Matale
Encyclopedia
Matale is a town in the hill country of Sri Lanka
, 142 kilometres (88.2 mi) from Colombo
and 26 kilometres (16.2 mi) from Kandy
. It is an area steeped in history and village living. The mayor of Matale is Hilmy Careem, as of May, 2006.
The Matale administrative district also contains the historic Sigiriya
rock castle, Aluwihara rock cave temple and Dambulla Cave Temple
. Surrounding the town are the Knuckles foothills called Wiltshire. It is a mainly agricultural area, where tea, rubber, vegetable and spice cultivation dominate. The Knuckles Mountain Range
is a special landmark of Matale.
The Aluvihara Temple, on the North side of the town, is the historic location where the Pali Canon
was first written down completely in text on ola (palm) leaves. Situated near Aluvihara are numerous monastery caves, some of which exhibit fine fresco
es.ex:- The Embiliviharaya temple at Hulangamuwa, The Watagoda Temple, The Kawatayamuna temple
Matale was a site of a major battle in 1848 when the Matale Rebellion
started and the British garrison in the Fort Macdowall in Matale was placed under siege by the rebels led by Weera Puran Appu & Gongalegoda Banda who are renowned national heroes in Sri Lanka.
This Historical city was also home to Monarawila Keppetipola, another national hero who led the Wellasa rebellion against the British troops. His ancestral home, the Kappetipola walawuwa is still present at Hulangamuwa, Matale.
Christ Church, Matale was consecrated by Bishop James Chapman on 30 December 1860.
The Church site chosen was Fort McDowall, commanding a view of the entrance to Matale via Trincomalee. The Church having been erected and furnished, the Revd William Frederick Kelly, Minister and Chaplain in Matale, and 36 others sent their petition to the Rt Revd James Chapman, D.D., to dedicate and consecrate Christ Church. The Parsonage was opened on 16 August 1862. The 75th Anniversary was celebrated in 1935. The centenary was celebrated on 28 and 29 January 1961. The 125th Anniversary was celebrated on 6 September 1986. The church was gutted by fire in 1985 and was completely restored. Services were held in the Baptist Church in the interim period.
On 22 June 1911, there was a special service held in this church in connection with the Coronation of His Majesty King George V, and Queen Mary. The offertory on that was given to the King Edward VIII. Anti Tuberculosis Fund. (Ref. Ceylon Churchman Report for the year ending 20 June 1911)
The Aluwihare temple,
The Rangiri Dambulu Temple,
Seegiriya rock fortress,
Kawatayamuna temple,
Embili viharaya & watagoda temple
Nature & recreation
Knuckles mountain range & Pitawala pathana,
The little worlds end(Punchi Lokantaya),
Wiltshire mountain range-hiking,
Brandigala mountain,
Downtown Attractions
Municipal park & rest house at the center of the town,
The Weera Puranappu monument,
The old railway station where the railroad (completed in 1880) that starts from Colombo ends,
Christ Church, Matale,
The Hindu kovil with its theru festival,
The old clock tower,
Trincomalee veediya
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, 142 kilometres (88.2 mi) from Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
and 26 kilometres (16.2 mi) from Kandy
Kandy
Kandy is a city in the center of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is one of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka; it is both an...
. It is an area steeped in history and village living. The mayor of Matale is Hilmy Careem, as of May, 2006.
The Matale administrative district also contains the historic Sigiriya
Sigiriya
Sigiriya is a large stone and ancient rock fortress and palace ruin in the central Matale District of Sri Lanka, surrounded by the remains of an extensive network of gardens, reservoirs, and other structures...
rock castle, Aluwihara rock cave temple and Dambulla Cave Temple
Dambulla cave temple
Dambulla cave temple also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla is a World Heritage Site in Sri Lanka, situated in the central part of the country. This site is situated 148 km east of Colombo and 72 km north of Kandy...
. Surrounding the town are the Knuckles foothills called Wiltshire. It is a mainly agricultural area, where tea, rubber, vegetable and spice cultivation dominate. The Knuckles Mountain Range
Knuckles Mountain Range
The Knuckles Mountain Range lies in central Sri Lanka, north-east of the city of Kandy. The range takes its name from a series of recumbent folds and peaks in the west of the massif which resemble the knuckles of clenched fist when viewed from certain locations in the Kandy District...
is a special landmark of Matale.
