Neelapanichchakulama Buddhist Ruins

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This complex of ruins is located on a hilltop at the end of the Neelapanichchankulama Wewa Reservoir bund, situated on the border between the Kuchchaveli and Gomarankadawala Divisional Secretariats. It is believed to date back to the Early Anuradhapura Period.

It’s difficult to determine whether these ruins belong to Kuchchaveli or Gomarankadawala. The large and small rocks scattered throughout the forest on the way to the hilltop are all green with moss.

The hilltop is a beautiful, sprawling rock plateau that looks like a plateau stretching over 10 acres, with some slightly elevated areas. Scattered across this plateau are ruins. Among them are two ancient stupa mounds whose centers have been dug up and destroyed by treasure hunters. There are also eight foundation stones, a stone slab that looks like a stone pillar or a faded guardstone, and a destroyed siripathula gala (footprint stone) made of crystalline limestone. Another siripathula gala is in good condition, while two more are destroyed, with only half of each remaining. You can also find a very large flower altar about 10 feet long and 4 feet wide, which is in good condition but has a broken section. The area includes four water-filled rock ponds, two large water-filled ponds, and two dry rock ponds. Additionally, there are two yupastambha (parts of very ancient stupa) and three rock inscriptions with faded letters.

Key Features of the Ruins

The two stupas were built entirely with bricks. One is located above the first small, 10-foot-long, 6-foot-wide rock pond on the hilltop. Its core has been dug up by treasure hunters. The dug-out section in the middle of the mound is about 30 feet in diameter and 8 to 10 feet deep, with the bricks removed. A part of the stupa’s original brick platform is still visible.

Below the first stupa, near the small pond, there are three overturned foundation stones between the stupa and the pond. As you move past the stupa, you’ll find another pond. Parallel to this, on the northern side of the plateau, is a large, water-filled pond. Three faded rock inscriptions, possibly belonging to the 3rd to 4th centuries AD, can be found on the rock face to the left, between these two ponds.

The main pond in the middle of the ruins is about 25 feet in diameter and well-filled with water. Below it, towards the tank, there is a rock pond on the slope of the plateau filled with water lilies. This is the only rock pond in the entire area with aquatic plants. About 50 feet above the main pond, on the hilltop, is the second stupa mound, with its core also excavated.

This second stupa has a pit that is about 10 feet deep and five feet wide. Below this stupa, towards the forest, one yupastambha is overturned. The second yupastambha is overturned between the first and second stupas. About 20 feet from that yupastambha, towards the main pond, a simple, 10-foot-long, four-foot-wide flower altar with a broken corner is located at the base of a large, unidentified tree.

Damaged Artifacts

Below the yupastambha between the two stupas, there is a sripada gal made of crystalline limestone that has been completely destroyed. Near the base of the stupa, an undamaged sripada gal in very good condition can be seen in the bushes. A little further away, there is half of a sripada gal that was split in two with an axe. Another half of a sripada gal is located even further down.

Near the dry rock pond below the stupa mound, a foundation stone is visible. Below the main pond in the middle of the ruins, on the slope towards the tank, there are three foundation stones and an overturned, unidentified stone slab about 4 feet long, 2.5 feet wide, and 4 to 6 inches thick, which resembles a guardstone.

The silent remains of this sacred site bear witness to the damage inflicted over time by treasure hunters.

A special thank you goes to the Ven. Keppetiya Aranavihari Thero, the head monk of Kucchaveli Kanikara Vellika Samudra Viharaya, and Mr. Chinthaka Wijewardena, Coordinating Secretary to the Governor of the Eastern Province, who accompanied me to inspect the damage to this site.

නීලපනිච්චන්කුලම බෞද්ධ නටඹුන් - Neelapanichchakulama Buddhist Ruins

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Traveling Directions to Neelapanichchakulama Buddhist Ruins

From Trincomalee to Neelapanichchakulama Buddhist Ruins

Via: Nilaveli – Kuchchaveli
Total distance: 55 km
Time to travel: 1.30 hours + time for walking in the forest.
Time to spend: 45 minutes – 1 hour approximately
Driving directions: See on Google Maps