Heritage

Kaddumurivu Monastery Ruins (කඩ්ඩමුරිවු පුරාවිද්‍යා ස්ථානය)

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Located in the Kaddumurivu forest, this Late Anuradhapura-era monastery features a central 10-meter stupa and several pillared buildings. Despite severe damage from treasure hunters—including a deep pit in the stupa—the site’s 15 brick layers and surviving stone pillars provide a rare look at small, ancient forest religious complexes.

Deep within the remote Kaddumurivu at the edge of the village paddy fields lies this unmarked archaeological site. Evidence indicates that this was once a small Buddhist monastery dating to the Late Anuradhapura Period. Although affected by natural weathering and human disturbance, the site still preserves the essential structural components of a traditional monastery.

Location and Access

The site is located within the Kaddumurivu 213-B Grama Niladhari Division in the Vakarai region.

It can be accessed by traveling from Vakarai towards Trincomalee and turning left onto the Kaddumurivu Road. After approximately 20 km (12.4 miles), near the Kaddumurivu Junction, turn right onto a road leading through paddy fields. Continue for about 1 km (0.62 miles), then turn left and cross a small irrigation channel flowing from the Kaddumurivu Wewa to reach the ruins.

The Central Stupa

At the center of the complex lies a stupa mound rising to approximately 2 m (6.6 ft) in height, with a diameter of about 10 m (32.8 ft).

The central portion of the mound has been excavated by treasure hunters to a depth of around 2 m (6.6 ft). Along the exposed sections, approximately 15 layers of ancient bricks remain intact.

Scattered around the mound are molded stones, rough stone slabs, and fragments of a stone umbrella (chatra) structure that once crowned the stupa.

Monastic Buildings and Pillars

Surrounding the stupa are several mounds that indicate the presence of associated monastic buildings, identified through clusters of stone pillars.

Approximately 15 m (49.2 ft) to the north, a mound with a single standing pillar can be observed. To the west lies a building site with four pillars, while about 50 m (164 ft) to the south-west there is a cluster of seven pillars, one of which is broken at ground level.

These pillars range in height from approximately 105 cm to 170 cm (3.4 ft to 5.6 ft). Many other pillars show damage to their upper sections; however, their spatial distribution clearly indicates that this was an organized monastic complex rather than an isolated structure.

Geographical Coordinates

The exact location of the site is as follows:

Latitude: 8° 08′ 07.2″ N
Longitude: 81° 19′ 54.8″ E

References

Exploration and Documentation Division (Ed.). (2017). පුරාවිද්යා ස්ථාන හඳුනා ගැනීමේ ගවේෂණ වාර්තාව, මඩකලපුව දිස්ත්රික්කය. Department of Archaeology, Sri Lanka.

Also See

Map of the Kaddumurivu Monastery Ruins

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Traveling Directions to Kaddumurivu Monastery Ruins

Route from Trincomalee to Kaddumurivu Archological Site

Through: Kinniya – Mutur – Serunuwara – Verugal
Distance: 83 km
Travel time: 2 hours
Driving directions : see on Google Maps

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