"Athugala"

Athugala also called as "ethagala" is a very splendid rock that overlooks the Kurunegala town in Sri Lanka. Athugala is situated just around 1km away from Kurunegala town.The rock gets the name "athagala" due to its shape of an elephant. This is the iconic landmark of Kurunegala.
There is a temple on the top of the rock and also, a big Samadhi Buddha Statue overlooking the city of Kurunegala, though there is a temple on the top of the cliff,individuals from many faiths visiting the temple to enjoy the hike and the adventuroes journey toward the top of the mountains.
The night view of the Buddha Statue from Kurunegala town is simply a breathe taking view.Only the snow white Buddha Statue can be seen in the sky while the whole surrounding is in dark.It is like the Buddha Staute is floating in the sky. It is a worth visit view and these views make the place memorable.

History

During the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa eras,when there were long periods of peace and prosperity,large Dagobas and Buddha Statues of immence proportions were built.However during the Dambadeniya-Yapahuwa-Kurunegala eras no such monuments were erected.This is because the kings were preoccupied with protecting and fortifying their citadels and restoring the agricultural and cultural needs of the people.

In order to fill this gap, a group of Buddhists of the 20 ^th century decided to build a large Buddha Statue in a prominent place,being the Athagala rock.The initial effort to begin the project in 1965 by some high ranking public servants had to be abandoned due to oppostion by vested interests.A new society was formed in 1995, and overcoming obstacles proceeded with the task until one acre of the rock surface was granted to the society by the then President of Sri Lanka, Her Excellency Chandrika Bandaranayake Kumarathunga in June 1997.A highly competent engineer and a sculptor were selected, fund raising initiated and work commenced on 18/12/2001.

The statue made with quality bricks and concrete had spaces within for a shrine room, an area for deposition of 'nidan wasthu' and one for Sacred buddha relics.workmen on the scaffolding faced adverse weather conditions at times but continued working without problems or mishaps.At ground level teams of shramadana workers-school children, villagers,town folk,Police and Army personnel took on a huge load of the work.Religious ceremonies were conducted by the Mahasangha at every stage of the construction.The Atamasthanadhipathy Nayaka thero of Anuradhapura presented a sapling of the Sacred Bo tree which was planted at a suitable site close to the statue on 31.3.2012.A ceremony marking the completion of the statue and handing over to the Buddha Sasana and the public in the presence of the Mahanayaka Theros and other members of the Maha Sangha, religious digitaries from all faiths and a large crowd of people from all walks of life was held on 6^th October 2003.

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For more info:-

• source 1


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Photography and Developed
by DS