Destination for environmentally concerned and culturally interested travelers
Clean, unspoiled, unexplored, hidden tourist paradise in Sri Lanka.
Wayamba, Sri Lanka’s bountiful and varied North- Western Province is richly endowed with classic holiday attractions. Over two hundred kilometers of sun-drenched tropical beaches fringe warm, pure seas and placid lagoons and make ideal bases for relaxed, enjoyable, Fun-filled vacations and for sight –seeing the North – Western Province’s drivers and exciting attractions.
These attractions include impressive archaeological treasures- Wayamba was the choice of Sri Lanka‘s kings for four medieval capitals-animal and bird sanctuaries, monuments of its European colonial period, unique and fascinating festivals, arts and crafts, life-styles and folk-lore.
Predominantly (80%) rural, Wayamba is blessed with much natural beauty and charm its spreading green plains distinctively strewn with large rock outcrops. Vast coconut plantations, carefully tended rice, gherkin and onion fields, thriving pineapple garden and mango, papaya and cashew orchards present a picture of pastoral peace, plenty and contentment.
The North-Western Province’s graphite mines at Kahatagaha yield a precious mineral resource and its rich fishing grounds and flourishing farmlands, orchard and plantations ensure an abundance of delicious sea-food, fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy and other products to delight visitors.
The fifth largest province in Sri Lanka , some of Wayamba ‘s beaches and other attractions lie half hour’s drive from the Katunayake international Airport; its capital Kurunegala is just two hours away from Colombo and 45 minutes from the hill capital and tourist resort of Kandy. The whole province is well served with good road and rail routes and modern communications: Kurunegala is a highly accessible major hub of important cross – country road and rail routes and makes a convenient transit stopover for north, south, east and west bound traffic.
The friendly people of Wayamba , famed for their welcoming hospitality, complete and enhance a delightful, rewarding and unique holiday experience which will always be remembered with pleasure.
The Golden Beaches of Wayamba
The sparking blue surf of the Indian Ocean and scenic tropical lagoons which edge the western shores of the North-Western Province are gilded with 240 kilometers of wide, sun - drenched, soft-sand beaches which stretch from Waikkal at its southern end to Dutch Bay in the Puttalam peninsula.
Some of Wayamba’s best resort beaches are at Marawila, Talawila, Kalpitiya and Waikkal, often with the bonus of the sea as well as a lagoon or river front and make excellent bases for stay-put beach holidays. These resorts offer superb aqua-sports options such as swimming wind –surfing, sailing , canoeing, speedboat racing, deep-sea , lagoon and river fishing, driving, snorkeling and viewing the underwater wonderlands of coral of Kandakudiya and karaitivu.
The fishing villages which dot the coast, where age –old catamaran boats are still some-times used and the noisy markets and fairs held when the catch comes in the each morning, are unique and memorable ‘sights’.
Exciting Archaeological Sites
The North Western Province is a treasure house of archaeology, having been the seat of four medieval kingdoms of Sri Lanka between the mid – 12th century and the mid fourteenth. Forced to move capitals frequently due to foreign invasion, Sri Lanka’s kings nevertheless built handsome citadels at Panduwasnuwara, Dambadeniya, Yapahuwa and Kurunegala. Impressive remains of those citadels-fortress , palaces, Buddhist temples, shrines, monasteries and hermitages, walls and moats as well as monuments of much earlier (even pre –Christian) and later European colonial periods, provide exciting sightseeing to visitors.
Panduwasnuwara
The oldest of royal capitals in the North –Western Province was Panduwasnuwara, easily accessible on the Chilaw-Wariyapola road. Legend claims Panduwasnuwara as the capital of King Panduwasdeva (circa 5th C.B.C), successor of Vijaya, founder of the Indo-Aryan dynasty of Sri Lanka. The archaeological remains however date from the 12th century. A.D. as this was the interim capital of Parakramabahu I, a stepping stone to his great citadel at Polonnaruwa.
The impressive ,sprawling (fifth-acre), mooted and walled ‘sleeping city, some of it still unexcavated, was an expertly planned and well laid-out metropolis of stately palace , royal audience hall , storehouses, granaries, monastic complexes, shrines, bath – houses , toilets and pounds. Beautifully proportioned platforms, terraces, pavements and doorways enhance its architecture, handsome stone sculptures and carvings adorn it and rock inscriptions record its events and happenings.
The small archeological museum has an interesting collection of period antiquities unearthed during excavations consisting of sculptures, carvings, coins and jewellery. Panduwasnuwara is a ‘must’ on any Wayamba itinerary and is approximately 39 km. from Kurunegala, the provincial capital.
