This page hopes to take you on a virtual tour of the remains of Kotte. It is not an exhaustive analysis of the place, but a virtual glimpse of the main features remaining to be seen by a visitor today.
We start our journey from the entrance to present day Athul Kotte ( which was it’s northern entrance years ago) and proceed along the road to Pita Kotte, visiting the places of historical importance on the way.
The Kotte Museum situated midway along this road is a good place to further you knowledge on Kotte, and the references sighted at the bottom of this page.
The images below compares a map of Kotte, found in Sir Paul E. Pieris’s book, ‘Ceylon: The Portuguese Era’, with a present day map from Google Maps, and provides a guide to the changes that have taken place over the years. The development of the parliament complex and Waters Edge hotel has altered the water bodies considerably. Land filing by individual owners has reclaimed most of the marsh land that provided security to the walled city of old Kotte.
Virtual tour of Kotte – Drawbridge and Perakumba Pirivena
Northern Entrance and Drawbridge: The entrances to the fortified fort of Kotte was thru a few passes guarded by bastions. The main one
Virtual tour of Kotte – The Palace
Traveling down Kotte Road, the next left turn leads one down the Palace (Maligawa) Road. Unfortunately the name board you find at
Virtual tour of Kotte – Alakeshwara Road
The present day Alakeshwara road leads one to the remains of what is known as the ruins of the Alakeswara Palace. To
Virtual tour of Kotte – The Ramparts & Inner Moat
The Rampart road a little further down Kotte Road, thankfully leads you to some remains of the great rampart, and the southern
Virtual tour of Kotte – Angampitiya Road
Crossing the Kotte road across from Rampart Road, will lead you to Angampitiya Road. Towards the end of this road you will
Virtual tour of Kotte – Kotte Archeological Museum
By the side of the Kotte Road, just beyond Angampitiya Road, is the E. W. Perera Archeological Museum – Kotte. This is
Virtual tour of Kotte – Weherakanda
The best-preserved of the remains of Kotte could be found at Weherakanda in beddegana. This has been situated outside and to the
Virtual tour of Kotte – The Outer Moat and the Southern Entrance
Outer Moat – Eastern side adjoining Sri Kotha Outer Moat – Western side Outer Moat – Close up of western side The
Virtual tour of Kotte – The Tunnels of Kotte
The cave & tunnel complex, now barricaded. A side view of the complex A closeup view These photographs shows what is known
Virtual tour of Kotte – Others
The Gal Ambalama: Nameboard equating the Ambalama with a British Doss-House Details of the Ambalama Roof and support columns Frontal view of
Virtual Tour of Kotte – Maps then and now
This page compares a map of Kotte found in Wikipedia and other articles, showing the structure of the fortress, with the Palace, roads
Reference:
(1) Kotte: The Fortress, Prasad Fonseka, (2015,). An excellent resource for anyone who likes to explore Kotte and link the past and present in depth. The book is available at leading bookshops and at The National Trust, 407, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7.
(2) Kotte (Sinhala): Department of Cultural Affairs, Battaramulla. Available at the Kotte Museum.
(3) Kotte: Cradle of Christianity in Sri Lanka, I. V. Cabral
(4) Personal recollections of a Guide
