'Aethagala Pansala', Kurunegala, Sri Lanka.

Kurunegala town is dominated by a huge rock which some claim resembles an elephant. The name 'Aetha-gala' ( 'Aetha' - elephant , 'Gala - rock, S) derives from this. The name Kurunaegala means in Sinhalese
' Kuru' - small, 'Nae' - not, 'Gala' - rock ( A rock which is not small).

View of coconut estates from Namalanga Vihara, Ibbagamuwa, Kurunegala, Sri Lanka.

The view of coconut estates from the high rock where Namalanga Vihara is situated gives a spectacular sight.

Pond at Rideevihara, Kurunegala, Sri Lanka.

Rideevihara dates back to the 2nd Century BC. This pond carved out of solid rock is one of the sights there.

Rock temple, Kurunegala.

 Rock temples were earlier cave dwellings which with the passage of time evolved into places of worship. The rock temple shown is now a Raja Maha Vihare in Kurunegala at the bottom of Athaagala. The statue of Lord Buddha is on top of Athaagala.

Dinner halt at Kurunegala, Sri Lanka.

Coming back from Batticaloa to Avissawella, we stopped at this place in the outskirts of Kurunegala, at the 'Badagamuwa Comfort Centre', to have our dinner.

Deduru Oya at Ibbagamuwa, Sri Lanka.

 The Deduru Oya crosses the Kurunegala Dambulla highway just before Ibbagamuwa. I took these pictures of an 'anicut' upstream made to feed water to the paddy fields and a beautiful tree spreading over the river downstream. Deduru Oya is notorious for its flash floods which occur when heavy rains fall on the hills of Mathale.