Yapahuwa
The rock fortress complex of Yapahuwa is another of the North-Western Province’s star attractions. A citadel built on a huge rock boulder in the style of the fifth century Sigiriya rock fortress, Yapahuwa Was a military Stronghold against foreign invaders for many years and a beautiful royal capital in the last quarter of the thirteenth century. Well defended, with double ramparts and moats, Yapahuwa holds many delights for sight-seers. These include the remains of the king’s palace, royal audience hall and other stately structures, shrines and baths. Surpassing and these however are the remains of the temple of the Tooth- protecting and properly housing the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha, the symbol of kingship, was a prime royal duty in Sri Lanka.
The majestic stairway is flanked by a pair of beautifully sculptured guardian lions, mythical animals and guard stones. The beautifully proportioned doorway of dressed stone was originally adorned by two windows of delicate stone filigree and graceful sculptures of dancing girls, animals and decorative motifs. The base of the entrance pillars is momentum with exquisite bas-relief friezes of the dancers, drummers and acrobats, masterpieces in stone, of incredible delicacy and elegance. A collection of fascinating antiquities including an exquisite stone figure of God Vishnu, on the Stone filigree windows from the temple of the Tooth and a collection of Chinese pottery are on view at the archeological Museum on the same site.
The Yapahuwa Rock Temple which is built into the boulder has a 13th century bronze Buddha and some ancient wall paintings and sculptures. Yapahuwa is easily accessible by road and rail, a distance of approximately 45 km, from Kurunegala.
Dambadeniya
Much of Dambadeniya ,Sri Lanka‘s capital in the mid thirteenth century still lies mysteriously buried on a huge fortified rock ; archeologists predict exciting ‘finds’ when excavations commence shortly . Thirteenth century Buddhist wall and ceiling paintings and images of this period at the Wijesunderarama Temple which was the temple of the Tooth during the Dambadeniya era (31 km, from Kurunegala), are full of interest.
Arankele
The fascinating sixth century Buddhist forest hermitage of Arankele, where the saintly hermit monk Maliyadeva and other hermits and sages lived in solitude and meditation is another of Wayamba’s memorable experiences.
Arankele is in two parts – the impressive ancient hermitage consists of moats, waterways and stone walls, a complete ancient hospital with stone herbal bath, herb- grinder, sick rooms, meditation and preaching hall, a large and beautifully designed bath, a handsome circular shrine and a faultless drainage and sanitary system and the ancient sakman maluwa, the remarkable ‘meditation walk’ paved with dressed stone, shaded by hoary forest trees and through the walls of ashlars, splendid though unornamented, have fallen and only pillars, platforms, pavements and terraces remain, the path to peace and serenity still runs straight and true at Arankele, Above, on the huge Dolukande rock and ancient herb forest still thrives; its quiet sylvan glades have made the ancient hermitage into a beautiful natural bird sanctuary.
West of the ancient complex, a hermit community of about twenty five monks live in solitude and deep meditation in bare cells and caves in the forest. Devotees visit the monastery daily to bring offerings of food , drink and other necessities to the monks, listen to discourses and meditate; a visit will give an interesting insight to Buddhist contemplative life. Arankele is an easily accessible 25 km, from the provincial capital, Kurunegala.
Haththakuchi & Rajangane
Haththakuchi (“Elephant’s Belly”) near Galgamuwa is an impressive rock temple complex of great atmosphere, dating back to the 1st century B.C.; it is also closely associated with legends of the heroic and saintly King Sri Sangabo.
Built at the foot of the huge rock outcrop, excavations have revealed a group of four handsome shrines and a curious rotunda, probably and image house with pavement and foundations intact. A similar ancient 8th century complex is found at Rajangane, also near Galgamuwa. A handsome circular pillared shrine with four entrances, raised on a terraced platform, many other notable structures , cave shrines, pound an d 1st to 9th century A.D. rock inscriptions make this an ancient site of much interest.
Rock Temples
Wayamba contains no less than the other ancient Buddhist Rock temples, mostly with 1st century B.C. roots, with wall and ceiling frescoes, colossal Buddha images, stone inscriptions and sculpture dating from the early medieval to the 18th century (Kandyan) period . Among these temples which make a dramatic impact, are full of the atmosphere of a far-off age and well worth visiting are Paramakanda, with its curious 3rd -4th century A.D. rock inscription on the fishing tax, Wellagala, with its remarkable wall painting and gigantic (32 cubit ) reclining Buddha, Madawala, which has a beautiful entrance arch carved with mythical beasts and the Res Vehera (Sasseruwa) , famed for its stunning 40-ft, rock-cut standing Buddha of 5th century vintage.
