Kahatagasdigiliya Kalpe Archaeological Reserve

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Kahatagasdigiliya Kalpe Archaeological Reserve

Kalpe Archaeological Reserve lies roughly midway between Anuradhapura and Trincomalee, about 47 kilometers (29 miles) from Anuradhapura and 60 kilometers (37 miles) from Trincomalee. Traveling from Anuradhapura, and passing Mihintale, Kahatagasdigiliya, and the Kalpe Wewa, you will reach the Kalpe Junction, located 13 kilometers (8 miles) beyond Kahatagasdigiliya. From this junction, a gravel road branches off to the right; following it for about one kilometer (0.6 miles) leads to the site.

The Archaeological Site

The Kalpe Archaeological Reserve spans approximately 75 acres (30 hectares). The most prominent feature is a large stupa, which now stands about 5 meters (16 feet) high and rests on a 4 by 4 meter (13 by 13 feet) brick platform. Both the stupa and its base are entirely constructed from clay bricks. Four carved stone slabs bearing the footprint of the Buddha (Siripathul Gal) are placed on each side of the stupa. Unfortunately, the stupa has suffered severe damage due to treasure hunting.

About 7 meters (23 feet) southwest of the stupa lie the remains of a Tampita Viharaya, an ancient temple built on a raised platform supported by stone pillars. Of the original 36 pillars, 30 still remain in position. Near the temple are several significant stone artifacts, including a moonstone (Sandakada Pahana), two stone balustrades (Korawak Gal), and a pair of guard stones (Muragal). The absence of the bull motif—commonly found in moonstones from the Anuradhapura period—suggests that this structure dates to the Polonnaruwa era (1017–1236 CE). The stone balustrades, though present, are devoid of elaborate carvings.

Ruins of a Tampita Viharaya

In addition, the area surrounding the Tampita Viharaya contains the foundations and remnants of several other ancient buildings. The cavities seen in the stone artifacts, formed during the rock-splitting process, suggest that some of these structures belong to the early Anuradhapura period. This indicates that the site had been active from the Anuradhapura period through the Polonnaruwa and into the Kandyan era, reflecting continuous religious and cultural use over many centuries.

Maligawatta – The Pabbatha Vihara

Approximately 200 meters (656 feet) east of the stupa, in an area known as Maligawatta—literally meaning “Palace Garden”—lie the remains of another building complex enclosed by a moat. Excavations conducted here in 1977 unearthed seven Buddha statues made of gold, which are now preserved in the Colombo Museum. The complex, surrounded by the moat, is believed to have been an aramic (monastic) establishment constructed in the Pabbatha Vihara architectural style, typical of large monastic compounds from the late Anuradhapura period.

References

Mendis, T., Abeywardana, N. and Dissanayaka, S. (2015) “මධ්‍ය යාන්ඔය නිම්නය ආශ්‍රිත පුරාණ ජනාවාස රටාව හා සංස්කෘතික භූ දර්ශනය,” The Journal of Archaeology & Heritage Studies, 2(1).

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Travel Directions to Kahatagasdigiliya Kalpe Archaeological Reserve

Colombo to Anuradhapura By Bus

Anuradhapura can be conveniently reached by bus, train, or private transport. Both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned buses operate from the Colombo Fort Main Bus Station. In addition, luxury buses departing from various locations in Colombo travel via Anuradhapura to Vavuniya and Jaffna; these require advance online booking and generally operate overnight, arriving at their final destinations early in the morning.

Colombo to Anuradhapura By Train

Five daily trains operate from Colombo Fort Railway Station to Anuradhapura. Typically, the first train departs at 9.40 a.m. and the last at 8.30 p.m. The journey takes approximately four to five hours, depending on the number of stops made by the particular service.

Colombo to Anuradhapura By Car or Van

Anuradhapura can be accessed from Colombo via several routes, with the two primary corridors running through Puttalam and Kurunegala. The Puttalam route passes the scenic Wilpattu area. From Kurunegala, there are two main approaches: the more commonly used route via Dambulla and an alternative route via Galgamuwa. Among all options, the Kurunegala–Dambulla route (Route 2) is the most frequently used.

Route 01 from Colombo to Anuradhapura	Route 02 from Colombo to Anuradhapura
Through: Negombo – Chilaw – Puttalam Distance from Colombo: 210 km Travel time: 4.30-5.00 hours Driving Directions: see on Google Maps	Through: Negombo – Chilaw – Puttalam Distance from Colombo: 210 km Travel time: 4.30-5.00 hours Driving Directions: see on Google Maps.
Route 03 from Colombo to Anuradhapura	Route from Kandy to Anuradhapura
Through : Katunayake Expressway – Narammala – Wariyapola – Padeniya – Thambuthegama Distance from Colombo: 203 km Travel Time: 4.30-5.00 hours Driving Directions: see on Google Maps	Through: Katugastota – Matale – Dambulla Distance from Colombo: 136 km Travel Time: 3.5 hours Driving Directions: see on Google Maps