Maradankadawala Manakanda Archaeological Site

RATE THIS LOCATION : 1 Star

(4 votes, average: 3.00 out of 5)

A drip ledge cave with ancient walls and entrance still intact at Manakanda ancient monastery — A drip ledge cave with ancient walls and entrance still intact at the Manakanda ancient monastery

Manakanda is a remote hill located off Maradankadawala, historically used as a forest monastery since approximately the 2nd–3rd centuries BCE. It shares many architectural and functional similarities with Ritigala, which lies about 10 kilometers (approximately 6.2 miles) to the west. Despite these similarities, Manakanda remains relatively unknown and largely overlooked by pilgrims.

Development of Monastic Traditions

Following the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka with the arrival of Mihindu Maha Thero, various forms of monasteries and temple complexes were established across the island. Historians have identified four primary types of monastic residences that emerged during the early Anuradhapura period.

These are

Rock Caves (Giri Len – ගිරි ලෙන්)
Pabbatha Vihara (පබ්බත විහාර)
Padhanaghara (පධානඝර)
Maha Vihara (මහා විහාර)

The Padhanaghara Monastery Type

Padhanaghara had been built for meditating bhikkhus living in forest monasteries on the edges of human settlements. This specific type of building appears to have been built starting in the 6th – 7th centuries and not after the 10th century. Since most of the Padhanaghara’s had been built in the jungles west of Anuradhapura city, these are also called Batahirarama (බටහිරාරාම) or Western Monasteries.

Padhanaghara has two simple buildings on raised platforms connected by a bridge made of granite slabs. Generally, a moat runs around these two buildings, which could have been used for cooling the buildings and/or for protection from wild animals since these were built in forests. Another interesting feature of such buildings is the lack of any elaborate granite carvings on the buildings, balustrades or moonstones which are a prominent feature of temples built inside the cities. Elaborated designs on such Aramic Complexes are found on urinal slabs as to indicate the total rejection of what is unnecessary for a simple life.

There are about 30 Padhanaghara buildings discovered so far. Some of the better preserved Padhanagha are found in;

Anuradhapura Pashchimarama (අනුරාධපුරයේ පශ්චිමාරාම)
Sudharshana Padhanaghara in Abhayagiriya Maha Viharaya (අභයගිරිය විහාර පරිශ්‍රයට අයත් සුදස්සන පධානඝරය)
Anuradhapura Weherabendigala / Kiralagala (අනුරාධපුරයේ වෙහෙරබැඳිගල / කිරලාගල)
Arankele (අරන්කැලේ)
Ritigala (රිටිගල)
Mihinthale Kaludiya Pokuna (මිහින්තලේ කළුදිය පොකුණ)
Thanthirimale (තන්තිරිමලේ)
Sithulpawwa (සිතුල්පව්ව)
Nuwaragala Kanda (නුවරගල කන්ද)
Ramakele in Sigiriya (සීගිරිය රාමකැලේ)
Maradankadawala Manakanda (මරදන්කඩවල මානාකන්ද)

Development of Monastic Traditions

These include rock caves, mountain monasteries, meditation monasteries, and great monasteries.

The Meditation Monastery Type

The meditation monastery type was specifically designed for meditating monks residing in forest monasteries, typically situated on the fringes of human settlements. This architectural form appears to have developed between the 6th and 7th centuries CE and was no longer constructed after the 10th century. Since many such monasteries were established in the forested regions west of Anuradhapura, they were also referred to as western monasteries.

A typical meditation monastery consists of two simple structures built on raised platforms and connected by a bridge made of granite slabs. These structures are often surrounded by a moat, which may have served both as a cooling system and as protection from wild animals, given their forested settings.

A notable feature of these complexes is the absence of elaborate stone carvings, which are commonly found in urban monasteries. Elements such as balustrades and moonstones are typically plain. Decorative carvings, where present, are often limited to utilitarian features such as urinal slabs, reflecting an intentional rejection of ornamentation in favor of a simple, ascetic lifestyle.

In addition to the meditation monastery structures, such complexes usually included image houses, kitchen buildings, and facilities for heated medicinal baths known as hot water bath houses. Large ponds for water collection and stone-paved meditation pathways are also characteristic features of these complexes.

The Manakanda Monastic Complex

Manakanda falls within the Kekirawa administrative division in the Anuradhapura District. The monastic complex extends across the Manakanda mountain range, beginning at the base and ascending to the summit through winding stone pathways beneath a dense forest canopy.

Archaeological evidence suggests that the site has been in use since the 3rd–2nd centuries BCE. It likely began as a cave-based hermitage for meditating monks and later evolved into a fully developed meditation monastery complex around the 6th–7th centuries CE.

Architectural Features

After passing the Department of Archaeology office at the base of the hill, the first prominent structure encountered is the well-preserved bath house building. This structure was used for providing medicinal steam or hot water baths, particularly for the sick, and is a feature commonly associated with ancient monastic hospital complexes.

Nearby is a large pond constructed with granite blocks, another typical element of such monastery sites. Continuing along the path through the forest reveals multiple meditation monastery buildings, monastic residences, ponds, drip-ledged caves, and the remains of a stupa. Unfortunately, this stupa has been damaged due to treasure hunting activities.

Extent and Present Condition

In total, approximately 70 stone structures have been identified within the monastery, extending up to the summit of the hill. From the highest point, there is a clear view of Ritigala, the more prominent and well-known monastery of similar architectural tradition.

Despite its historical and archaeological significance, Manakanda remains relatively unexplored and underappreciated, preserving much of its original forest monastic atmosphere.

Map of the Manakanda Archaeological Site

Ruins of a Padhanagharaya building at Manakanda ancient monastery

View of Ritigala A circular platform built from stone on the winding path beneath the forest canopy at Manakanda ancient monastery

Conserved Janthaghara (ඡන්තාඝරය) building at Manakanda ancient monastery

View of Ritigala mountain range from Manakanda ancient monastery

References :

Gunetilleke, N. et al. (2016) Sigiriya & Beyond: To Dambulla, Habarana, Kekirawa, galewela. Colombo, Sri Lanka: Back of Beyond Sigiriya (Pvt.) Ltd.
මානාකන්ද හා ඒ ආශ්‍රිත අප්‍රකට තොරතුරු

Also See

Map of Maradankadawala Manakanda Archaeological Site

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.