The Raja Maha Vihara at Nagolla has priceless ancient manuscripts and brazens , Kebellalena, old wall paintings and gigantic Sculptures and at the Ridi Viharaya ( the Silver Temple ) visitors will see 14th and 18th century wall painting , an exquisite medieval doorway with intricate carving of ivory inlay , a curious pavement inside the main sanctuary , of Delft tiles on Biblical themes, ( the gift of an 18th century Dutch consul) and a beautifully carved moonstone (stepping stone) of the pre-8th century classical period. Most rock temple also have entrancing views of the surrounding countryside, Perched as they are on precipitous rock summits.
The North-western Province also has a number of medieval temples and edifices raised on pillars or small boulders such as Kahatawilagedera Tampita Vihare, the Dorabawila, Bihalpola Vijayarama, Budumuttawa and Dalukgolla temples. All of them contain medieval period wall painting, sculpture, carvings .woodwork, images and distinctive period architecture and are worth visiting.
The beautiful 18th century wayside rest-hall, the Panavitiya Ambalama is an architectural gem, decorated with twenty eight exquisitely carved wooden pillars and ornate beams.
Padeniya
Is a class of its own, the Padeniya Raja Maha Vihare (temple) has a wealth of fascinating medieval antiquities. Twenty eight magnificent carved pillars and an elaborately decorated door adorns the main shrines. An ancient clay image house and library, a traditional and slate for teaching letters to children and preaching hall with an unusual carved wooden pulpit are some of its treasures.
European Colonial Monuments
Evidences of the North western province’s European colonial period are found at Kalpitiya on the Puttalam peninsula in the stout , well –preserved Dutch fort dated 1670 , complete with barracks, store-houses and living quarters and St. Peter’s Kirk with gabled entrance , distinctive Dutch colonial pillars , verandas and old tombstones. Kurunegala, the provincial capital has many 19th century relic of the British colonial period including the Government Agents Residency and the Rajaphilla Rest house.
Festivals and Fiestas
The people of Wayamba celebrate many traditional festivals and fiestas full of color, gaiety and interest, centered mainly on sacred shrines of diverse faiths.
All Buddhist temples celebrate the Wesak, Poson and Esala festivals, commemorating events of great importance for Buddhists. These festival feature colorful decorations, illumination and pageants where traditional dancing and drumming, costumed dignitaries and caparisoned elephants may be seen.
The Munneshwaram and Udappuwa Kovil (Hindu temples) are great pilgrim centers for thousands of devotees of various faiths, who gather for the proposition of deities, to seek favors’ and give thanks. The main temple of God Siva at Munneshwaram‘s complex of three shrines, built in the traditional Hindu style, celebrates its major festival in august and features fire – walking. Udappuwa, a sea – side shrine complex also of thee temples, has a colorful traditional festival also in august where fire –walking is held.
The Taniwella Devale in Madampe, built to commemorate a local cult hero has a colorful annual harvest festival in August in which the entire farming community participates. The Roman Catholic shrine of St. Anne with its church of magnificent flowered satinwood pillars located on a beautiful beach stretch at Thalawila on the Puttalam peninsula , draws thousand of pilgrims for it main festival in March and July , which future huge devotional processions , healing, service and rural fear.
All for shrines are easily accessible, from Kurunegala – Munneshwaram approximately 70 km. Udappuwa 95 km. Taniwella 62 km .St. Anne’s approximately 111km respectively.
The Ramazan, Hajj and Milady-un-Nabi festivals are celebrated with grate fervor by the Muslim of Wayamba, especially at famed and historic mosques at Kurunegala, chilaw, Puttalam and Kalpitiya. The celebrations which are mainly religious or domestic in character, feather prayers, recitations of the Koran and distribution of cooked food and alms.
Animal and Bird Sanctuaries
Visitors can view Wayamba’s abundant wild life and its beautiful and distinctive natural vegetation in three excellent sanctuaries.
Part of Wilpaththu .one of Sri Lanka’s major national parks, lies in Wayamba, Wilpaththu, a beautiful lake- dotted wilderness is famed for its leopards; other animals to be seen in this exciting sanctuary include sloth bear, deer, elephant, sambur, many varieties of monkeys, wild boar, porcupine and many varieties of rare birds.
