Historically, Kataragama has always maintained a low profile. While this may strike some as a rationalization for the near-absence of Kataragama from history books
Kataragama is one of the most celebrated places of pilgrimage in Ceylon, sacred alike to the Buddhists as well as to the Hindus. To the former, it is one of the ‘sixteen great places’ at which the Buddha
Writers of history come in two varieties: those who fashion history by making it, and those who describe the process later. Here, as is so often the case, metaphor clothes the spirit or higher sense
Kalyanagiri was a great tapasvi from North India who belonged to the Giri Order of the Dasa Namis (ten sannyas orders Giri, Puri, Bharati, Asrama, Tirtha, Aranya, Parvata, Saraswati, Vana and Bharati Tirtha).
According to legendary history Ruhunu Kataragama Maha Devalaya (at right) was built by King Dutugemunu around 160 years B.C. in fulfillment of a vow to defeat King Elara in battle.
During our school holidays, we travelled extensively to all parts of Sri Lanka, making maximum use of my father's first class railway warrant. We flew by then Air Ceylon between Palaly