Rock Carvings and Falls

The name Buduruwagala literally means 'stone images of the Buddha'. The site consists of seven magnificent east-facing figures carved out of a sheer rock face, the outline of which is believed to resemble a kneeling elephant. The images, estimated to have been constructed in the 10th century during the reign of King Walagamba, are located within a rocky clearing of magical dry zone forests that is inhabited by colourful birds and butterflies.

The central figure of the seven images is the Buddha. At 15m, this Buddha is the tallest statue in Sri Lanka, higher even than the ones at Aukana and nearby Maligawila. The statue depicts the Buddha in abhaya mudra position, standing with the right hand raised, palm facing outwards. This pose is interpreted as the posture of "kindness and freedom from fear". The left hand, broken at the fingers, is curled towards his shoulder.

The statue of the Buddha is quite deeply and clearly carved and has aged well, though the nose has been damaged over time. On the left side you will notice white and orange on the robes that suggest this statue, like the others here, would once have been painted. The Buddha stands on a platform. On either side are two groups of three figures that represent a Bodhisattva (a Buddha-to-be) flanked by two attendants.

The central figure in the group to the Buddha's right is Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara. This statue remains nearly all white while the halo around his crown, which features a figure of the Buddha in meditation, still retains its orange glow. In Buddhist mythology. Avalokitesvara, one of the most important Bodhisattvas in Mahayana Buddhism, was said to look upon the world with compassion. The hands are held upright and the lower body is decorated with ornamental robes.

The figure to the right is Prince Sudhana, possibly the least well-defined of the three. The image is carved in the thrice-bent posture, a position where the body looks curved at the waist. His power is his ability to guide the young onto the path of good behaviour.

To the left of the Bodhisattva, also in the thrice-bent posture, is the figure of Aryathara or Tara Devi, who is believed to be able to prevent natural disasters and protect children.

On the Buddha's left-hand side there is a larger gap leading to three figures that display a more Hindu style. The central figure is the Buddha yet to come, Maithri Bodhisattva, which is quite elaborately ornamented.

To the left of the Bodhisattva is Vajrapani or god Sacra. The left hand and robes are barely visible, though the hourglass-shaped Tibetan thunderbolt symbol, the dorje, which he clearly holds in his right hand, is significant and unusual. Its presence has helped to put a date to these statues, since this Tantric symbol indicates an influence of the Mahayana sect of Buddhism that enjoyed brief influence in Sri Lanka during the 10th century.

The figure on the right is sometimes named as Vishnu, but more often is said to represent Sahampath Brahma. The hands are missing and the lower part of his body has weathered considerably. Above the seven figures, notably in the Buddha, you will notice little square-cut holes in the rock. This suggests that the statues were originally canopied and protected from the elements.

Buduruwagala is a wonderfully meditative place and should not be missed on a visit to Wellawaya. It is located four kilometres along a beautiful rural road that is reached by a turn off from the Tanamalwila road just south of Wellawaya. There is a small temple by the entrance and a picnic spot.

The light on the statues is best in the mornings.

Diyaluma

W. T. Keble, author of Ceylon Beaten Track (1940, reprinted 2001), writes that "the glen of Diyaluma Falls is like a corner of the new world in the second wave of creation". True, he was writing at a time before buses and van-loads of people found their way towards this attraction, but somehow Diyaluma still retains this charm.

It is possible to obtain a full view of the waterfall from the Diyaluma Falls Inn, though it is best seen further along, where the road winds almost directly under the cascading white water that is propelled over the ledge. Diyaluma, Sri Lanka's second highest waterfall at 220m, features a cascade of water falling in a single slender streak into the woodiest valley below. These magnificent falls are fed by the water of the Punagala Oya, a tributary of the Kirindi oya, and are the last of a series on this river.

The words diya luma mean "water gush" though they are also translated as "skein of water" or "liquid light" because as the water spills softly over the series of rocky ledges it resembles a soft veil. In fact, according to legend, it was a soft veil that the waterfall came to be.

The legend begins with a young chieftain being banished from his clan and made to live in the mountains above the plains. He was betrothed to a lady of high standing who, while remaining stranded from her lover on lower ground, was determined to join him.

As the passes leading to the mountains were guarded, the lady realised that escape by way of these routes would be impossible, so she had to devise an alternative plan. Whilst looking at the steep cliffs surrounding the plains she had an idea and sent news of it to her lover in the highlands.

On an appointed day she arrived at the base of the precipice to find a dangling rope of twisted creepers as she had arranged.

Her plan was to scale the escarpment aided by her lover, who would meet her at the top. However, when she neared the top of the cliff the rope became caught and with no way to free it, the maiden eventually died and was left dangling in mid-air.

It is said that the gods were so moved to pity by this tragic love story that they commanded a stream of water to gush from the mountain and veil evidence of the accident in a watery light or diya luma.

You can walk to the top of the waterfall following a one-kilometre path that begins from a small rubber factory by the side of the road. On reaching the top you will be rewarded with breathtaking views and the chance to have a refreshing dip in the rock pools to be found there.

Diyaluma Falls is located 12km from Wellawaya along the rubber plantation-lined Koslanda road.

(Courtesy travelsrilanka)