The possibilities of opening an entrance at the southern end of the Wilpaththu National Park for the convenience of visitors entering directly from Wayamba are being investigated.
The recently declared wild life sanctuary at Kahalla Pallekele is an ideal spot to view herds of wild elephants, sambur, deer, monkey and mongoose. Mundel, a large, picturesque, forested lagoon in the Puttalam peninsula offers sanctuary to numerous aquatic birds such as stork, duck, water-fowl , spoonbill, flamingo, egreet, heron, ibis, pelican, kingfisher, hornbill, teal and many varieties of highland birds. The best season for viewing is October through March, when large flocks of winter migrants can be seen.
Capital Attractions
Kurunegala, Wayamba’s well-appointed provincial capital (90 km from Colombo ) offers visitors a rewarding stay . Kurunegala was a royal capital from the close of the thirteenth century to the mid fourteenth. Archeological remains are sadly few, but give a glimpse of its past glory and comprise the handsome stone entrance, steps, rock pillars and ruined walls of the royal place. Part of this site, with its majestic old trees has recently been made into an attractive mini zoo, a home for elephants. Sāmbhar , deer and peacocks.
Kurunegala has several large rock outcrops, a distinective geological feature of Wayamba and Kurunegala ‘s old name , Hasthishailyapura derives from the best known of these, Elephant Rock . Drive up to is summit for an enchanting panorama. The scenic Kurunegala “tank” (Irrigation lake) is ideal for boating, wind-surfing, picnies, hiking and bird –watching. A visit to a coconut estate in the vicinity to see one of Sri Lanka’s major exports being grown and processed into copra, desiccated coconut, oil , choir and other products is recommended.
Visitors can shop for fine handicrafts such as handloom textiles, silver and brassware, ornamental pottery, coir and lacquer ware , hemp and met work , basket wear and lace, at the tastefully appointed Viskam Niwasa and watch craftsmen and women at work at the Janakala Kendraya (Folk Arts Center) at No. 141 – 145 , Kandy Road , at Kurunegala. Other excellent buys at Kurunegala include good ready – made clothes from export factories , hand embroidered linen, colorful batiks , processed spices and fresh tropical fruits, The Folk Arts complex includes a good restaurant where delicious Sri Lanka specialties are available.
A small museum in the complex exhibits interesting antiquities from various periods of the Province’s history. A visit to the Kurunegala Market, with its bustling stalls , bazaars as well as a Government handicrafts shop ( Laksala ) is an interesting experience. Good Sri Lanka and western food is also available in Kurunegala at two Rest houses and several guesthouses ( one a British colonial period bungalow, two overlooking the lake ) , where comfortable accommodation is available for visitors.
The Wayamba Province
If the paradise is Sri Lanka . Wayamba the North Western Province is truly Eden . It is one boundless garden dotted by ,million of coconut palms.It is a lovely country with placid rivers, thousands of manmade lakes , natural lagoons, lush green forests, with the warm waters of the Indian Ocean lapping its Coastlines.
Nature has been more than generous to wayamba . the land shops from the kandyan hills to the western sea coast and is undulating with rivers draining the land in and East-West direction. The climate and soils are conducive to good living. It is a bountiful region with coconuts, paddy and tree crops. Undeveloped land is difficult to find. Resent investigations show that it is blessed with a variety of mineral resources.
Sri Lankan Civilization commence in Wayamba with the landing of Prince Vijaya in 543 B.C. the people of the North –Western Province or wayamba are proud of this fact. The first capital of Sri Lanka was panduwasnuwara in Wayamba. The magnificent ruins of the city which are well preserved bear testimony to the level of development archived even than.
The capital later shifted to Anuradhapura but Wayamba was always in the forefront as a major agriculture zone and a center for culture and learning. In the 13th century the capital of Sri Lanka was once again shifted to Wayamba.
The development in the province through history has had a salutary effect on the people of Wayamba . the inherent skills of the people , the highly-cultured traditions, their trainability are all attributed to this fact .This has led to it being one of the most intensively developed regions of the country.
It has an irrigation system based on small tanks , the structures of some of which go back to medieval times and earlier, under which lie some of the best paddies in the country.
Major irrigation works, minor village works and seasonal rainfall sustain paddy cultivation in wayama. The country’s premier Paddy Breeding Station in located, at Batalagoda in Wayamba.
But, by far the most economically important agricultural crop is coconut. The coconut triangle of Sri Lanka lies within Wayamba. Its apex research organization, the Coconut Research Institute is also located witting Wayamba.
Wayamba offers challenges in intensified agriculture and intercropping in the sprawling coconut area , with new crops and dairy farming and has vast resources for industrialization.
