Travel Guide Kurunegala
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116 km northeast of Colombo, 60 km from Kandy. Coming from Colombo and heading towards the Cultural Triangle, you can't miss the huge junction of Kurunegala, which is on the direct road to Dambulla.Following successive invasions that led to the falls of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Dambadeniya and then Yapahuwa, Kurunegala was the royal capital from 1293 to 1341. Today, it is the capital of Wayamba province. Although Kurunegala does not have any great archaeological sites, one should not fail to admire the superb temple of Athugala on Elephant Rock, where a giant Buddha of 27 meters sits. Its brilliant whiteness, its imposing size and its high perched situation make it visible from miles away. It is the Elephant Rock which gives its name to the city, in Sinhalese "kurune" means an elephant with tusks, and "gala", a rock. One will also appreciate the picturesque aspect of its lake, planted within the city, and the rocks in the shape of animals that surround it. According to the legend, the animals would have threatened the men to drink all their water and would have been thus, divine punishment, transformed into rock: Wandura Gala (Monkey Rock), Ibba Gala (Tortoise Rock) and many others
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