Solo Explorer

Thursday, August 13, 2020

Deniyaya, Sri Lanka (Ceylon)

Deniyaya

Deniyaya, Sri Lanka (Ceylon)

Deniyaya is a small town located towards the South of Sri Lanka & it's also an isolated tourist destination of Sri Lanka. It is located in Matara District of the Southern Province. The city sits over 389M (1276ft) feet above sea level. The entire region is a mountainous area located near the central mountain range in the direction to the south-west of Deniyaya in the Rakwana-Bulutota pass & It's surrounded by the Sinharaja Rainforest where the climate is also relatively cool. The main source of income and livelihood here is tea cultivation. However, people are also engaged in vegetable cultivation.

The villagers say the meaning of "Deniyaya" in Sinhalese is, 'Deniya' which is similar meaning of 'Jungle' & 'yaya' mean 'large tract'. The place was named 'Deniya-Yaya' then it eventually became a 'Deniyaya'.

How to reach Deniyaya

It is situated 195 km (121mi) away from Colombo, Sri Lanka. Unfortunately, No railway line is available to Deniyaya, if you wish to travel Deniyaya by train, then you have to get-down at the Galle train station & then you have to catch a Galle- Deniyaya Bus or you can also hire a vehicle.

If you are planning to travel Deniyaya then you can have few options, you can travel via Colombo-Galle main road (A2 Road) to Galle then you have to take Galle - Deniyaya Road (A17 Road) to reach Deniyaya or You can use southern expressway till Imaduwa, from there exit at Imaduwa exit & take Galle - Deniyaya Road (A17 Road) to reach Deniyaya. Another famous & sceneric way is via Mathugama & Neluwa Road till Morawaka town, then you have to take Galle - Deniyaya Road (A17 Road). The last option is via Rathnapura & Rakwana Road this road also sceneric and very narrow road. In between Rakwana town to Suriyakanda you have to pass the 10U bends on this road.

Climate

Deniyaya has a tropical rainforest climate prevailing & it's usually warm, humid & rainy throughout the year. Its average maximum temperature is around 30 °C (86 °F) & the average minimum temperature is around 20 °C (68 °F). In a year the average rainfall is about 2000 mm in Deniyaya.

The Sinharaja Rainforest Reserve

The Sinharaja Rainforest reserve, Pitadeniya entrance is situated on 16km (10mi) away from Deniyaya city. The Sinharaja Forest Reserve is a forest reserve and a biodiversity hotspot in Sri Lanka. It is of international significance and has been designated as a Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The reserve's name translates as Lion Kingdom. The reserve is covered with a surface area around 88.64 km² (8864 Hectare) & is only 21 km (13mi) from east to west, alongside a maximum of 7 km (4.3mi) from north to south but it is a treasure trove of endemic species, including trees, insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. The Sinharaja Rainforest constitute the southern Provinces' most important catchment area of almost all major rivers.

Birds tend to move in mixed feeding flocks, invariably led by the fearless Sri Lanka Crested Drongo and the noisy orange-billed Babbler. Out of Sri Lanka's 26 endemic birds, 20 rainforest species occur here, including the elusive red-faced Malkoha, Green-billed Coucal & Sri Lanka blue magpie. Reptiles include the endemic green pit viper and hump-nosed Vipers and there are a large variety of amphibians especially tree frogs. Invertebrates include the endemic with common birdwing butterfly and leeches.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Sinharaja is the country's last viable area of primary tropical rainforest. More than 60% of the trees are endemic and many of them are considered rare. The hilly virgin rainforest, part of the Sri Lanka lowland rain forests ecoregion was saved from the worst of commercial logging by its inaccessibility and was designated a World Biosphere Reserve in 1978 and a World Heritage Site in 1988.

Things to do in Deniyaya

Ø Sinharaja Rainforest Tour - If you are in Deniyaya don't forget to visit Sinharaja Rainforest. Pitadeniya entrance is the closest entrance to Deniyaya town. When you enter to the reserve you can see the site map, then you can choose which place you will visit. In most cases, you can see wild animals, birds & butterflies during your trekking & before you exit don't forget to take a freshwater bath on a safe place. You can get free fish therapy while you are bathing it's feeling really amazing.

Ø Getabaruwa Temple - Gatabaruwa Temple is located on a summit of the Gatabaru Mountain at an elevation of 457M (1500ft) above the sea level in the village of Katapola in between Galle - Deniyaya (A17) main road, to reach the temple you have to go to the summit of the mountain. The villagers believe that the temple has mystical power and one who earnestly worship in the temple, many things can become true.

