King Dappula III, referred to as Dapalu in both the Pujavaliya and Rajavaliya, was the youngest of the three sons of King Udaya I (797-801 CE), who is also identified in certain sources as Dappula II. Dappula III ascended the throne in 815 CE following the death of his elder brother, King Aggabodhi VIII, and ruled for a period of sixteen years. Upon his death, he was succeeded by his son, King Aggabodhi IX.
King Aggabodhi VIII, known as Madi Akbo in the Pujavaliya, was one of the three sons of King Udaya I, who is also identified in some sources as Dappula II. He ascended the throne in 804 CE following the death of his brother, King Mahinda III, and ruled for eleven years. He was succeeded by his youngest brother, King Dappula III.
King Mahinda III, known as Somihindu and bearing the royal title Dhammika Silāmegha, ruled briefly during the Late Anuradhapura Period. A son of King Udaya I, his short reign from 801 to 804 CE remains one of the least eventful chapters of the Second Lambakanna Dynasty.
Stand on the edge of Sri Lanka’s most dramatic precipice at the Great World’s End in Horton Plains, where a sheer 1,200-meter drop reveals sweeping views of tea estates, forests, and distant coastlines, rewarding an easy highland hike with one of Asia’s most breathtaking panoramas.
Discover the ancient Tapassara Cave Monastery near Seruwila, featuring a drip-ledged cave, ruined stupas, stone pillars, and early Anuradhapura-period structures. Once part of a thriving settlement, the site today bears marks of treasure hunting yet remains a significant archaeological landmark.
Discover Vellaveli’s hidden heritage, where a solitary tree beside an abandoned reservoir shelters shrines dedicated to the fierce deity Vairavar. Nearby, a rocky plateau with early Brahmi inscriptions reveals traces of an ancient Buddhist monastic past, blending spiritual traditions across centuries.
Constructed in 1878, this lighthouse was described as projecting a flashing bright light at the entrance to the Batticaloa River. It stood 15.2 meters [50 feet] tall and was constructed on the flagstaff of the watchtower at the river bar. The ruin currently stands amidst the palm trees of Batticaloa. Unfortunately, the upper portion of the tower has collapsed, leaving only the bottom half intact.
Hidden within a small forest patch between sprawling sugarcane fields lies Padivettu Malai, where ancient rock-cut steps rise abruptly from the stone. This forgotten monastic site, overlooked and unprotected, preserves echoes of a lost past waiting to be uncovered before time soon completely erases it.
Padivettina Malai is a remote rock plateau hidden between Toppigala and Kusalankanda, scattered with pillars, carved steps, and remnants of an ancient monastery. Blending archaeology with Tamil folklore, this isolated site offers a rare glimpse into long-forgotten life amid Sri Lanka’s wilderness.
Located at the entrance to the devalaya grounds is an ancient ambalama that displays architectural characteristics of the Kandyan era. This square structure is constructed upon a square platform and features short walls on all four sides, with an opening provided for the entrance. These walls serve a dual purpose, also functioning as seating ledges.
Discover the hidden Yahangala of Kahatagasdigiliya, where ancient monks once meditated on rock-cut beds beneath a dramatically balanced boulder. Just 6 kilometers from town, this rugged, tree-fringed site reveals a rare glimpse into Sri Lanka’s early monastic life and timeless spiritual heritage.
Discover the hidden spring and ancient devala shrine of Gallinda, where legend says King Mahasen struck the earth with his golden sword to unleash life-saving water. Deep in Sigiriya’s jungle, this sacred site preserves centuries of faith, folklore, and Sri Lanka’s earliest irrigation heritage.
Discover the lesser-known Minneriya Purana Game Devalaya, an ancient shrine tied to King Mahasen’s 3rd-century CE legacy and later rebuilt by King Rajasinghe II. Hidden near the great reservoir, it preserves rare artifacts, legends, and the enduring heritage of Minneriya Deviyo.
At Tangalmandiya Viharaya, ruins of a stupa with a stone moonstone and steps with balustrades are found. Stone pillars of an ancient building and a number of stone flower altars are found scattered all over the temple premises. A new stupa was built in 2024 covering the ancient stupa mound.
The site is located in a cleared patch of jungle in the village of Pansalgodella and contains the remains of an ancient monastery, including upright stone pillars that may have belonged to an image house, as well as both standing and seated Buddha statues. Several other stone fragments are also scattered across the area.
Discover Ihala Kalawella Ulpatha, a hidden archaeological gem deep in the Anuradhapura jungles, where ancient cist burials, early iron technology, and layers of human history reveal how Sri Lanka’s first farming communities lived, engineered stone, and shaped the island over 2,500 years ago.
Rasnakawewa Gal Vihara Kanda reveals an ancient monastery hidden within rugged rock formations, preserving rare inscriptions, stone architecture and sacred relics from the early Anuradhapura period. Explore a site where history, craftsmanship and forgotten heritage survive beneath centuries of change.
Hidden deep within the jungle beside the Iratperiyakulam Reservoir, a British-built survey tower rises atop an ancient monastic hill. Cut grooves, caves with drip ledges, and lost inscriptions reveal a forgotten Buddhist complex waiting to be rediscovered amid the wilderness.
Hidden near the Polkada Wella Bridge in Wadduwa lies a tiny overgrown monument carved with a peacock and a haunting message. Few notice it today, yet it marks a remarkable 1940s tale of two lovingly raised birds, tragic loss, and a memorial born from heartbreak.
Hidden deep within farmlands of Polonnaruwa, which had been the ancient Bhu Wewa reservoir, lies a Biso Kotuwa, a sophisticated hydraulic marvel once used to regulate huge water bodies. Mysterious, compact, and expertly engineered, this forgotten structure reveals the ingenuity of Sri Lanka’s ancient water management system.
