drama called Korale Mahaththaya (කෝරලේ මහත්තයා) was done here.

Few boutiques of the village.

Day 2 – Archeological visit to and Sithulpawwa (සිතුල්පව්ව) and Tissamaharama (තිස්සමහාරාම)

Sithulpawwa (සිතුල්පව්ව)
Sithulpawwa is situated in Yala national park. We went to Sithulpawwa from Tissamaharama (24km travelling) and this road goes through the park. It is opened for travelling from 6am to 5pm only.

This Buddhist hermitage belongs to 2nd century. The name Sithulpawwa is derived from ‘Cittalapabbata’- ‘the hill of the quiet mind’. It is said in the 1st century AD as many as 12,000 Arahants lived here.

Two main rocks at Sithulpawwa are called “Maha Sithulpawwa”-400feet high and “Kuda Sithulpawwa”. On top of “Maha Sithulpawwa” (මහසිතුල්පව්ව) you can see Pagodas and ancient Bo tree. Once you get down from Maha Sithulpawwa you can visit at “Dalada Madura” (දළදා මැදුර), old cave temple and ruins of Bodhigaraya and Patimagaraya (ප්‍රතිමාඝරය). In between Maha Sithulpawwa and Kuda Sithulpawwa (කුඩා සිතුල්පව්ව) there is a lake called “Dakshinathissa Lake” (දක්ශිණතිස්ස වැව).
The surrounding view from both Maha Sithulpawwa and Kuda Sithulpawwa is fascinating.

Places you can see and visit at Sithulpawwa.

Plan of Sithulpawwa.

“Galgeya’’ගල්ගෙය

Maha Sithulpawwa main Stupa. Below this, there are three stupa. This was built by King Kawanthissa (කාවන්තිස්ස රජතුමා) (100-140AD).

View of Yala Park from Maha Sithulpawwa.

One of accessory Stupa.

View of elephant rock from Maha Sithulpawwa.

Ruins of ancient image house/Dalada Madura.

Contents of Rock inscription.

Ancient cave temple. 67feet high and 30feet long.

Buddha statues found in the cave temple.

Below the drip ledge some marks of ancient paintings can be seen. Those are belonging to Anuradhapura period.

Bodhisathwa statue and statue of a king.

“Siripathul stone” සිරිපතුල් ගල .

View of Maha Sithulpawwa.

Information of Patimagaraya.

Steps to Patimagaraya.

Ancient Bodhigaraya.

Ananda Bodhiya (ආන්නද බෝධිය). A branch of Ananda Bodhiya in India.

Dakshinathissa Lake (දක්ශිණතිස්ස වැව).

We walked to Kuda Sithulpawwa from Dakshinathissa Lake by new pathway and came down by old pathway

Steps to Kuda Sithulpawwa-new pathway.

Twin ponds.

Kuti of meditating sermons.

Kuda Sithulpawwa stupa.

Umbrella stone.

“Kasina Mandala” කසින මණ්ඩල

Cave	View of Maha Sithulpawwa and accessory stupa from Kuda Sithulpawwa.

View from Kuda Sithulpawwa.

On our way back through Yala.

Yala Magul Maha Wiharaya (යාල මගුල් මහා විහාරය)
This is considered as the place where royal wedding occurred between King Kawanthissa (කාවන්තිස්ස රජතුමා) and Princess Wihara Maha Dewi (විහාරමහා දේවිය). (There is another place at Lahugala called Magul Maha Wiharaya.) This will come across on the way to Sithulpawwa.
It has newly built stupa on old one and scattered ruins. There are few caves and one of them was converted into an image house. Literature says there are caves with sketches of pre historical era. But I couldn’t find them.

Moonstone-No engravings.

Stupa

Newly built Buddha statue on the rock.

Scattered ruins.

Main cave temple.

Reclined Buddha statue found in the cave.

Back

Sandagiriya (සදගිරිය) Archeology site
Sandagiriya stupa and archeology site is situated just behind the Tissamaharama stupa. This stupa was built by king Mahanaga (මහානාග රජතුමා) (First King of Ruhuna sub kingdom). It was renovated recently. The model of old stupa can be seen on a side of main Stupa.
Ruins of a “Bodhigaraya” (බෝධිඝරය) can be seen in front of the Stupa. On right side of main stupa they have excavated ruins of a “Janthagraya” (ජන්ථාඝරය) (hospital). There is a small road on right hand side of the main stupa and it will bring you to ruins of an image house and a pillar inscription.

Sandagiriya stupa and it’s model of an old form. Note the umbrella stone found on top of the model, but not seen in actual one.

Ruins of umbrella stones can be seen around the main stupa.

Ruins are preserved well.

Entering to the Stupa.

Ruins of “Janthagaraya”.

Ruins of the image house.

Guard stone (මුරගල) of the image house.

