TV Times

TV Times

'Re-discover the Origin' with ‘Kudarama’
By Sanath Weerasuriya
Puttalam, apart from the recently opened Wilpattu National Sanctuary, is not traditionally popular a destination for holiday makers. But how many are aware that the land stretch between Puttalam and Mannar are the cradle of the civilization in this country, many thousands of years before the arrival of the Aryans. This pre-Historic evidence of developed civilization is now buried or covered in the deep jungle of Wilpattu Sanctuary. Very few people even historians are forgotten the about this 'glory' era of pre Wijaya period of Serendib.

Aryans moved North and South of Persia and the very last south point was Sri Lanka. But the evidence show Arab sailors and Indian tribes were frequent visitors to Tambapanni, the red sand port, where Wijaya landed some two thousand five hundred years ago.

The Portuguese and Dutch landed on this copper coloured sand centuries after Wijaya, to continue conquer on the civilization on the land of pearl.
The Bay of Portuguese and Arrippu Fort built by Dutch on the beach frontier of the Wilpattu stand tall to prove the foreign invasion on the land of Origin.
To see all these plus the wild of the north of Wayamba, the only place is the Kudarama.

Kudarama is a typical African style camping site situated in an area called Kiula in Mahakumbukkadawala, 14 kms off main Chilaw-Puttalam road.
'It is just three months old and we are fast gaining popularity with adventure travelers and explorers' said Viran Suares, the Manager of the site.
Kudarama consists of six permanent camps on an elevated wooden platform with all basic facilities.

'Kudarama' does not have main electricity supply and it is in the midst of scrub jungle, cut off from the rest of the world. Two of the tents are for group accommodation and the rest are doubles. The small makeshift swimming pool, said to be the only makeshift pool in Sri Lanka, is an added attraction to the visitors of Kudarama. Also Karukamadhu tank is a popular attraction for nature lovers and bird watchers.

'We generally do not sell a camp. We sell packages with tours, where a traveller can explore the surrounding and can return to the camp site to spend the night. We have named the tour package as 'Re-discover the Origin', as we take the travellers through the pre-historic land in the area' said Sidantha Elikawela, who handles the marketing of Kudarama from Colombo Office. Sidantha is a young explorer, who is very keen on finding these pre-historic evidence to take the tourism away from the conventional beach and mountain destinations.

'We have identified a number of places in Wilpattu and towards Mannar. We take visitors, who are keen on exploring the sites. Our 'Re-discover the Origin' programme has different locations to be re-discovered. Wilpattu, Kudiramale, Anavilundar Ramsey wetland, Kolangkanatta, Vilandagoda, Tabbowa, Palugahatenna, Mahatita, Kaluoya, The Bay of Portuguese and Arrippu Fort and the protected beach sanctuary off Wilpattu, Kalaoya and Hunuwilagama are some of the interesting places.' Sidantha explained.

Wilpattu is just 30 minutes drive from the camp site. Kudiramale is the place south of Mannar, believed to be the place, where King Wijaya landed or more specifically the Aryans set their first footsteps on Serendipity.
'Since, the road through the Wilpattu Park is closed, we have to take the travellers via sea route' Sidantha explained.

Kolankanatta is a pre-historic burial ground dating back to more than 4000 years into the stone age. It is in the mid jungle of the sanctuary' he said
Vilangoda is a mountain peak, where, according to the villagers, king Saliya met his queen to be Asokamala. Also Tabbowa Tank is a birds paradise and a place for elephants too.

Palugahatenna is an ancient port. Protected beach sanctuary off Wilpattu is a home for very rare fish Dugon or popularly known as sea cow. 'Dugon is believed to be an extinct fish found only in this part of the world.' Sidantha said. The explorers can find themselves in one day tours or over night packagers with night park in Mannar including sea excursion.

Kudarama is the central location for all these excursions. Kudarama is fully owned by Vanik Money Brokers Limited under the guidance of DGM Mano Ratnayake.

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