The Aluvihara Temple, on the North side of the town, is the historic location where the Pali Canon
Pāli Canon
The Pāli Canon is the standard collection of scriptures in the Theravada Buddhist tradition, as preserved in the Pāli language. It is the only completely surviving early Buddhist canon, and one of the first to be written down...
was first written down completely in text on ola (palm) leaves. Situated near Aluvihara are numerous monastery caves, some of which exhibit fine fresco
Fresco
Fresco is any of several related mural painting types, executed on plaster on walls or ceilings. The word fresco comes from the Greek word affresca which derives from the Latin word for "fresh". Frescoes first developed in the ancient world and continued to be popular through the Renaissance...
es.ex:- The Embiliviharaya temple at Hulangamuwa, The Watagoda Temple, The Kawatayamuna temple
Matale was a site of a major battle in 1848 when the Matale Rebellion
Matale Rebellion
The Matale Rebellion, also known as the Rebellion of 1848 took place in Ceylon against the British colonial government under Governor Lord Torrington, 7th Viscount Torrington. It marked a transition from the classic feudal form of anti-colonial revolt to modern independence struggles...
started and the British garrison in the Fort Macdowall in Matale was placed under siege by the rebels led by Weera Puran Appu & Gongalegoda Banda who are renowned national heroes in Sri Lanka.
This Historical city was also home to Monarawila Keppetipola, another national hero who led the Wellasa rebellion against the British troops. His ancestral home, the Kappetipola walawuwa is still present at Hulangamuwa, Matale.
Christ Church, Matale was consecrated by Bishop James Chapman on 30 December 1860.
The Church site chosen was Fort McDowall, commanding a view of the entrance to Matale via Trincomalee. The Church having been erected and furnished, the Revd William Frederick Kelly, Minister and Chaplain in Matale, and 36 others sent their petition to the Rt Revd James Chapman, D.D., to dedicate and consecrate Christ Church. The Parsonage was opened on 16 August 1862. The 75th Anniversary was celebrated in 1935. The centenary was celebrated on 28 and 29 January 1961. The 125th Anniversary was celebrated on 6 September 1986. The church was gutted by fire in 1985 and was completely restored. Services were held in the Baptist Church in the interim period.
On 22 June 1911, there was a special service held in this church in connection with the Coronation of His Majesty King George V, and Queen Mary. The offertory on that was given to the King Edward VIII. Anti Tuberculosis Fund. (Ref. Ceylon Churchman Report for the year ending 20 June 1911)
Attractions
Temples & Historic sitesThe Aluwihare temple,
The Rangiri Dambulu Temple,
Seegiriya rock fortress,
Kawatayamuna temple,
Embili viharaya & watagoda temple
Nature & recreation
Knuckles mountain range & Pitawala pathana,
The little worlds end(Punchi Lokantaya),
Wiltshire mountain range-hiking,
Brandigala mountain,
Downtown Attractions
Municipal park & rest house at the center of the town,
The Weera Puranappu monument,
The old railway station where the railroad (completed in 1880) that starts from Colombo ends,
Christ Church, Matale,
The Hindu kovil with its theru festival,
The old clock tower,
Trincomalee veediya
Education
National Schools- | Hindu National College,Matale
- Vijaya College, Matale
- St Thomas' CollegeSt Thomas' College, MataleSt. Thomas' College is a government secondary school for boys located in Matale, Sri Lanka.-Notable alumni:* Ranjith Wijekoon, hockey player, Sri Lanka National Team and Asia Hockey Team...
- St. Thomas' Girls' School
- Christ Church CollegeChrist Church College,MataleChrist Church College , Matale is a mixed government school located in Matale, Sri Lanka.-History:Established in 18641) 1st Sri Lankan Scout Troop 19122) 1st matale hockey team 1930...
- Packiam National School
- Zahira National SchoolZahira College Matale- Introduction :Zahira College Matale Founded in 3rd August 1942., Zahira is one of the oldest schools in the district situated in the heart of the city...
- Sri Sangamitta Balika National SchoolSri Sangamitta Balika National School, MataleSri Sangamitta Balika National School, Matale is a Government school for girls located in Matale, Sri Lanka.-References:...
- Government Science collegeGovernment Science College MataleGovernment Science College, Matale is a mixed government secondary school located in Matale, Sri Lanka. It is a well known school for its academic performances...
- ahmed rahman memorial high school matale