Important Ancient Village in Aththanagalla - Alawala

Alawala is an ancient rural village located by Western province, Gampaha district at an ancient region of Aththnagalla in Sri Lanka it has a historical background as well.

There are various places in Alawala village have an ancient value. Such as Pothgul Len Viharaya, Alawala caves and Alawala Devin Panna Ella etc.

 

The discovery of the remains of two pre-historic humans and other artifacts in a cave in Alawala, Gampaha has got a group of Archaeology students and other specialists digging for more clues to our mysterious past. The discovery of the remains of two pre-historic humans and other artifacts in a cave in Alawala, Gampaha has got a group of Archaeology students and other specialists digging for more clues to our mysterious past.

 

 

For the team from the Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology, University of Kelaniya this cave near the Alawala village in the Gampaha district is a treasure trove. The team members have about them the air of detectives, who with patient and plodding work are unravelling mysteries many thousands of years in the making. Around 52 students from the Masters' programme are working with specialists including, archeo-chemists, botanists, geologists and biospealeologists in an attempt to recreate the lives of these two pre-historic humans and their finds might challenge many of our conventional ideas about how our ancient ancestors lived.

Alawala Pothgul Len Rajamaha Viharaya at Gamaha carries a history starting from Anuradhapura Era up to the Kandyan Era. The temple premises of 60 acres encompass the three caves that are located in the surroundings: Vihara Lena, Potgul Lena and Thapo Lena. The main attraction of the temple is the massive cave called Vihara Lena. The main reclining Buddha statue lying along the length of the cave belongs to the Kandyan Era but has been reconstructed following damage caused by treasure hunters. The On either side are two seated statues, one belonging to the Anuradhapura era (beginning 377 BC) and the other to the Kandyan Era (beginning 1500s).

This is a 45m tall  Alawala Devin Panna Ella Falls (also known as “Dunu Mala Ella” and “Uduwaka Ella” waterfall) and the surrounding area are of great historical importance and steeped in legend.

Near the Devin Panna Ella there are three large caves, one stretching back for a distance of about 0.5km and according to local villagers the nearby town of Ratnapura can be reached through it. In ancient times Sri Lanka’s King Vijayabahu III is said to have made a home of two of the caves. Along similarly royal lines, the ashes of Sri Lanka’s ancient King Parakamabahu II are said to be enshrined in the Dambadeni Seya Stupa in the nearby Attanagalla Raja Maha Viharaya (temple).

Also, near the fall itself five holes that are found in a rock are believed to have been used by ancient queens to play the indigenous game known as Pancha. According to local villagers, the streams that serve the fall have never dried up, even in spells of the most severe drought, and a nearby deep pool known as Alipalawalla was used hundreds of years ago to bath elephants.

At the present people come to the Alawala village at the weekends and other holidays to bath, swim and be enjoy. Due to these reasons there are various problems can be seen in the present. People don’t think and care about these places and these things must be protect for the future generations. They eat and drink near these places and throw garbage at these places. Due to these reasons the Divisional Secretariat at Aththanagalla has been taken number of actions to protect these places.