Kallarippu Kali Kovil Archaeological Ruins

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Kallarippu Kali Kovil Grounds Archaeological Ruins

Located in Vakarai, the Kallaripu ruins feature eleven monolithic stone pillars from the Anuradhapura Period. This ancient square structure, surrounded by red-ware pottery and brick fragments, is an archaeological site now turned into the local Kali Kovil.

Deep within the secluded forests of the Eastern Province lie these ancient Buddhist ruins, situated within the Kallaripu Kali Kovil Grounds in the Vakarai region. The site is located in the village of Kallaripu, within the Kadiraveli 213 Grama Niladhari Division, under the Korala Pattu North (Vakarai) Divisional Secretariat.

Site Layout and Architectural Features

The site comprises two principal structures along with a number of scattered artifacts, with the main building identifiable by its monolithic stone pillars.

The secondary structure is located approximately 10 m (32.8 ft) to the south of the main building. At this location, the granite pillars and stone slabs have collapsed and are now found in a ruined state.

To the south-west of the main structure, the remains of a water tank constructed from granite slabs can be observed, indicating the presence of an organized water management feature associated with the site.

The Primary Square Building

The most prominent feature of the site is a ruined structure that originally followed a square plan. It was constructed using four parallel rows of pillars, each row consisting of four pillars.

A total of eleven stone pillars remain standing in their original upright positions, each measuring approximately 110 cm (1.1 m / 3.6 ft) in height. The site also preserves a visible stone foundation along with several fallen fragments of pillars, indicating the original structural layout.

Unfortunately, local Hindu devotees have installed a cement seat at the center of this ancient foundation, adapting the space for present-day worship, a pattern observed at most Buddhist heritage sites in the Northern and Eastern regions.

Historical Significance: The Anuradhapura Period

Archaeological assessments attribute the site to the Anuradhapura Period, based on several defining material characteristics.

The presence of stone-tool boreholes, commonly referred to as wedging holes, reflects early stone quarrying and construction techniques. Scattered across the site are fragments of red ware and black-and-red ware pottery, which are characteristic of early Sri Lankan ceramic traditions. Additionally, remnants of ancient bricks and roofing tiles suggest that the structures were part of a permanent and possibly high-status complex.

Access

Access to this remote location is through an inland route through the Vakarai region. From Kadiraveli, proceed towards the Verugal Bridge. Turn left onto Mavil Anga Road and continue for approximately 3.5 km (2.2 miles). At a culvert, turn right and travel a further 1.9 km (1.2 miles) to reach Kallaripu Road. From there, turn left and continue for about 1 km (0.62 miles), where the ruins are located within the jungle on the left-hand side.

Geographical Coordinates

The precise location of the site is as follows:

Latitude: 8° 15′ 40.2″ N
Longitude: 81° 19′ 48.6″ E

References

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

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