Heritage

Ruins of Ancient Na-Maluwa Buddhist Monastery in Lahugala (ලාහුගල නා මළුව ආරාම පුරාවිද්‍යා භූමිය)

56 years ago10 months ago04 mins

RATE THIS LOCATION : 1 Star

(2 votes, average: 3.00 out of 5)

The most well-known Buddhist temple in Lahugala is the ancient Magul Maha Viharaya, believed to be the site of the royal wedding between King Kawantissa and Princess Vihara Maha Devi in the 3rd century BCE. However, archaeological evidence suggests that this area had been a thriving Buddhist hub for centuries prior. Scattered throughout the jungle, often overgrown and untouched, are numerous remnants of ancient temple complexes, largely undiscovered or unexplored.

One such site is the Na-Maluwa (also spelled Namaluwa) archaeological site, lying near Mahakalugolla along the banks of the Heda Oya. To reach Na Maluwa, one must travel 4.5 km from Siyambalanduwa toward Lahugala and take a right turn. From there, a 5-kilometer drive through chenas and paddy fields leads to a rocky outcrop near Heda Oya, marking the location of the site.

The Large Stupa

The first landmark greeting visitors is a large rock shaped like an elephant’s foot. Nearby, partially buried under forest overgrowth, are ancient ruins. Dominating the area is a stupa, often mistaken by first-time visitors for a small hillock due to its overgrown state. Once partially cleared, the stupa stands approximately 12.5 meters (41 feet) tall, its surface still bearing traces of white mortar mixed with stone. Sadly, it was long ago excavated and destroyed by treasure hunters.

One of the first things you encounter is a well-preserved flower altar. Measuring approximately 3.3 meters (10 feet 10 inches) in length, 1.27 meters (4 feet 2 inches) in width, and 0.2 meters (8 inches) in thickness, this polished stone slab lies before the stupa. A Korawakgala (balustrade stone) rests beside a broken circular pillar behind it, suggesting the presence of an asanaghara. The stupa’s circumference, s approximately 86.6 meters (284 feet).

Stairways and Ancient Inscriptions

Beyond the pagoda lies a rock with carved steps. The first two sets are laid in rows, and the third leads to a rock inscription. This slab surface is approximately 2 meters (6.5 feet) long and 0.6 meters (2 feet) wide. Though weathered, several characters are still discernible, with individual letters measuring around 7.6 cm (3 inches) in height and 6.6 cm (2.6 inches) in width.

Further along, near the ninth step of the fourth staircase, is a moonstone with a 0.91-meter (3 feet) semi-diameter and a 7.6-centimeter (3 inches) thickness. Altogether, 92 steps lead to the top of this rock, where one finds a stone pond.

Stone Pond and Surrounding Structures

The stone pond is carved into the rock, with outlets that allow water to drain properly. It measures approximately 15.8 meters (52 feet) in length and 5 meters (16 feet 6 inches) in width, and the water remains clean due to the carefully designed drainage channels.

To the right of the pond are traces of a once-standing structure, though little remains except scattered bricks. Above both the pond and the pond-side building, a long stone wall—about 0.7 meters (2 feet 3 inches) high—runs along the rock surface. Evidence suggests a small stupa once stood here, flanked by two stone flower altars. One altar measures approximately 2.44 meters (8 feet) in length and 0.86 meters (2 feet 10 inches) in width. The other measures 2.34 meters (7 feet 8 inches) in length and 0.91 meters (3 feet) in width, with a height of 0.1 meters (4 inches).

Below this upper stupa are two square recesses carved into the rock. The right one is approximately 1.57 meters (5 feet 2 inches) by 0.76 meters (2 feet 6 inches), and the left one is approximately 0.97 meters (3 feet 2 inches) by 0.56 meters (1 foot 10 inches).

Uppermost Ruins and Kotta Gala

The final (fifth) stone stairway features 55 steps and ascends a 19.5-meter (64-feey) high rock. Given the steep incline, evidence of a now-lost handrail exists. At the top are more scattered bricks and the remains of another small stupa made from square bricks, each 30.5 cm (1 foot) in size and 7.6 cm (3 inches) thick.

One of the most intriguing artifacts is a Kotta Gala—a stone bed with a pillow carved from the rock itself. Numerous drip-ledged caves and rock inscriptions dot the site. Today, a solitary monk lives in one of these caves, meditating and safeguarding this forgotten legacy.

