Akkuranai Buddhist Monastic Ruins 1 in Kiran

RATE THIS LOCATION : 1 Star

(2 votes, average: 2.00 out of 5)

Akkuranai Buddhist Monastic Ruins 2 in Kiran

The Anurādhapura-period Akkuranai forest monastery features a central stupa, monastic buildings, and a pond. Though damaged by treasure hunters, the site retains drip-ledged caves with Brāhmī inscriptions, ancient paintings, and a nearby stone quarry.

The Buddhist Monastic Ruins Site 2 at Akkuraṇai are located in the village of Akkuraṇai, within the Grāma Niladhāri Division of Muruthtthanai 209-A, in the Divisional Secretariat Division of Kōrale Pattu South (Kiran) of Batticaloa District.

Access Route

From Kiran Junction, travel along the Thureiyadi road. At the Pulipañchakal Junction, turn right and continue through the Nāpathtthāwil Wewa Reservoir area and Akkuraṇai to reach the Indigenous village of Miniminiththāweli. Continue for approximately 11 km (6.8 miles) along the Akkuraṇai Road. The site is situated within the forest on the right (eastern) side of the road. From there, it is necessary to walk approximately 1 km (0.6 miles) through the jungle to reach the ruins.

Historical Background

An examination of the stupa foundation, terrace remains, drip-ledged caves, and archaeological materials scattered throughout the site confirms the existence of an ancient Buddhist religious complex. The architectural features and construction techniques are consistent with those of the Anurādhapura period.

Location and Nature of Archaeological Evidence

The site consists of the remains of an ancient Buddhist monastery centered on a rocky plateau situated within the Akkuranai forest. The highest point of the plateau was utilized for the construction of a stupa (caitya), while the surrounding lower terraces accommodated various monastic buildings. The stupa, which was originally accessible by stairways from all four cardinal directions, has been subjected to extensive damage by treasure hunters.

The stupa dome has been breached from the southern side, and the exposed inner structure indicates that the interior chamber was finished using clay bricks. Fragments of bricks are scattered throughout the surrounding area, providing further evidence of the monument’s original construction.

South of the main courtyard, five separate building sites of archaeological significance have been identified. These contain stone pillars, exposed rock foundations, brick fragments, pottery remains, and roof tile pieces associated with ancient structures. On the northern slope of the rock plateau, remnants of a retaining wall constructed using slabs of stone can still be identified. An ancient pond is located near the western entrance to the stupa

A double cave with drip-ledges is situated on the southern side of the rocky plain. Within the cave are Brāhmī inscriptions and traces of early paintings. The cave measures approximately 4 meters (13.1 feet) in height and extends about 5 meters (16.4 feet) inward from the entrance. It opens towards the south, and fragments of bricks and pottery are scattered across the cave floor.

East of the stupa is a site that has been subjected to illegal excavation. These excavations have exposed the brick foundations of an ancient structure buried beneath the surface. In addition, a number of fallen stone pillars have been identified within this area, indicating the presence of substantial architectural remains.

A rock quarry extends for approximately 150 meters (492 feet) near the site. It is likely that stone extracted from this quarry was used in the construction of the monastery and its associated structures.

Based on the extensive archaeological evidence preserved throughout the site, it can be concluded that this location was once an important and well-established Buddhist religious center.

Geographical Coordinates

The exact location of the site is as follows:

North Latitude: 7°54′ 03.9″N
East Longitude: 81°22′ 53.4″E

References

Exploration and Documentation Division (Ed.). (2017). පුරාවිද්යා ස්ථාන හඳුනා ගැනීමේ ගවේෂණ වාර්තාව, මඩකලපුව දිස්ත්රික්කය. Department of Archaeology, Sri Lanka.

Also See

Map of the Akkuranai Buddhist Monastic Ruins 2 in Kiran

Click on the button below to load the Dynamic Google Map

Show Location on Google Maps

The map above also shows other places of interest within a approximately 20 km radius of the current site. Click on any of the markers and the info box to take you to information of these sites

Zoom out the map to see more surrounding locations using the mouse scroll wheel or map controls.