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Puliyadithalawa Archaeological Site (පුලියඩිතලාව පුරාවිද්‍යා ස්ථානය)

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The Puliyankulama site near Vakarai is an Anuradhapura-era monastic complex. Featuring drip-ledge caves, stone-pillared foundations, and natural rock pools, the site reflects a high degree of organization, likely serving as a permanent residence for a community of Buddhist monks.

The Puliyadithalawa Archaeological Site is a Buddhist monastic complex dating to the Anuradhapura Period. Situated within the forests of Vakarai, near the Andankulam reservoir, the site combines natural rock formations with constructed masonry, indicating its use as a secluded retreat for monastic communities.

Archaeological Features and Layout

The site is centered on an isolated rocky elevation known locally as Puliyadi, with archaeological remains distributed across different faces of the formation.

On the western face, a prominent natural cave is present, featuring a drip-ledge carved at a height of approximately 4 m (13.1 ft). This architectural element was designed to divert rainwater away from the cave interior, making it suitable for habitation and meditation.

The northern face contains the remains of constructed buildings. These include levelled terraces formed using stone slabs, as well as structural foundations built with a combination of brick and granite. Scattered across this area are fragments of roughly shaped stone pillars, indicating the former presence of roofed structures.

On the southern face, another drip-ledged cave is found, with a height of approximately 3.5 m (11.5 ft). This cave opens towards the east and south and is associated with a natural rock pool. There is a rock seat inside the cave.

Condition and Evidence

The ground surrounding the structures is scattered with fragments of ancient bricks, stone chips, and pottery. These materials confirm prolonged habitation and usage of the site during the Anuradhapura Period.

Geographical Coordinates

The exact location of the site is as follows:

Latitude: 8° 05′ 22.3″ N
Longitude: 81° 19′ 40.9″ 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 Puliyadithalawa Archaeological Site

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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

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Traveling Directions to Puliyadithalawa Archaeological Site

Route from Trincomalee to Puliyadithalawa Archaeological Site

Through: Kinniya – Mutur – Serunuwara – Verugal
Distance: 88 km
Travel time: 2.30 hours
Driving directions : see on Google Maps

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