A cave with a drip ledge on the Na Maluwa archaeological reserve in Lahugala

One of the many rock inscriptions at the Na Maluwa archaeological reserve in LahugalaOne of the many rock inscriptions at the Na Maluwa archaeological reserve in Lahugala

Scattered ruins on the Na Maluwa archaeological reserve in Lahugala

Remnants of a painting on one of the caves at the Na Maluwa archaeological reserve in Lahugala

One of the many rock inscriptions at the Na Maluwa archaeological reserve in Lahugala

A rare "Kotta Peduru Enda", stone bed with a pillow used by monks thousand years ago at Lahugala Na Maluwa archaeology site

Steps cut on the rock surface at Lahugala Na Maluwa archaeology site

A stone flower alter at the Lahugala Na Maluwa archaeology site

At the Na Maluwa archaeological reserve in Lahugala

One of the many drip ledge inscriptions at the Na Maluwa archaeological reserve in Lahugala

A wall made of rocks at the Na Maluwa archaeological reserve in Lahugala

Na Maluwa archaeological reserve in Lahugala

"Gal Enda", stone beds used by monks thousand years ago at Lahugala Na Maluwa archaeology site

A flower alter at the rock surface at Lahugala Na Maluwa archaeology site

Steps and moonstones cut on the rock surface at Lahugala Na Maluwa archaeology site

Part of a Chatra Gala at the Na Maluwa Stupa in Lahugala

Also See

Map of Ruins of Ancient Na Maluwa Buddhist Monastery

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.

Traveling Directions to Ruins of Ancient Na Maluwa Buddhist Monastery

Route from Siyambalanduwa to Ruins of Ancient Na Maluwa Buddhist Monastery

Through : Lahugala road
Time to spend – 1-2 hours
Distance : 9.5 km
Travel time : 20 mins
Driving directions : see on Google map

