Pallekagama Nakha Vehera Archaeological Site

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Before and after clearing of the debris on the Pallekagama Nakha Vehera during 1963-65

Located approximately 6.4 km (4 miles) from the Maradankadawala junction along the Kunchikulam road, the Pallekagama Nakha Vehera Temple may not appear ancient at first glance due to modern constructions, including a newly built stupa. However, this new stupa is situated atop the ruins of a much older structure.

Ancient Layout and Structural Remains

Near the current stupa are signs of other ancient buildings. An earthen mound adjacent to the dagoba is now known as the Danagoba. At the base of another nearby mound, a cut and prepared stone wall is still visible. Traces of an old enclosing wall can be seen, with entrances situated on the southern and western sides of the stupa.

Approximately 183 m (200 yards) east of the stupa stands an old Bo tree, near which an Attani pillar is located.

1963–65 Conservation

During conservation efforts in 1963–65, two staircases were noted—one on the southern side and another to the west. The stupa courtyard rose about 1.22 m (4 feet) above ground level and formed a square, each side measuring 16.15 m (53 feet). The stupa was not positioned at the center but rather toward the eastern side.

The dome was constructed with bricks and filled internally with rubble. The dilapidated stupa measured 14.63 m (48 feet) in diameter and 7.92 m (26 feet) in height.

Kekirawa Pallekagama Nakha Vehera plan751101991$110010::) 1591220109 5119.1%/7/ 911 10 — Kekirawa Pallekagama Nakha Vehera plan

Discovery of Older Structures

During excavation, four flower altars—one on each side of the stupa—were exposed after digging in about 0.91 m (3 feet) into the stupa. Upon digging another 0.91 m (3 feet), an older dome was exposed. This earlier stupa, along with the flower altars encased by the newer one, measured 9.75 m (32 feet) in diameter.

On the east side of the courtyard was a stone water trough for draining excess water, measuring 0.23 m (9 inches) in height and width.

Stone Steps to the Stupa

Of the two stone staircases on the right side of the courtyard, only one broken balustrade remained, standing 0.84 m (2 feet 9 inches) high. At the foot of the stairs was a plain granite moonstone, 1.75 m (5 feet 9 inches) in diameter. Flanking the stairs were two plain guardstones shaped like inverted shields, one of which measured 0.91 m (3 feet) high and 0.44 m (1 foot 5½ inches) wide.

The staircase had six steps, each measuring 0.3 m (1 foot) in width and 0.19 m (7½ inches) in height. Brickwork visible beneath the stone steps indicates that the original stairway may have been made of brick, with stone added later.

The western staircase was mostly dismantled for the construction of a new image house. Only one stone step remains. This staircase was identical in size to the southern one but had no balustrades. The guardstones were similar in style, but the moonstone differed—it was made of white granite and featured a raised semicircle in the center.

Relic Chambers

The stupa contained two relic chambers. The first, already damaged by treasure hunters, was a square measuring 1.14 m (3 feet 9 inches) per side and 1.22 m (4 feet) high. Its walls were plastered with lime, and the floor was paved with bricks.

Treasure hunters had not been able to find the second relic chamber, and it remained undisturbed. It was 1.35 m (4 feet 5 inches) high, and its square plan measured 0.99 m (3 feet 3 inches) per side. Like the first chamber, there were no niches for statues. At the base of the chamber were layers of bricks bound with clay mortar. Beneath this, the stupa was found to be built directly on a rocky foundation.

In a cavity dug into this rock underneath the stupa was a conch shell containing fragments of Thiruwana (chrysoberyl) stone.

Inscriptions and Artefacts

Besides the Attani pillar mentioned earlier, two inscriptions were discovered at the site. One was engraved on a broken piece that had originally been part of a stone flower altar.

Kekirawa Pallekagama Nakha Vehera Archaeological Site

References

Godakumbura, C. E. (1965). 1963-64 මුදල් වර්‍ෂය සඳහා පුරාවිද්‍යා කොමසාරිස්තැනගේ පාලන වාර්තාව: IV කොටස – අධ්‍යාපන, විද්‍යා සහ කලා (G). Government of Ceylon.
Godakumbura, C. E. (1967). 1964-65 මුදල් වර්‍ෂය සඳහා පුරාවිද්‍යා කොමසාරිස්තැනගේ පාලන වාර්තාව: IV කොටස – අධ්‍යාපන, විද්‍යා සහ කලා (G). Government of Ceylon.

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