Ancient Monastery Around Tissamaharama
Tissamaharama, nestled in the southern plains of Sri Lanka, stands as a timeless testament to the island’s profound Buddhist heritage. Once a royal capital of the ancient Ruhuna Kingdom, the region flourished as a spiritual and cultural stronghold, with its sacred landscapes dotted by awe-inspiring religious monuments.
Among its most revered historical landmarks are four ancient Buddhist temples, believed to have been established as early as the 3rd century B.C. These sanctuaries, now partly in ruins, have withstood centuries of change, offering an enduring link to the early spread of Theravāda Buddhism across the island.
Tissamaharama, nestled in the southern plains of Sri Lanka, stands as a timeless testament to the island’s profound Buddhist heritage. Once a royal capital of the ancient Ruhuna Kingdom, the region flourished as a spiritual and cultural stronghold, with its sacred landscapes dotted by awe-inspiring religious monuments.
Among its most revered historical landmarks are four ancient Buddhist temples, believed to have been established as early as the 3rd century B.C. These sanctuaries, now partly in ruins, have withstood centuries of change, offering an enduring link to the early spread of Theravāda Buddhism across the island.
Central to this sacred constellation is the Sandagiri Monastery Complex, a vast archaeological site that once thrived as a center of Buddhist scholarship, ritual, and monastic life. The complex features the remains of stupas (dagobas), monastic residences, meditation platforms, and stone inscriptions — all echoing the architectural finesse and spiritual fervor of ancient times. Surrounded by tranquil paddy fields and lotus-covered reservoirs, the site exudes an atmosphere of contemplation and reverence.
Scattered throughout the Tissamaharama region are numerous other remnants of monastic life — image houses, stone pillars, moonstones, and guardstones — each artifact silently narrating stories of devotion, artistry, and royal patronage. These ruins are not merely historical remnants; they represent the living heritage of Sri Lanka’s Buddhist identity.
Today, the ancient monastery complexes around Tissamaharama continue to draw both pilgrims and scholars. For visitors, they offer not only a window into the island’s spiritual past but also a chance to walk in the footsteps of ancient monks, amidst landscapes that remain as peaceful and inspiring as they were over two millennia ago.
Historical sources about Tissamaharama
It is said that an ill samanera called “Gauthama” in the Seelapassa Pirivena passed away and was conceived into Queen Viharamahadevi in this location who later became the great king Dutugemunu. It is also believed that Dutugemunu was born in this area.
About Tissamaharama Stupa
According to historical sources, the structure was built by King Kavantissa, who reigned over the Ruhuna Magama Kingdom in the 3rd century B.C.
The relic enshrined in this stupa is a subject of debate. According to popular belief, the fontal bone relic (ලලාඨ ධාතු ) of Buddha was temporally enshrined in this stupa but later it was enshrined in the Seruwila Mangala Maha Chethiya. But a recent discovery of a pillar inscription in Kirinda, that the left tooth relic of Buddha (වම් යටි හකු දලදාව) is enshrined in this stupa. Irrespective of the relics enshrined, the Tissamaharama stupa lies on the ground that Buddha himself visited with 500 Arhats during his 3rd visit to Sri Lanka. This site lies in the 8th position of the Solosmasthana (The Sixteen Buddhist Sacred Sites Hollowed by Buddha) in Sri Lanka.
An Enduring Symbol of Heritage, Devotion, and Ancient Ingenuity
Yatala Stupa is one of Sri Lanka’s oldest and most revered Buddhist monuments, standing as a silent sentinel of history for over 2,300 years. Built in the 3rd century B.C. by King Mahanaga, this sacred stupa was constructed to honor the birth of his son, Prince Yatala Tissa, near the site where the monument now majestically rises.
This ancient structure is not just a religious relic—it is a masterpiece of early Sinhalese architecture. What sets Yatala Stupa apart from others of its kind is the remarkable moat-like water reservoir that encircles it. This serene pond is both a feat of engineering and a symbol of purity and spiritual reflection, enhancing the sanctity and tranquility of the stupa.
Encircling its base is the famed “Gajan Maluwa”, a low wall ornately decorated with finely sculpted elephant heads. Each figure is a testament to the craftsmanship of ancient artisans and represents strength, guardianship, and the deep cultural symbolism attributed to elephants in Sri Lankan heritage.
Visitors to Yatala Stupa are also treated to a journey through history at the on-site archaeological museum, which houses an impressive collection of ancient relics, inscriptions, statues, and tools discovered in the vicinity—each piece echoing the spiritual and cultural richness of the Anuradhapura period.
More than just a historical site, Yatala Stupa continues to be a place of worship and reflection, embodying the spiritual resilience, artistic brilliance, and deep-rooted Buddhist traditions of Sri Lanka. It remains a timeless symbol of devotion and national pride, inspiring generations with its enduring presence and sacred legacy.
Menik Rajamaha Vihara is an ancient Buddhist temple believed to have been constructed in the 2nd or 3rd century B.C. The stupa within the temple is traditionally attributed to King Mahanaga, though Henry Parker, a British archaeologist, suggested that it may have been built by King Dutugemunu. This sacred site holds historical and religious significance and was restored to its original shape in 1882, preserving its architectural heritage for future generations.
The Galkanumandiya Ruins, an ancient and lesser-known archaeological site in southern Sri Lanka, stand as a silent testament to the island’s deep-rooted Buddhist heritage. Located about 200 metres east of the significant Menik Vehera Stupa and easily visible from the main road, this site features an extraordinary cluster of nearly 50 upright granite pillars arranged in a symmetrical layout. These pillars are believed to have once supported a large structure, possibly a chapter house or an assembly hall within a Buddhist monastery dating back to the 3rd century B.C.
Unlike the more common pillar ruins found in Sri Lanka’s central region, such as those in Anuradhapura or Polonnaruwa, the presence of Galkanumandiya in the southern landscape is considered quite rare. The site’s name is derived from the Sinhalese words “gal” (stone) “kanu” (pillars) “mandiya (Cluster), reflecting the visual character of the place.
Although the precise history of Galkanumandiya remains somewhat uncertain, an inscription etched onto a nearby secluded stone pillar suggests that this may have been part of a larger monastic complex dating to the 1st or 2nd century A.D. This adds to its historical and archaeological value, offering insight into the spread of Buddhist monastic culture beyond Sri Lanka’s ancient capitals. Visitors to the site can sense the spiritual and architectural legacy embedded in these stones, which have endured centuries of wind, rain, and time.
Ethabedigala, located in approximately 200 meters east of the ancient Menik Rajamaha Vihara in Tissamaharama, is an important archaeological site of historical significance. At this location stands a vertical stone pillar engraved with early Brahmi script, believed to date back to the 3rd century B.C. According to local tradition and scholarly belief, this stone pillar served a royal purpose — it is said to have been the place where King Gamini Abhaya, better known as King Dutugemunu, tied his official war elephant named Kadol. The presence of this inscribed pillar not only marks the importance of the site during the Anuradhapura period but also reflects the close relationship between the king and the sacred surroundings of the Menik Vihara. This monument serves as a silent witness to the royal and religious heritage of the region, making Ethabedigala a valuable landmark in Sri Lanka’s ancient history.
