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Thanthirimale

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About 40km northwest of Anuradhapura, above 2300 years old Thanthirimale religious site lies surrounding and partially including Dematamalgama, Nelumwila, Sandamaleliya, Thuppitiyawa, Nawodagama, Maha Ehetuwewa and Oyamaduwa villages, north and east by Malwathuoya, west by Vilpaththu national park and Mahawilachchiya main road by south.

Getting there way

There are two main roads to visit Thanthirimale religious site 1) Start your ride from Anuradhapura-Mahavilachchiya road about 18 km and turn right from Nikawewa Junction to Sri Wimalaghana road and ride about 18 km directly to Thanthirimale site. Sri Wimalaghana road fairly a rutted dirt surrounded by natural beauty but isolated road by the time we were traveling. 2) The other road goes via Medawachchiya-Mannar road about 18km and turn left from Gajasinhapura junction then ride about 12km by passing Malwathu oya(Malwathu river) to Thanthirimale site.

When Prices Sangamintha arrived with sacred Srimahabodi (Bodhi tree) to Thambapanni (West coastal area between Jaffa and Mannar ) from India, her party and King Dewanampiyathissa stopped at Tantirimale for a night as guests of area leader Thiwakka bamunugama. Srimabodhi a sacred sapling bho tree has given eight nascent (Known as Ashtapala Bodhi) after planting in Anuradhapura Mahameuna Park. One nascent has given to Thiwakka which has planted on Thanthirimale bed rock. Thanthirimale royal temple consist of rock carved Samadhi Buddha Statue just after the sacred Bho tree and the opposite recline Buddha statue and Dagoba surrounded by beautiful lotus ponds. Thanthirimale leads to 3rd century of BC due to king Devanampiyathissa. Recent finding reveals that the time period leads to 4000 years before due to ancient scripts and frescoes written on frescocaves .

The site comprises a series of broad-backed bare rocks, one topped by ancient bodhi tree another by white dogoba and recline Buddha statue behind the temple. After paying respect for the Bodhi tree continue down to the slop of other side to see Samadhi Buddha statue with unfinished rock carvings. Thanthirimale Samadhi Buddha statue is much more similar to Polonnaruwa Galvihara Samadhi Buddha statue. If you look carefully, there is a dragon pandol and finely caved two Hindu gods behind the Statue. Move down towards lotus pond where small museum has placed in. (follow the map) .A causeway leads across the pond to the pothgula ( an ancient library and cave hewn from rock surrounded by foundations of ancient walls .

Track leads on for 400m down a small wooded vale between rocks to frescocaves, beneath a hat type rock. The track is little scary indistinct isolated road but follow the biggest, most likely path with a group. Huge Hat type rock known as Brahmin’s cave with frescoes that is not visible in direct look but carefully look at the rock surface. There are two main caves in place with a bigger bed rock giving stunning look towards to Malwathu oya river basin towards to north.

Heading back pass the Pothgula, Drop in little architectural fragments, damaged statues and ancient ruins (Little museum). Continue your tracking on base of road in right side to reach 15m long recline Buddha statue near Dagoba. Part of the head and arm has been reconstructed in 1984 after been destroyed by treasure hunters and LTTE rebels.

Statue is much similar to Polonnaruwa recline Buddha statue in Galwihara