Mahapelessa Hot Springs

At that time, it was possible to reach this place by passing Madunagala Arana from Ambalantota - Ridhiyagama government farm. For that, he had to walk three miles through the jungle. Also, after getting into a boat near Liangasthota lake, getting off from Begiganthot, and traveling two or three miles through a thick forest from Dibul tree, it was possible to reach this place.
Dr. R.L., who wrote the book 'Seeing Ceylon' and was a famous archaeologist in this country. According to Brohier, it is said that at that time elephants came to this hot water pit to breathe their last. “I sent the water I got from this pond to the government taster. According to his report, if 10,000 parts of water are taken, 534 parts contain solid matter. It states that it contains chlorine, magnesium, lime and sulphate.”
Leonard Wolfe, who was the Governor of Hambantota at that time, wrote in his diary on August 1, 1910, that is how the Mahapalassa hot springs are described. It is also stated that he went to the place in a boat across the Walaway river. It is said that Madunagala hot springs have medicinal water. Tourists who come to see this have the ability to bathe in water of their desired temperature. It is said that the temperature of the water here is about 44 degrees Celsius. Currently, five water tanks have been built around the hot spring at this place. The temperature of these is different from one another.
The water tank tied around the hot spring is the tank with the highest temperature. Due to the extreme heat of this water, you may see bubbles forming. Its water flows from tank to tank, and the temperature is gradually reduced. So it is more convenient for tourists to bathe. Some people believe that if rice is cooked using the water taken from the well where the hot spring is located, the rice can be kept for a long time without being cooked. About half a century ago, some say that the hot water in these hot springs was hot enough to boil eggs. This place used to be a breeding ground for wild elephants. In the past, when there was a severe drought in this area, they searched for water here andwashed themselves to this inexhaustible water pond. In some cases, baby elephants are also said to have died by falling into the water hole here. In the past this has been an obscure place. It has recently become a famous tourist spot across the country. What appeared as a ground-level waterhole was developed after the 1960s into five square ponds with a half-foot-high stone base. Bathing facilities are provided here, after that. Also, an orderly road system was built to access these hot water wells. The stone wall here was built high in 1980 to prevent the arrival of wild elephants. Later the place fell into disrepair, but was developed in 2004. Due to this, instead of the road that used to go to Madunagala hot springs, a road that has been developed has now been acquired.At present, this place has become a tourist spot for many people who visit Hambantota, Karataragama and other areas. You can get rid of the tiredness of the long journey and take a hot water bath full of medicinal properties by visiting Mahapalassa hot springs. The pH value of the water here is 7.0. Conductivity 7.1 is Solids mg. Contains 5288. Here bicarbonate is mg. 20.1 and 2590 mg of chloride, contains components such as sulphate, nitrate, phosphate, silica, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, lithium, iron, zinc, lead, cadmium, fluoride, sulphide, manganese. These springs also contain gases such as hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide. Because the water here has many mineral salts, it is considered to have many medicinal properties, so this water is not just hot water, it is full of medicinal properties. Because of this, there is a belief among the people that bathing in this water cures a number of diseases such as acne, rashes, blisters, eczema and other fungal diseases, as well as a number of air ailments since time immemorial. There are only a few natural hot springs like this in the whole world.
Therefore, geologists say that it is a rare and excellent creation of nature.It is said that the great arahants who lived in Aranya Senasana, which were close to this hot spring in the past, knew that the water in these hot springs had the power to cure skin diseases and asthma. Because of this, they have regularly visited this place to bathe in this hot water. At present, a bird garden, a fish pond and a children's garden have been built in this place. If you visit here, you can visit Ridhiyagama Safari Park, Rambha Vihara Archaeological Reserve, Madunagala Forest Sanctuary, Karamgala Caves etc.