Location
In Sri Lanka going North or South, East or West you cross Wayamba at some point. The location of the province and good sense of the people have been a major contributory factor in the development of the province. The national road and rail transport system crises-cross the province connecting all part of the province to the major cities and ports in Sri Lanka.
The province abuts the International Airport and the major Free Trade Zone. A radius of 50 miles from Colombo encompassing a major part of the province has been earmarked for industrial development. This would further enhance infrastructure for industrial development. The Colombo Port in only 1-2 hours drive from any part of the province . Eighty percent of the province is rural. It has no large cities with congested areas.
Wayamba is a growth centre par excellence. In Wayamba the scenario is one of , the industrial units blending harmoniously into the rural atmosphere especially with the government’s decision to give GCEC status outside the FTZ zones.
Wayamba consists of the two administrative districts, Kurunegala and Puttalam, which together cover an area of 7,888.2 sq . km or about 3,016 sq. miles – 12 percent of the eland surface of the island, providing for an estimated population of 2.2 million. Of the total coastline of the island stretching 1,770 km Wayamba accounts for 15 percent 0f 241.34 km .
The coastline is punctuated intermittently with number of rivers flowing due west from the central hilly backbone of the island to disgorge in the Arabian sea . The principal rivers which flow through Wayamba, of economic importance to the province area the Daduru-Oya, Ratambala-Oya, Mi-Oya, Maha-Oya and the Kala-Oya. These rivers have been intensively harnessed for irrigation over the years.
Wayamba is bounded on the North by the modergrame Aru and the Anuradhapura district of the adjacent North- Central Province. On the East its boundary it s the Matale district and the Kandy district. The lower reaches of the Maha-Oya which empties into the sea at Wennnappuwa marks the southern boundary of wayamba. The coastline making up rich fishing grounds all the way from Kudiramakle to Wennappuwa, from the Western boundary of Wayamba. It is the fifth largest province in the island.
Climate
The province falls into three major agroechological regions. The Kurunegala District has in the south of the district three small areas that fall into the zones. The central part of the district is intermediate and the Northern part is dry. The puttalam District on the other hand is in the Intermediate and Dry Zones.
Agriculture
Wayamba has highly-developed agriculture economy, growing a variety of fruits and vegetables, flowering and foliage plants, spices, oil seeds, pulses in addition to the traditional plantation crops, coconut rubber and rice. Rich soils, varied climate and favorable agronomic conditions, give Wayamba a potential for the growing of virtually any crop.
The Wayamba farmer is generally well-educated, familiar with cultivation, irrigation and modern farming practices. He is also market oriented in his attitude.
The scope for large–scale modern agriculture and agro-based industries has been greatly enhanced by the potential for variety and the new opportunities created by the areas of irrigated land coming into production . Wayamba envisages the development of commercial crops and industries having forward and backward linkage mainly through the participation of the private sector. Foreign investment has been forthcoming and always welcome.
Paddy is the main agricultural crop in the Province. There are over 95,000 Ha of paddy and the annual paddy production is 41,000 Mt tons per year. The province is the third largest paddy producing area in the Island.
There are two main cultivation seasons. The Maha (Oct-Jan) or the season with excessive rainfall and the Yala (April-August) the drier season where the farmers depend on irrigation. In more resent times the paddy farmer during the dry season have opted for the cultivation of export crops and subsidiary food crops that bring in bigger profits.
Cashew is another crop that is cultivated on a large scale in the Wayamba province. There are over 15,000 acres. Wayamba is a majore cashew exporting region in Sri Lanka . The Northernmost dry region is ideally suited for cashew cultivation.
A significant fact about Wayamba is that its varied climatic regions make it possible to cultivate a large variety of export-oriented exotic crops. The closeness to the airport and the Colombo Harbour facilitate easy and quick shipping.
Dairy Industry
The coconut lands of Wayamba have an in built infrastructure for the development of the dairy industry. Coconut utilizes only 25% of the land area. The other 75% are available for livestock and other activities. Livestock has been a traditional activity in the coconut triangle.
Amajor activity in the dairy sector is goat farming . A foreign aided project has helped to develop the goat industry. It is very popular and profitable activity in the province. The coconut land and the drier parts towards the North of the province provide good infrastructure. This is another activity that would be developed on a large scale in the province.
Poultry and the Piggery are also major activities in the province. The drier northern part of the province has a large concentration of poultry related activities. The western seaboard stretch largely populated by Christians is the major pork-producing region in the country.