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

Akkuranai Buddhist Monastic Ruins in Kiran (අක්කුරානයි බෞද්ධ ආරාමික නටබුන්)
The Anurādhapura-period Akkuraṇai Monastic Ruins in Kiran feature a central circular stupa surrounded by terraces, multi-sized pillared structures, and drip-ledged caves. Severely damaged by treasure hunters, the site retains a 2-meter carved flower altar, brick foundations with mortised stone doorframes, and shattered sacred chatra fragments. […]
Miniminiththaweli Archaeological Site 2 in Kiran (මිනිමිණිත්තවේලි පුරාවිද්‍යා භූමිය 2)
The Maduru Oya Valley site in Miniminiththāweli features an Anurādhapura-period building complex with stone pillars and brick foundations. Unfortunately, illegal excavations by treasure hunters have severely damaged these structures, though they have also exposed various ancient artifacts and pottery. […]
Miniminiththaweli Archaeological Site 1 in Kiran (මිනිමිණිත්තවේලි පුරාවිද්‍යා භූමිය)
The Anurādhapura-era Miniminiththāweli site 1 in Kiran features a historic building complex heavily damaged by forest gravel road construction. This development destroyed the site's archaeological context and displaced ancient artifacts, including a stone-carved flower altar bulldozed to the roadside. […]
Mandur Archaeological Site in Kiran (මණ්ඩූර් පුරාවිද්‍යා භූමිය)
The Anurādhapura-period Mandur Archaeological Site in Kiran sits within marshy terrain near a tributary of Maduru Oya. It features two ruined building complexes with scattered stone pillars up to 5 meters long, heavily damaged by human activity yet preserving distinct ancient tool marks. […]
Kallichchai Buddhist Monastic Ruins (කල්ලිච්චෛ බෞද්ධ ආරාමික නටබුන්)
The Anurādhapura-period Kallichchai Monastic Ruins in Kiran feature a forest stupa breached by treasure hunters, exposing its inner chamber. Nearby artifacts include scattered stone pillars, a fragmented octagonal Yūpa Stambhaya (central pillar), and a circular Chatra Gala (umbrella stone). […]
Harakagala Buddhist Monastic Ruins (හරකාගල බෞද්ධ ආරාමික නටබුන්)
The Harakagala Monastic Ruins in Kiran date to the Early Anurādhapura period. Situated on a rocky outcrop near a reservoir, the complex features a brick stupa foundation, a cave with a Brāhmī inscription, a massive multi-story pillared building, and a stone chatragala (umbrella). […]
Vadamunai Dastota Wewa Reservoir (වඩමුනෛ වැව)
The Vadamunai Dastota Wewa Reservoir in Kiran is a large 650-acre irrigation system with a 920-meter embankment dating to the 2nd century CE. Identified as Vadamanaka in a Nelugala rock inscription, it sustained a prosperous Anurādhapura-period agricultural economy and a dense network of surrounding Buddhist monastic communities. […]
Karakpattiyadi Forest Buddhist Monastic Ruins (කරක්පට්ටියඩි කැලයේ බෞද්ධ ආරාමික නටබුන්)
The Anurādhapura-period Karakpaṭṭiyadi monastic ruins in Vakarai feature a heavily pillaged stupa with a 3-meter-deep pit and a 4-meter stone pillar. The jungle site includes a northern brick structure, a circular southern foundation, a Siri Pathula stone, and subterranean walls. […]
Omadiyamadu Archaeological Site (ඕමඩියාමඩු පුරාවිද්‍යා භූමිය)
The Anurādhapura-period Ōmaḍiyāmadu Archaeological Site in Vakarai sits on a rocky terrace. Heavily destroyed during local village resettlement activities, its original structures are unidentifiable, leaving only scattered stone pillars, brick fragments, and rubble collapsed down the rock slope. […]
Palm Leaf Fan Carved Rock in Vakare (වාකරේ වටාපත් කැටයම් සහිත පර්වතය)
Located in Vakarai, this late Anurādhapura-period site features a unique carving of a traditional palm leaf fan (Vāṭapatha) on a rocky outcrop's northeast side. No other clear structures exist, though various loose stones lie at the rock's base. […]
Drip Ledged Cave near Omadiyamadu Reservoir (ඕමඩියාමඩු වැව අසළ කටාරම් සහිත ලෙන)
The Rock Cave near the Ōmaḍiyāmadu Reservoir is an Early Anurādhapura-period monastic site. Facing north on a rocky outcrop, the cave features a continuously carved drip-ledge around its entrance designed to deflect rainwater from the interior living space. […]
Sitamalai Rock Buddhist Monastic Ruins (සීතාමලායි පර්වත බෞද්ධ ආරාමික නටබුන්)
The Anurādhapura-period Sītāmalai Monastic Ruins in Vakarai are centered on a 90×90-meter rocky outcrop. The site features a damaged brick-and-rubble stupa visible up to its first basal ring, a brick foundation eastward, and two building sites at its southern foot. […]
Omadiyamadu Forest Buddhist Monastic Ruins (ඕමඩියාමඩු වනයේ බෞද්ධ ආරාමික නටබුන්)
The Anurādhapura-period stupa ruins in the Ōmeḍiyāmadu Forest, Vakarai, sit atop a rock formation. Treasure hunters have damaged the small, dilapidated stupa by digging a 2.5-meter-deep pit into its dome. Excavated bricks and stone debris lie scattered nearby. […]
Padigala (Padiettanamalei) Buddhist Monastic Ruins (පඩිගල පඩිඑත්තනමලෙයි බෞද්ධ ආරාමික නටබුන්)
The Anurādhapura-period Paḍigala Monastic Ruins in Vakarai feature a ruined brick stupa atop a rock plateau, reached by an ornamental 69-step stone staircase. The complex includes large building foundations, primitive moonstones, and pottery, though treasure hunter activity has severely damaged the site. […]
Archaeological Site near Kayankerni School (කායංකේණි පාසල අසල පුරාවිද්‍යා භූමිය)
The Anurādhapura-period archaeological site near Kayaṅkerni School in Vakarai features five short stone pillars from a three-row structure. Characterized by distinct chisel marks, the palm-covered site also contains scattered broken pillars, ancient roof tiles, and stone slabs. […]
Vannathimadu Ancient Pond in Pullavi Jungle (පුල්ලාවි වනයේ වණ්ණාතිමඩු පැරණි පොකුණ)
The Vannāthimadu Ancient Pond (Vannathimadu Kulam) in Vakarai is a 2.42-hectare, oval-shaped reservoir dating to the Early Anurādhapura period. Enclosed by an earthen embankment, it still holds water and served as the primary water source for three nearby forest monasteries. […]
Pullavi Jungle Buddhist Monastic Ruins (3) in Kayankerni (කායංකේණි බෞද්ධ ආරාමික නටබුන් – 3)
The Pullavi Jungle Ruins (3) in Kayankerni are an early Anuradhapura-period Buddhist monastery complex. Despite treasure-hunting damage, the forested site preserves carved foundation stones, stone pillars, a mortised doorway slab, and balustrade fragments. It represents one of three interconnected yet distinct monastic centers in the area. […]
Ambewela New Zealand Farm (අඹේවෙල නවසීලන්ත සත්ව ගොවිපල)
Ambewela is a small town in Nuwara Eliya district popularly known for its 2 dairy farms called “Ambewela Farm” and “New Zealand Farm”. The wide grasslands Ambewela lies 6,064 ft (1,848 m) above sea level. The maximum temperature of this area is about 23° C and the lowest goes down to about 9° C. […]
Mahaweli Flood Plains National Park (මහවැලි ජලගැලුම් නිම්න ජාතික වනෝද්‍යානය)
Established in 1984 under the Mahaweli Project, Flood Plains National Park in Polonnaruwa features vital villu wetlands. It serves as a crucial elephant migration corridor between Wasgamuwa and Somāwathiya parks while hosting an ancient cave monastery dating back to the 2nd century BCE. […]
Wadamunai (Wadamune) Megalithic Burial Site in Maduru Oya Valley
In this Wadamunai (Wadamune) Megalithic Cemetery, scattered across the landscape, lie between 15 to 20 graves. Unfortunately, the peaceful serenity of these resting places has been disrupted by thorn bushes, which have taken root amidst many of the tombs. Adding to the desecration, some graves have fallen victim to the destructive hands of treasure hunters, who have ransacked them in search of valuables. […]