• Latest
Tales From Maha Oya

Tales From Maha Oya

January 23, 2023
Investec Cape Town Art Fair

Investec Cape Town Art Fair

March 3, 2023
Discipline and Precepts are Favorable for Self-Development

Discipline and Precepts are Favorable for Self-Development

March 3, 2023
DY Patil University Centre of Excellence Opens in Navi Mumbai

DY Patil University Centre of Excellence Opens in Navi Mumbai

March 3, 2023
A Walk Down Cobblers’ Street

A Walk Down Cobblers’ Street

March 3, 2023
The Colombo Cultural Show: A Soiree into Sri Lanka’s Heart

The Colombo Cultural Show: A Soiree into Sri Lanka’s Heart

February 7, 2023
Kandy Central Market: The epitome of local ambiance

Kandy Central Market: The epitome of local ambiance

February 7, 2023
The Art of Local Writing

The Art of Local Writing

February 7, 2023
Carnival Magic

Carnival Magic

February 7, 2023
Ponniyin Selvan 1: Leveraging the Lure of History and the Power of Storytelling

Ponniyin Selvan 1: Leveraging the Lure of History and the Power of Storytelling

January 11, 2023
Rumination and Emotional Process

Rumination and Emotional Process

January 13, 2023
Segar Represents Sri Lanka in Asia Art Bienniale in Dhaka

Segar Represents Sri Lanka in Asia Art Bienniale in Dhaka

January 11, 2023
Good Conversations Start with Mlesna

Good Conversations Start with Mlesna

January 11, 2023
Retail
Monday, March 20, 2023
Subscription
Advertise
  • Home
  • Issues
    • 201_
      • 2010
        • January 2010
        • February 2010
        • March 2010
        • April 2010
        • May 2010
        • June 2010
        • July 2010
        • August 2010
        • September 2010
        • October 2010
        • November 2010
        • December 2010
      • 2011
        • January 2011
        • February 2011
        • March 2011
        • April 2011
        • May 2011
        • June 2011
        • July 2011
        • August 2011
        • September 2011
        • October 2011
        • November 2011
        • December 2011
      • 2012
        • January 2012
        • February 2012
        • March 2012
        • April 2012
        • May 2012
        • June 2012
        • July 2012
        • August 2012
        • September 2012
        • October 2012
        • November 2012
        • December 2012
      • 2013
        • January 2013
        • February 2013
        • March 2013
        • April 2013
        • May 2013
        • June 2013
        • July 2013
        • August 2013
        • September 2013
        • October 2013
        • November 2013
        • December 2013
      • 2014
        • January 2014
        • February 2014
        • March 2014
        • April 2014
        • May 2014
        • June 2014
        • July 2014
        • August 2014
        • September 2014
        • October 2014
        • November 2014
        • December 2014
      • 2015
        • January 2015
        • February 2015
        • March 2015
        • April 2015
        • May 2015
        • June 2015
        • July 2015
        • August 2015
        • September 2015
        • October 2015
        • November 2015
        • December 2015
      • 2016
        • January 2016
        • February 2016
        • March 2016
        • April 2016
        • May 2016
        • June 2016
        • July 2016
        • August 2016
        • September 2016
        • October 2016
        • November 2016
        • December 2016
      • 2017
        • January 2017
        • February 2017
        • March 2017
        • April 2017
        • May 2017
        • June 2017
        • July 2017
        • August 2017
        • September 2017
        • October 2017
        • November 2017
        • December 2017
      • 2018
        • January 2018
        • February 2018
        • March 2018
        • April 2018
        • May 2018
        • June 2018
        • July 2018
        • August 2018
        • November 2018
        • December 2018
      • 2019
        • January 2019
        • February 2019
        • March 2019
        • April 2019
        • May 2019
        • June 2019
        • July 2019
        • August 2019
        • September 2019
        • October 2019
        • November 2019
        • December 2019
    • 202_
      • 2020
        • January 2020
        • February 2020
        • March 2020
        • September 2020
        • October 2020
        • November 2020
        • December 2020
      • 2021
        • January 2021
        • February 2021
        • March 2021
        • April 2021
        • May 2021
        • June 2021
        • July 2021
        • August 2021
        • September 2021
        • October 2021
        • November 2021
        • December 2021
      • 2022
        • January 2022
        • February 2022
        • March 2022
        • April 2022
        • May 2022
        • June 2022
        • July 2022
        • August 2022
        • September 2022
        • October 2022
        • November 2022
        • December 2022
      • 2023
        • January 2023
        • February 2023
        • March 2023
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Archive
  • Find Us on Magzter
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result

Tales From Maha Oya

in Featured, June 2013, Slider
0 0
0
The Rambaken Oya Reservoir amidst the mountainous backdrop

Maha Oya lies 40km inland from Chenkaladi along the Batticaloa-Padiyathalawa Road – a diminutive town and rural precinct in the Ampara District, where quiet livelihoods unfold. It remains a symbolic town that has witnessed the changing tides, during a time when access to the vicinity was once restricted. Since recent times the communities have returned to Maha Oya to find an old way of life, setting up shop or cultivating lands. The central town of Maha Oya pulses steadily with activity, hosting an eclectic scramble of outlets for commuters. Travelling to the outskirts of the township, however, are places of interest for a bit of history, beauty, intrigue and even adventure.