Pillar inscription ( ටැම් ලිපිය)

Tissamaharama Stupa (තිස්සමහාරාම ස්තූපය)

Tissamaharama Stupa was built by King Kawanthissa and it was enlarged by King Illanaga (ඉලනාග රජතුමා). This is the most famous and largest Stupa in Southern province. It has a height of 156ft and circumference of 550ft. It has the frontal bone of Lord Buddha-“Lalata dhathuwa” (ලලාට ධාතුව).
Only few ruins can be seen around the stupa.”Kanda Oruwa” (කැද ඔරුව) takes a special place from them.

Tissamaharama Stupa.

“Kanda Oruwa” (කැද ඔරුව)

Remaining ruins.

Another view of Stupa.

Tisa Wewa (තිසා වැව).

Akurugoda pillar inscription (අකුරුගොඩ ටැම් ලිපිය)
This is a 30feet high pillar inscription contained Brahami script belonged to 2nd BC. There are different thoughts of content of this inscription among archeologists. When you go towards Katharagama from Tissamaharama on Thissa lake bunt you will come across a road in right hand side just after the road towards Tissamaharama stupa. Then you have to travel about 500m along the road to reach there.

Akurugoda pillar inscription-found as broken in two pieces.

Closer view of the pillar.

There is another well preserved archeology site in middle of Tissamaharama town. It is situated in front of Tissamaharama pradeshiya sabhawa (තිස්සමහාරාම ප්‍රාදේශීය සභාව).

It is bit surprise to see an archeology site in middle of a town. As gate was closed it was captured from outside.

Yatala stupa (යටාල වෙහෙර) and archeology museum.

Yatala stupa and archeology museum will come across on your way from Tissamaharama to Debarawewa (දෙබරවැව) in right hand side.

This stupa is believed to be built by King Mahanaga in the 3rd century BC on the ground which his queen delivered a son. This stupa has been identified as Mani Chethiya and Yattalaya in various historical documents.
Mahanaga is a brother of King Dewanampiyathissa (250-210 BC). History states that that when Mahanaga was inspecting the construction of Walas Reservoir (වලස් වැව), the queen of Dewanampiyathissa send him a bowl of Mangos with the top most one poisoned. Her intention was to kill Mahanaga to ensure the throne to her son after Devanampiyathissa. At that time the son was with his uncle at the tank and child ate the poisoned mango and died on the spot. Fearing reprisal he took his pregnant wife and escaped to Ruhuna where he built up his own regional kingdom surrounding Magama area.
It is not known what was enshrined in this stupa but a large number of relic caskets have been discovered in the stupa.
This stupa was completely restored and a small opening has been left to observe the different phases of construction. The restoration work of the Yatala Stupa commenced in 1883 AD. It took over a century to complete the restoration.
(Source – amazinglanka.com/heritage/yatala/yatala.php)

Yatala stupa and surrounding water canal filled with lotus. The elephant wall (ඇත් පවුර) surrounds the stupa may be the oldest one of Sri Lanka.

Note the granite pinnacle found on the ground of the stupa.

Image house on the side of stupa.

Awalokitheshwara statue අවලෝකීතේශ්වර ප්රතිමාව).

Toilet stone was found at Yatala wehera. It is now located at archeology museum premises.

View from museum side.

he archeology museum was closed for renovation on the day of our visit.

Etha Bandi Gala (ඇතා බැදි ගල) and pillar inscription.

After passing Yatala stupa, you will come across a stone pillar on your right hand side towards Hambanthota. It is situated in a bare land, surrounded by a fence. This is called Etha Bandi Gala and a pillar inscription can be seen on it. It is believed King Dutugamunu has tied up his Elephant-Kadol (කඩොල් ඇතා) here.

Etha Bandi Gala stone pillar.

Information of pillar inscription.

Where Elephants were tied.

Menik Wehera (මැණික් වෙහෙර)
Menik wehera is also situated in same side of the road towards Hambanthota about 50m after Etha Bandi Gala. It was built by King Mahanaga and due to new constructions no ruins can be seen here.

Menik Wehera can be easily captured from road.

Debarawewa Paschimarama RMV (දෙබරවැව පශ්චිමාරාම රජමහා විහාරය).

This situated in Debarawewa junction in right hand side towards Hambanthota. It is also built by King Mahanaga. Ancient stupa, Buddha statue and scattered ruins are special features of this temple.

Stupa of Debarawewa Paschimarama RMV.

Scattered ruins.

Standing Buddha statue made by limestone.

Thelulla (තෙළුල්ල) archeology site.
This place I was happened to visit. Directions for Thelulla archeology site is

Hambanthota-> Bundala junction in Thissa road->Bundala->Siriyagama->Thelulla

When you reach Thelulla ask about “Galkanu Mandiya Temple” (ගල්කණු මණ්ඩිය පන්සල). Although an archeology office is there nobody could find in our visit. Stone pillars of two buildings and basement of two stupa could be seen here. Special feature is one stupa has octagonal basement. Later I got to know this Buddhist cemetery is belong to Anuradhapura period and there are two ruined stupa in forest closer to this site.

Scattered stone pillars.

Stupa-well preserved by archeology department.

Stupa which has octagonal basement.

Seems it has been a paradise of cattle.

Thanks for reading.