The Mystic Ruins of Divulwewa – දිවුල්වැව ආරණ්යය පුරාවිද්යා භූමිය
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Anuradhapura District is dotted with ancient archaeology sites scattered all over the district rarely known by general public. To find these you need to go off the common roads and need to travel through interior roads where archaeological boards pop up every few hundred meters.
Divulawewa Archaeological site is such a site which has been cleared and conserved off the beaten track. The Ancient name of the site is said to be Komarikawela and has been a monastic complex housing hundreds of resident monks.
The Divulwewa Monastery has been flourishing during Anuradhapura period. Ruins of restored image houses and monks dwellings are all over the temple grounds but striking features among the ruins is what is believed to have been a library on stone pillars (Tam Pita) and a kitchen with a stone sink. Also urinal stones and stones used for dyeing monk’s robes can be seen.The buidings are from the mid Anuradhapura period, from the 3rd to 6th century. Some remnants such as buildings on pillars could have been built in the much later Kandy period.
The hidden attraction of the Divulawewa Archaeological Reserve is the exquisite Samadhi Buddha statue carved out of sandstone almost a replica of the Samadhi Statue of Anuradhapura. This Samadhi statue is also similar in style and well preserved. This is 2.13 meters in height compared to 2.21 meter height of Samadhi Buddha at Maha Mevuna Uyana in Anuradhapura. Only the nose is damaged probably by toppling over. Today this statue lies under a canopy made by the Archaeology department.
Compared to Samadhi statue at Anuradhapura, the statue’s robe is almost invisible and lacks any folds. the waist area is also much wider and fuller than most Buddha statues of this era.
Next to this Aramic Complex lies a burial grounds of priests. This may have been used even before this time since mMegalithic stone cists have also been found in the nearby Kokabe.
The site of the Divulwewa Athaeology site lies between Galenbindunuwewa and Hamillewa along the Habarana – Hamillewa road. The location of Divulwewa should not be confused with Mahadivulwewa which lies few kilometer to the South. To reach his site travel 15 km on the towards Maradankadawala from Habarana and take the Ganewelpola – Hamillewa road. Travel a total of 18 km passing Galenbindawewa and Komarikawala wewa. A small archaeology “Kalu Board” will show the turn off to the site just before Hettu Wewa. The site lies 350 km down this road. A reservoir called Divul Wewa can be reached traveling a further 1 km on the same lane.
The ruins of Divulwewa were discovered during 1960’s and its restoration work has commenced in 1977.
Divulwewa – with Sri Lanka’s second Samadhi Buddha in situ
Also See
Map of Divulwewa Archaeological Reserve
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.
Driving Directions to Divulwewa Archaeological Reserve
Route from Colombo to Divulwewa Archaeological Reserve | Route from Habarana to Divulwewa Archaeological Reserve |
| Though : Ambepussa – Kurunegala – Dambulla – Habarana distance : 237 km Travel time : 5.30 hours Driving directions : see on google map | Though : distance : 52 km Travel time : 1 hour Driving directions : see on google map |