Words Prasadini Nanayakkara Photographs Menaka Aravinda and Indika De Silva

A phenomenon

Maha Oya Hot Springs are located about two kilometres off Maha Oya and is believed to have some of the highest temperatures amongst other hot wells across the Island. The region encompassing Maha Oya and Padiyathalawa also hosts the highest number of hot wells. We arrived at the enclosure of the Maha Oya hot spring where we counted seven wells of different temperatures with 55°C being the highest. However, out of the seven only two wells can be used for bathing.

The adventure

A few kilometres away in Unuwatura Bubula is an ancient temple and monastery of renown in Maha Oya. Armed with little information about the Weheragala Aranya Senasanaya, prior to arriving at the premises, we decided to venture on and discover what lay ahead. Along the way a local, helpfully provided us with a rough guide to reach an ancient Stupa, but remained behind as we commenced our journey. We came upon a path that fell across several cave dwellings built for meditation. Resident monks find refuge in these quiet shelters and we made our way cautiously along what appeared to be a winding and untrodden path. The path wound across rocks and boulders and often remained hidden beneath a blanket of leaves. The farther we climbed the more uncharted the territory. Soon we were cutting through thick undergrowth, at times crouched on all fours! Getting entangled in wines or tugged or tethered by thorns became a recurring challenge. Quite certain of having lost our way, we were eager to find familiar sights. However, hearing sounds of Avurudu celebrations in the distance gave us reassurance that we hadn’t strayed too far. Our route fell across a gradual and arduous ascent and at long last we found ourselves atop a rock shrouded thickly in forest cover. From here we set our sights on a nearby village. Stifled by exhaustion and thirst, we eagerly descended upon a clearing that led to the welcome sight of a villager’s house. Here we were welcomed warmly, and offered refreshment and much needed rest before heading our way once more.

The farther our climb the more uncharted the territory. Soon we were cutting through thick undergrowth

The beauty and a past

Passing Unuwatura Bubula we proceeded towards a well known reservoir, the Rambaken Oya, believed to have been originally built during the time of King Saddatissa. Emerging on to the bund, we were at once struck by the scenic beauty that unfolded across the length and breadth of the expanse. Silhouetted along the horizon, loomed the Nuwaragala mountain that further added to the picture postcard vista. The reservoir has been built to irrigate water from Maha Oya, one of the main rivers of the Island. A short distance away from the reservoir we discovered the site where remnants of the ancient dam and sluice gates from the times of King Sadatissa are placed. These are intriguing structures hewn entirely from granite and the engineering mastery of the bygone era is evident and one can still observe the interlocking joint of the sluice gates. Returning from a glimpse into the past, we happened upon a villager of striking and unusual demeanour and appearance. A local of the area, who had joined us on our journey was quick to identify him as one from the indigenous community. The tribesman stood nonplussed by our curiosity carrying a fresh catch of catfish caught using only his hands, as is the practice amongst this community. With this encounter, our next obvious stop was to be the village of this indigenous people.

We were at once struck by the scenic beauty that unfolded across the length and breadth of the expanse

 

 

The Indigenous

We found a few members of the Pollebedda Maha Oya indigenous people, gathered at a clearing amidst their humble housings. Amongst those present were Adiwasi Heengama, the Deputy Chief of the tribe and Appuhami Aetto, the Chairman of the Indigenous Community Centre. Their Chief, ‘Gobalathuma’ was not present at the time of our visit. The Pollebedde indigenous clan, we discovered, are descendants of Danigala Mahabandarala – a different ancestry to that of the renowned Damabana clan in Mahiyanganaya. The ‘veddas’ of Maha Oya comprise of 227 members and eke out a living from cultivating crops such as cowpea, and corn, and venturing into the forest to gather bees honey or hunt for game. The forest serves as an important part of their simple lives providing a rich source of medicinal plants used for various ailments. For their spiritual wellbeing members worship the Buddha, and also deities such as Kalu Bandara and Kiri Amma, we learnt.

The forest serves as an important part of their simple lives

As we gathered our bearings at the end of our journey, our tales of adventure, history, beauty and people enriched our impressions and unravelled the identity of a little known precinct.

[nggallery id=620]

TweetShareShare
Please login to join discussion

Search

No Result
View All Result

Recent News

Investec Cape Town Art Fair

Investec Cape Town Art Fair

Discipline and Precepts are Favorable for Self-Development

Discipline and Precepts are Favorable for Self-Development

DY Patil University Centre of Excellence Opens in Navi Mumbai

DY Patil University Centre of Excellence Opens in Navi Mumbai

Explore Sri Lanka

Explore Sri Lanka Online, the web edition of Sri Lanka’s leading monthly corporate publication. Founded in 1996, the magazine currently has a distribution of over 6,000 copies island-wide.

Recent News

  • Investec Cape Town Art Fair
  • Discipline and Precepts are Favorable for Self-Development
  • DY Patil University Centre of Excellence Opens in Navi Mumbai

Find Us

Explore Sri Lanka
20-2/1 Lauries Place Facing
R. A. De Mel Mawatha
Colombo 04
Sri Lanka.
(+94 11) 259 7991
(+94) 715 134 134
info@btoptions.com
btoptions.com

  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

© 2022 Explore Sri Lanka | Designed by Lithic Labs

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Issues
    • 201_
      • 2010
      • 2011
      • 2012
      • 2013
      • 2014
      • 2015
      • 2016
      • 2017
      • 2018
      • 2019
    • 202_
      • 2020
      • 2021
      • 2022
      • 2023
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Archive
  • Find Us on Magzter

© 2022 Explore Sri Lanka | Designed by Lithic Labs

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In