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Embilipitiya Udagama Stupa (ඇඹිලිපිටිය උඩගම ස්තූපය)

56 years ago6 months ago02 mins

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Hidden near the Udagama junction, the recently discovered Embilipitiya Udagama Stupa reveals a layered history of construction and restoration. Excavations uncovered an octagonal brick platform, a ruined relic chamber, and artefacts including pottery, iron fragments, and colonial coins, offering glimpses into its ancient and later phases.

The Embilipitiya Udagama Stupa is a recently discovered and conserved site situated in the Udangama Grama Niladhari Division of the Embilipitiya Divisional Secretariat. It lies on the left side of the road leading to Suriyakanda, near the Udagama junction, approximately 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) before the town of Embilipitiya on the Colombo–Embilipitiya main road.

Excavations carried out in 2016 revealed the construction boundary of the stupa, after which the boundary wall was restored. Granite slabs were used for the foundation, and the wall was built above them with about eight layers of bricks. To prevent the slabs from sinking, a mixture of gravel, clay, and soil had been applied, with the layer made thicker near the stupa’s construction zone. A square foundation made entirely of bricks was then built over this gravel mixture and filled with a blend of gravel, quartz, sand, and clay. Above this base, an octagonal platform was constructed using three courses of bricks, and three circular basal rings (pesa walalu) made of molded bricks were placed on top.

The center of the stupa had been heavily damaged by treasure hunters, and the relic chamber was completely destroyed by the time conservation work was undertaken.

An entrance path from the southern side provided access to the stupa courtyard (maluwa). This entrance shows evidence of two construction phases. The staircase appears to have been added as the final stage, after the boundary wall and the stupa had been completed. It is likely that the two steps now visible were reinstalled over the original structure during a later restoration phase.

Excavations also uncovered movable artifacts such as fragments of clay pottery, roof tiles, iron objects, and Dutch and British coins. However, due to damage caused by modern human activity, it is difficult to determine a precise date for the monument.

References

Dissanayake, S. B. (2024). 2016 වර්ෂය සඳහා පුරාවිද්‍යා අධ්‍යක්‍ෂක ජනරාල්ගේ පාලන වාර්තාව. Department of Archaeology, Sri Lanka.

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References

Also See

Map of the Embilipitiya Udagama Stupa

Driving Directions to Embilipitiya Udagama Stupa

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