Henannegala: The Ancient Cave Monastery
Hennannegala: The imposing rocky outcrop. 03/12/2021 Mahaoya, Ampara, Sri Lanka. The mere name ‘Mahaoya’ itself conjures up romantic images of lush dry zone jungles teaming with elephants, scorching sun, tales of Veddas and ancient ruins lying abandoned in the jungles forlornly as if to remind the traveller of the once prosperous past of this ancient land. Hennannegala is one such place which fits well with the description above. Hennannegala is a massive rock situated about ten kilometres from Maha Oya on the Maha Oya-Aralaganwila Road (B502) inside the Maduru Oya National Park. Underneath this rock, along a long cave (claimed to be one of the longest in the country) lies an ancient temple dated to the first century B.C. The temple is divided into roughly three sections. Upper Vihara Lower Vihara The Rock top The Upper Vihara consists of an ancient stupa of red brick placed amidst a Weli M aluwa (sand pavilion), which had been recently renovated by the Department of Archaeology, ...