Ø Patna Sliding Rock - The villagers known as "Burus Gala" the English meaning 'Burus Gala is 'Sliding rock'. This location recently becomes very famous with the impact of social media. The river flows over a number of wide rocks with gentle slopes and at the end of each rock lies a shallow pool. Due to the gentle water flow over the smooth rock surface number of natural water slides are created on the rock.

Ø Samangala Temple - This is a quite isolating place in Deniyaya, a number of visitors are coming to Patna sliding rock but very few visitors at Samangala temple and samangala viewpoint. In this place, you can see the mesmerizing & greenery of the Deniyaya Mountain range.

Ø Gongala Mountain Hike - Gongala mountain is situated in the Rathnapura District of Sri Lanka but it's very close to the Deniyaya town. At a summit elevation of 1358M (4455ft). It takes approximately 2 hours to reach the summit. At the summit, you can see the 360° view of the Gongala Mountain range.

Places to see in Deniyaya

· Sinharaja Rainforest

· Patna Sliding Rock

· Samangala Buddhist Temple

· Gatabaruwa Buddhist Temple

· Seven stages waterfalls (Sathmale Waterfalls)

· Gongala Mountain

Deniyaya

Sinharaja Rainforest

Sinharaja Rainforest - Kekuna Waterfalls

Patna Sliding Rock

Samangala Buddhist Temple

Samangala

Gatabaruwa Buddhist Temple

Seven stages waterfalls (Sathmale Waterfalls)

Gongala Mountain

Imantha Rasanga

L H Imantha Rasanga, currently staying in Colombo Sri Lanka. Professional Level Event planner and Tour organizer since 2016. My introduction can be further divulged as a Solo Traveller who loves to travel the globe and takes all the best possible memories from every single place I travel. A great saying says, “Experiences are better than Imaginations”. I love to create Experiences about different-different places and sharing the same with everyone around me. I believe in giving best in whatever we do in life, wherever I travel I explore every single thing to the core, then May it be History, Routes, Locations, Directions, Significance and even complete environmental conditions and weather of the place. As a travel explorer I love to share all my exploring details with the world around me.

Monday, August 3, 2020

Kandy Esala Perahera (The Parade of the Tooth Relic)

Kandy Esala Perahera

Kandy Esala Perahera (The Parade of the Tooth Relic)

Kandy – Capital of the Central Province of Sri Lanka is situated 116km (72mi) away from Colombo main city of Sri Lanka.

Esala –According to Sri Lankan calendar, The same of the month of July.

Perahera – Parade of Musicians, Dancers, Acrobats, & Various other performers accompanied by large number of tuskers & elephants parading the streets in the grand celebration of a religious event.

Kandy Esala Perahera is associated parade of Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of Tooth Relic) and it is annually held in the honor of sacred Tooth Relic of Shakyamuni Gautama Buddha & for four guardians such as God Natha, God Vishnu, God Katharagama & Goddess Paththini. This parade is held in August on full moon day every year.

The Tooth Relic was brought to Sri Lanka by Princess Hemalatha & Prince Dantha from the kingdom of Kalinga, India during the reign of king Kithsiri Megahavanna (301 – 328). It became the palladium of the Sri Lankan kings and was preciously guarded in the special shrine built within the precincts of the royal palace, wherever the capital was located. The ruins of such edifices remain in ancient capitals of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Dambabeniya, Yapahuwa, Kurunegala, Kotte and Gampola. While at Kandy, the last capital, the Sacred Tooth Relic Temple continues to be the greatest Shrine that receives the utmost veneration of the Buddhist world.

Kandy Temple of Tooth Relic consists of three buildings such as WedasitiMaligawa, Pattirippuwa & Aluth Maligawa. The 1^stbuilding of the Kandy Tooth Relic Temple was erected by the king of Vimaladharmasooriya I and the structure was not anymore. Three storeyed building to house the Sacred tooth relics was erected by King Vimaladharmasooruya II. Front section with Paththiripppuwa was erected by King Sri Wrickrama Rajasinghe (the last Sri Lankan King 1798 – 1815AD).

The history of the Kandy Esala Perahera:

The Esala Perahera is believed to be a fusion of two separate but interconnected "Peraheras" (Processions). The Esala and Dalada, The Esala Perahera Dated back to the 3rd century BC, a ritual enacted to request the gods for rainfall. The Dalada Perahera Is believed to have begun when the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha was brought to Sri Lanka from India during the 4th Century AD.

