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Journey to Kurunegala
Origins of the Name Kurunegala has been named after the elephant rock. “Kurune” means tusker or an elephant with protruding teeth and Gala in Sinhala means rock. Kurunegala’s old name was Hasthishailya-pura, which can be translated as the city of the Elephant rock. In some ancient literature the word Athugal-pura is also employed to describe the city of Kurunegala. History Kurunegala had a citadel in the thirteenth century. Kurunegala was the capital for half a century, starting with the reign of King Buvanekabahu II (1293-1302) who was followed by King Parakramabahu IV (1302-1326). A few remains of the Palace of the Tooth relic that housed the tooth of the Buddha are to be seen, including few stone steps and part of a doorway. The Seven Rocks * Etha-gala (Elephant Rock) Kurunegala Clock Tower This was built in 1922 as a tribute to the officers, who went from the Wayamba province and sacrificed their lives in World War I. |
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Kurunegala is the capital of the Wayamba Province, Sri Lanka and the Kurunegala District. A transport hub, it has a railway station, and several main roads linking important parts of the country. It is situated about 94km from Colombo, and 42km from Kandy. Kurunegala has a population of about 28,571. Ethagala, a rock reaching 316 meters, towers over the town, which is located at an altitude of 116 meters above sea level. Ethagala, (Elephant Rock) is a magnificent creation of nature. The shape of Ethagala resembles an elephant. The climate is tropical monsoon, with about 1800 millimeters of rain per year.