Heritage

Ruins of Allirani Fort in Arasapuram, Kilinochchi (අරිසපුරම් අල්ලිරානි කොටුව නටබුන්)

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Ruins of Allirani Fort in Arasapuram, Kilinochchi (AI)

Arasapuram (Arisapuram) is a small agricultural settlement surrounded by dense jungle, located approximately 12 km (7.5 miles) south of Pooneryn town. Access to this remote village is obtained via the Mannar–Pooneryn road, turning off approximately 11 km (6.8 miles) before reaching Pooneryn. A gravel road branches to the right at a point marked by a direction board for the Training School, 66th Infantry Division Pooneryn, in Arasapuram.

Traveling approximately 4.2 km (2.6 miles) along this gravel road through thick forest leads to the Arasa Kulam tank. The ruins known as Allirani Fort lie close to this tank as marked on the Google Map below.

Legends of Allirani

According to local tradition, Allirani (Alli Rani) was a princess from Malabar who ruled the eastern coastal regions of the island, including the pearl banks of Mannar. Several folk traditions and legends are associated with this queen and her influence over the region. However, no definitive historical or archaeological evidence has yet been discovered to confirm these accounts.

The Ruins at Arasapuram

The ruins found at Arasapuram are believed by local residents to represent the remains of a fort associated with Queen Allirani. Nevertheless, no formal archaeological excavations have been conducted at the site to verify this interpretation.

It is considered more likely that these ruins are the remains of an ancient monastery constructed many centuries, or possibly millennia, ago.

Archaeological Protection

The ruins were officially declared a protected archaeological site by the government through a gazette notification issued on 25 March 2016. The site was described as follows:

“Hillocks of ruins at the place called Arisapuram Allirani Kotuwa belonging to Arisapuram village situated in Grama Niladhari Division No. 65, Pallikuda, in the Divisional Secretary’s Division of Punarin in Killinochchi District in Northern Province.”

Present Condition of the Site

The present condition of these ruins remains uncertain. The location marker shown on Google Maps is based on the GPS coordinates provided by the Department of Archaeology.

References

‘THE ANTIQUITIES ORDINANCE (CHAPTER 188)’ (2016) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, 1960, p. 229.

Also See

Map of Allirani Fort in Arasapuram

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.

Travel Directions to Allirani Fort in Arasapuram

Route from Mannar to Allirani Fort in Arasapuram

Though :
Distance: 72 km
Travel time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Driving Directions : see on Google map

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