Ruins at Erupothana Rock | AmazingLanka.com

RATE THIS LOCATION : 1 Star

(2 votes, average: 3.50 out of 5)

Erupathana Rock next to the Erupothana Reservior — Erupathana Rock next to the Erupothana Reservoir Photo by Jagath Abesekara licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 3.0

Hidden amid the rocky plains of Vavuniya lies Erupothana—the ancient homeland of Nandimithra, one of King Dutugemunu’s mighty warriors. Scattered monastic caves, ancient inscriptions, and long-lost stupas whisper of a thriving Buddhist civilization that flourished here more than two thousand years ago.

Erupothana holds a special place in Sri Lanka’s ancient history as the birthplace of Nandimithra, one of King Dutugemunu’s ten legendary warriors (161–137 BCE). Following the victory over King Elara, King Dutugemunu appoints Nandimithra as the regional ruler of this area, granting him authority over the surrounding lands.

Location and Access

Situated off Vavuniya, Erupothana and its surroundings remain rich in archaeological significance despite being inaccessible for nearly three decades due to civil unrest. The area reveals clear evidence of a once-thriving community that existed long before the Christian era, with Buddhist monastic ruins scattered across the region.

Travelers heading from Vavuniya towards Mahakachchakodiya encounter the striking Erupothana Reservoir, beside which lies Erupothana Rock. Close to it stands Kimbulagala Rock, another site adorned with Buddhist remnants, indicating the spiritual importance of this entire landscape.

The Caves and Inscriptions

Erupothana Rock is marked by numerous drip-ledged caves that served as meditation shelters for monks over two millennia ago. Several inscriptions are etched into the stone, the most prominent reading, “Parumaka Senpathi Nandimithra Lena…”, identifying the cave as belonging to Commander Nandimithra. Another inscription mentions “Parumaka Pusha…”, believed to refer to his wife, Pusha, who likely supported the donation of caves to the monastic community.

Following his appointment as ruler, Nandimithra is said to have transformed the caves throughout this region into a network of Buddhist monasteries, reinforcing his deep devotion to Buddhism.

Early Records and Observations

The British civil engineer and historian Henry Parker, in his 1909 publication Ancient Ceylon, provides a vivid description of Erupothana. He records three main hills—Tevandan Puliyankulam Malei (Kimbulagala), Erupotana Kanda, and a third unnamed elevation—spanning nearly 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) in a straight line. Parker notes the abundance of cave inscriptions, suggesting the presence of a large Buddhist monastic population.

He further explains that Erupothana’s prominence likely stems from its location along an early highway connecting Anuradhapura to a northeastern port used for voyages to India. This strategic position would have made it a natural site for the establishment of some of Sri Lanka’s earliest Buddhist monasteries.

” There are two other low hills to the south of it, called respectively Tevandan Puliyankulam Malei (Kimbulagala), and Erupotana-kanda, the three being nearly in a line about one and a half miles long. Erupotana-kanda is a hill somewhat like Niravi Malei, but higher, with numerous large boulders on its slopes. The other hill is formed by an immense steep-sided rock, with a high vertical precipice to the east, and a gradual ascent on the north and south-west sides. There are large boulders on its top, which extend in a long north and south line.
On the detached boulders which are scattered about all three hills, numerous cave inscriptions are cut, which indicate ‘that this little-known part of the island was once the residence of a large community of Buddhist monks. When we seek to learn why such a site should have been selected for cutting what must have been at the time some of the earliest inscriptions in the island, it is found that the explanation seems to lie in the fact that this place was on the line of an early highroad leading from the capital, Anuradhapura, nearly due north-east to the port from which vessels sailed for the eastern coast of India. It is not surprising to find that some of the earliest monasteries were established on this well-known line of communications. The numerous cave shelters and the traditional associations of the Naval Niravi site caused it to be chosen for perhaps the most important of them. At other rocky hills near the same line there are either early inscriptions or other Buddhist remains; while numerous fragments of an early type of pottery and the early coins found at Mulleittivu, on the north-east coast, and described in another chapter, prove that this town also was a pre-Christian settlement. ….. “

Present Condition

Archaeological remains, including the foundations of an ancient stupa and several monastic buildings, were once visible atop the rock. However, following the withdrawal of military presence after the civil conflict, treasure hunters extensively looted the site. As a result, the stupa has been completely destroyed, leaving only traces of what once stood.

Exploring the Site Today

Reaching and exploring Erupothana requires the assistance of a knowledgeable local guide, as the terrain is rugged and the ruins are scattered across rocky outcrops. Despite the damage, the site continues to echo the legacy of one of Sri Lanka’s greatest warriors and the enduring Buddhist heritage of the region

Also See

නන්දිමිත්‍ර යෝධයාගේ ගමට ගියෙමු

Map of Ruins at Erupothana Rock

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.