Kandy Sri Dalada Perahera Started during the reign of the King Kirthi Sri Rajasinghe (1747 – 1781 AD). During those times, the Tooth Relic was considered private property of the King and the public never got a chance to worship it. However, King Rajasinghe decreed the Relic to be taken in procession for the masses to see and venerate. The custody of the Relic was handed over to the Buddhist Clergy in 1815. In the absence of the king, a lay custodian called the "Diyawadana Nilame" was appointed to handle routine administrative matters.

The Parade on street for 10 days 1^st to 4^thdays are called “Kumbal Perahera” 5^th day is the final day of “Kumbal Perahera” locales are called “AwasanKumbal Perahera”. Next four days named as “RandoliPerahera” & the final day is the grand parade of the Kandy Sri Dalada Perahera which is called “AwasanRandoli Maha Perahera”.

Please Note: If you have a plan to see the Kandy Sri Dalada Perahera you have to book your accommodation at least 3 months before the visit and also In Kandy Tooth Relic Temple, you will not be allowed to enter with sleeveless tops and shorts or trousers.

Names related to the Kandy EsalaPerahara:

· Diyawadana Nilame – Lay custodians of routing administrative matters in Temple of Tooth Relic.

· Basnayake Nilames – Lay custodians of the Devales.

· Peramune Rala - Riding on the 1^st elephant is Officially called Peramune Rala & he carried the permission letter of held from the Kandy Sri Dalada Perahera.

· Four Devalas – God Natha, God Vishnu, God Kataragama & Goddess Paththini (Temples dedicated to Gods which are situated in the vicinity of Dalada Maligawa).

Alignment of Kandy EsalaPerahara:

Starts with first custom Kap Situveema; which is a sanctified young Jackfruit tree (Artocarpusintegrifolia) was cut and planted in the premises of each of the four Devales dedicated to the four guardian gods : Natha, Vishnu, Katharagama, and the goddess Pattini at the auspicious time given. Then started Devala Peraheras, During the first five days the Devale Perahera it was held within the grounds of four Devales dedicated to the four guardian Gods Natha, Vishnu, Katharagama and the Goddess Pattini by the chief priest of the Devalas. Traditionally it was meant to shower blessing on the King and the people. Permission must be given by the DiyawadanaNilame to start the Perahera. All the officials such as Kariya Karwana Korala, Gajanayake, Kapuwas Vidanes, Kankanam Rala, Mohottala and Wattorurala greet DayawadanaNilame and thereafter only perahera starts.

The relic casket, which is a substitute for the Tooth Relic is placed inside the Ransivige affixed to the Maligawa Elephant, a tusker.

The Esala Perahera in Kandy is celebrated to honor the Sacred Tooth Relic and the four ‘guardian’ Gods: Natha, Vishnu, Kataragama and Goddess Pattini. The Kandy Maligawa Perahera is followed in order by those of the Natha, Vishnu, Kataragama, and Pattini ‘Devales’, The Maligawa Perahera joins the awaiting Devale Peraheras to lead the procession.

In order to start the perahera, three rounds of shots are fired. The first sound for the parades of four devales to line up and join the parade of Maligawa. The second sound indicates that the golden casket which contains the Sacred tooth relic is placed on the back of Maligawa tusker. In the third sound, the parade sets off. The very first in the parade of the temple of the tooth relic are thirty whip crackers.

The Perahera is coming with the following order

1. Whip-crackers clear the path

2. Fire Ball Dancers

3. Flag Carriers

4. PeramuneRala

5. First Hewisi Group

6. Kothala Dancers

7. Rattan Weavers

8. Sawaran Dancers

9. Tambourine Dancers

10. Ves Dancers

11. The Tooth Relic

12. Diyawanada Nilame

13. Natha Devala Perahera

14. Vishnu Devala Perahera

15. Kataragama Devala Perahera

16. PattiniDevala Perahera (Only female dancers are dancing at the PattiniDevala Perahera)

*For some people not able to forget the duties of light the ceremonial route of the procession with flame.

On the next day morning, the parades from four devales head towards the stepping stones of the GetambeMahaveli River at Getambe Diya Kapanathota temple. The head priest of the devales (Kapurala) walk into the middle of the river and cuts the surface of the water with a golden sword. Then the priests empties the water stored in Rankendiya (golden ewer) which they had filled at the same spot an year ago. This traditional ritual is known as ‘Diya Kepeema’, which means cutting water. During the ancient times, the chiefs were then received by the king and report that the Perahera had been held with due ceremonial. Following this tradition, now the government agent of the Central Province receives the chiefs and marks the conclusion of the annual Esala Perahera festival.