Heritage

Mukarahal Buddhist Archaeological Ruins in Vakaneri (වාකනේරි මුකරහල් බෞද්ධ පුරාවිද්‍යා නටබුන්)

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Mukarahal Buddhist Archaeological Ruins in Vakaneri

The Anurādhapura-period Mukarahal ruins in Vakaneri, Batticaloa feature a rare, entirely brick-built large stupa mound, severely damaged by a 3-meter-deep treasure-hunting pit. Southeast of the stupa lie ruined buildings with stone pillars, walls, a pond, and scattered pottery fragments.

Mukarahal Buddhist Archaeological Ruins is located in the village of Mukarahal, within the Grāma Niladhāri Division of Vakaneri 210, in the Divisional Secretariat Division of Kōrale Pattu South (Kiran) of Batticaloa District.

Access Route

Travel approximately 1.5 km (0.9 miles) from Oddamavadi town towards Navatkuli. At the bridge, turn left and continue along the Kavaththamuna Road to the 6 km marker. The archaeological site is located within the forest on the left side of the road.

Historical Background

The ruined buildings and other archaeological remains found throughout the area clearly indicate that a Buddhist monastery was established at this location during the Anuradhapura period.

Location and Nature of Archaeological Evidence

The archaeological site is bounded by the Vakaneri Road to the north, a paddy field and marshland to the south, and a forest extending eastward. Within what was once a densely forested area beside the road stands the large mound of an ancient stupa, constructed entirely of bricks.

A pit approximately 3 meters (10 feet) deep, excavated by treasure hunters, has exposed the brick courses of the monument, clearly demonstrating that the stupa dome (garbhaya) was built entirely of brick. Since brick-built stupas are extremely rare in the Batticaloa District, this monument is regarded as one of the district’s few surviving examples of its kind.

Southeast of the stupa are the remains of several ancient buildings, including stone pillars, sections of stone walls, and a pond. Fragments of pottery, bricks, and roof tiles are scattered across the surrounding area, providing further evidence of an extensive monastic complex.

Although the site has suffered severe damage from both human activities and natural causes, the surviving remains clearly demonstrate that it functioned as an important Buddhist monastery during the Anuradhapura period.

Geographical Coordinates

The exact location of the site is as follows:

North Latitude: 7°56’40.0″N
East Longitude: 81°27’54.8″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 Mukarahal Buddhist Archaeological Ruins in Vakaneri

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Traveling to the Mukarahal Buddhist Archaeological Ruins in Vakaneri

Route from Batticaloa to Mukarahal Buddhist Archaeological Ruins in Vakaneri

Through: Oddamavadi
Distance: 40 km
Travel time: 1 hour
Driving directions: see on Google Maps

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Mukarahal Buddhist Archaeological Ruins in Vakaneri (වාකනේරි මුකරහල් බෞද්ධ පුරාවිද්‍යා නටබුන්)
The Anurādhapura-period Mukarahal ruins in Vakaneri, Batticaloa feature a rare, entirely brick-built large stupa mound, severely damaged by a 3-meter-deep treasure-hunting pit. Southeast of the stupa lie ruined buildings with stone pillars, walls, a pond, and scattered pottery fragments. […]
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