Pullavi Buddhist Monastic Ruins (2) in Kayankerni

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Pullavi Jungle Buddhist Monastic Ruins (2) in Kayankerni

The Pullavi Jungle Monastic Ruins (Site 2) in Kayankerni spans 25 acres and dates to the Anurādhapura period. It features five building sites surrounded by a stone wall, including a well-preserved northern structure with ten pillars arranged in three rows. Despite treasure-hunting and land-clearing damage, scattered bricks, balustrades, pottery, and an ancient pond remain.

The site known as the Pullavi Jungle Buddhist Monastic Ruins (2) is situated in the village of Kayaṅkerni, within the Grāma Niladhāri Division of Kayaṅkerni 211-A, in the Divisional Secretariat Division of Kōrale Pattu North (Vakarai).

Access Route

Beginning from the Nāvaladi junction, travel along the Trincomalee A15 road up to the 43rd kilometre post. From the end of the Kayaṅkerni bridge, turn right and continue along that road. From the Kayaṅkerni rural housing scheme, proceed approximately 1.5 kilometers (0.93 miles) eastward along the Pullavi jungle road to reach the site.

Historical Background

Based on the architectural styles and construction materials used, this ancient monastery has been dated to the Anurādhapura period.

There is another similar archaeology site belonging to the same era, 400 meters to the west of this site.

Location of the Site and Nature of Archaeological Evidence

Archaeological evidence is scattered across a land area of approximately 25 acres (10 hectares) situated east of the region known as the Pullavi Jungle. Five building sites can be identified within this area, although many locations have been damaged by treasure hunters through illegal excavations. Remains of two small structures are visible along the eastern edge of the site, while stone pillars and brick fragments are scattered throughout the area.

The remains of buildings situated on the northern side of the site are comparatively well preserved. Ten stone pillars in an undamaged condition can still be identified. Among them are short pillars measuring approximately 20 centimeters (8 inches) in height. The pillars are arranged in three rows. The distance between two pillars is approximately 3 meters (9.8 feet), while the spacing between two rows measures about 2.5 meters (8.2 feet).

Evidence of another building that has been damaged is visible on the northern side of the site. A similarly destroyed structure is also found towards the northwest. Stone pillars and other displaced architectural remains belonging to these buildings are scattered around the ruins. Approximately 50 meters (164 feet) south of this location, archaeological remains of a pond can also be identified.

A large number of artifacts have been discovered among these ruins within the forested area. Among the antiquities damaged during land-clearing activities are stone pillars and stone slabs of varying sizes, fragments of stone balustrades, bricks, roof tiles, and clay pottery, all of which are found widely scattered across the site.

Geographical Coordinates

The exact location of the site is as follows:

North Latitude: 7°59’35.6″ N
East Longitude: 81°30’52.1″ E

References

Exploration and Documentation Division (Ed.). (2017). පුරාවිද්යා ස්ථාන හඳුනා ගැනීමේ ගවේෂණ වාර්තාව, මඩකලපුව දිස්ත්රික්කය. Department of Archaeology, Sri Lanka.

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