Heritage

Pankudaweli Rajamaha Viharaya Archaeological Ruins in Karadiyanaru, Batticaloa (කරදියන්ආරු පන්කුඩාවේලි පුරාවිද්‍යා නටබුන්)

56 years ago8 months ago02 mins

RATE THIS LOCATION : 1 Star

(3 votes, average: 3.67 out of 5)

Partially recovered stupa among the Pankudaweli Rajamaha Vihara Archaeological Ruins

In the Karadianaru Police Division of the Batticaloa District, within the Chenkaladi Divisional Secretariat Division, lies the ancient monastery complex of Pankudaweli. Situated beside the Chenkaladi–Mahaoya Road, this forgotten heritage site rests beneath layers of gravel and paddy fields, its ancient grandeur long concealed by time.

Archaeologists believe that this aramic complex was built during the reign of King Saddhatissa (137–119 BCE). When first discovered, the stupa appeared merely as an earthen mound. Scattered across the site were large quantities of ancient ruins—stone pillars, pillar bases, Sri Pathul Gal (carved footprints of the Buddha), rock slabs, moonstones, balustrades, door frames, and bricks—all bulldozed and piled into corners by encroachers.

Although a small section of the site was once fenced off by the Department of Archaeology, nearby villagers soon encroached upon this protected area as well, destroying more of the ancient remains to expand their paddy lands.

Around 2008, Venerable Ampitiye Sumanarathana Thero, Chief Incumbent of Mangalarama Viharaya in Batticaloa, who has long fought single-handedly to protect Buddhist heritage in the East, learned of the site’s plight. Visiting Pankudaweli, he was dismayed by the scale of destruction and began a tireless campaign to safeguard the monastery. Despite his persistent appeals, officials of the Department of Archaeology remained largely inactive, while encroachment continued unchecked. Ironically, the Thero himself was later taken to court on false charges of obstruction, as authorities failed to act against those destroying the site.

Thanks to the monk’s unwavering dedication, conservation work on the stupa began a few years ago. However, restoration has since stalled, and the remaining ruins continue to languish without protection or attention.

The site can be reached from Chenkaladi Junction along the Kalkudah–Batticaloa Road. Travel 14.5 kilometers along the Mahaoya Road from Chenkaladi to find the ruins on the right-hand side.

Ruins before restoration of Pankudaweli Rajamaha Vihara Archaeological Ruins

Ruins of ancient buildings bulldozed and turned in to a pile of rubble at Pankudaweli Rajamaha Vihara Archaeological Ruins

References

Amarabandu, S. (2023) දාගැබ් වනසා අලුතින් ලියන්න හදන කරදියන් ආරු ඉතිහාසය, divaina. Available at: https://divaina.lk/දාගැබ්-වනසා-අලුතින්-ලියන/ (Accessed: 29 January 2024).

Also See

Map of Pankudaweli Rajamaha Vihara Archaeological Ruins in Karadiyanaru

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.

Driving Directions to Pankudaweli Rajamaha Vihara Archaeological Ruins in Karadiyanaru

From Batticaloa to Pankudaweli Rajamaha Vihara Archaeological Ruins

Via : Chenkaladi – Maha Oya Road
Total Distance : 21 KM
Time : 30 Minutes
Travel Time : Around 20-30 Minutes
Driving Directions : View on Google Map

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

Muruthtthanai Cave with Indigenous Art (මුරුත්තානෛ ආදිවාසී චිත්‍ර සහිත ලෙණ)
Deep in the Kiran jungle, this cave features a Brahmi inscription documenting its donation to the Maha Sangha. It also houses well-preserved animal rock art from a later period, believed to have been created by the region’s indigenous Vedda community. […]
Muruthtthanai Buddhist Stupa Ruins in Kiran (මුරුත්තානෛ බෞද්ධ ආරාමික නටබුන්)
The Anurādhapura-period Muruthtthanai Stupa in Kiran is a 5-meter-high brick monument hidden on a wooded hillock. Plundered by treasure hunters who dug a deep summit pit, the site also includes an ancient rock quarry used for shaping stone architectural elements. […]
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. […]
Mavil Aru Amuna and the Reservoir : A Landmark for Resiliency of the People of Sri Lanka
Mavil Aru Amuna was a turning point for the LTTE, a ruthless terrorist organization responsible for thousands of deaths of Sri Lankan citizens. The operation to release LTTE grip on this sluice gate turned in to a full scale operation which saw the military defeat of the terrorist organization in 2009. […]
Kurangukodipottamale Drip Ledge Cave (කුරන්ගුකොඩිපෝට්ටමලේ කටාරම් සහිත ගුහාව)
Located in Kadiraweli, this Anuradhapura-era cave features early Brahmi inscriptions and drip ledges, marking it as a significant monastic dwelling. Despite its historical value, the site faces severe threats from unauthorized excavations and commercial quarrying in the Vakarai region. […]
Mavil Anga Nikkanawewa Reserve Archaeological Ruins (මාවිල් අංග නික්කාන වැව රක්ෂිතය පුරාවිද්‍යා නටබුන්)
The Nikkanawewa ruins in Vakarai mark an Anuradhapura-era monastic complex. Situated on a rocky outcrop, the site preserves stone pillar bases, ancient bricks, a urinal stone fragment, and terrace remains, confirming its past as a secluded Buddhist forest monastery. […]
Sri Maha Bodhi :The sacred Bo-Tree of Buddhist World (ශ්‍රී මහා බෝධිය)
After bringing Buddhism to Sri Lanka by Mahinda Thero in 250 BC king Tissa received the Sri Maha Bodhi tree sapling and planted it at the present site in 249 BC making this tree 2272 year old (as in 2022). […]
Rediscovering Mavil Anga: An Anuradhapura-Era Image House in Vakarai (කල්ලරිප්පු මාවිල් අංග පුරාවිද්‍යා නටබුන්)
Mavil Anga is an Anuradhapura-era site in Vakarai featuring a 24-pillar image house. Key finds include a Siripatula Gala and Padmasana, marking it as a significant early Buddhist monastery now hidden within the dense eastern jungle. […]
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. […]
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. […]
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. […]
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. […]
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. […]
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. […]