Buddhist Archaeological Ruins of Rahatgala

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Destroyed Buddhist Archaeological Ruins of Rahatgala - Batticaloa — Destroyed Buddhist Archaeological Ruins of Rahatgala – Batticaloa

Travelling about 16 km from the Mahaoya intersection towards Chenkaladi you will come across the Tumpalancholai junction where there is only a small Hindu shrine under a tree and a concrete paved narrow road to the right.

Travelling 18.2km on this narrow road passing Unnichchai Reservoir and another smaller reservoir will bring you to a rocky outcrop with a new large Hindu Kovil. This cluster of rocks is called Rahatgala which was a large Buddhist monastery in the ancient past. Today this is known as Thanthamalai and the Kovil now lying on the rock is known as Thanthamalai Sri Murugan Temple.

You can also travel to the site from Ampara from the Mahaoya road. Travelling 29.5km from Ampara towards Mahaoya will bring you to the road which will lead you to the famous Pulukunawa Rajamaha Viharaya. Passing the temple and the Pulukunawa Wewa reservoir, there are roads which lead to the Ratgala Rock Ruins.

In 1983, Siril Mathew reported the entrance to the site had been disturbed and damaged by modern building activities. Three new Hindu kovils had been built upon three ancient Buddhist image houses. The hillock in front of these kovils too contained a large modern Hindu kovil. The ruins beyond the ancient pond had not been disturbed by then, but was obvious that the expansion activities would destroy these ruins too.

On the rocky area beyond the pond, 3 double platform buildings and ruins of other buildings are found. These structures had been dated to the 7th -8th centuries. More stone pillars of ancient buildings are found in the jungles beyond but they were been encroached on by Tamil people most probably from the Batticaloa area. The double platform buildings available at the site are very much similar to the buildings found in the Western Monasteries in Anuradhapura but archaic in type and are the only examples of this type so far discovered in the region according to Dr C.E. Godakumbura in the Archaeological Commissioner’s Annual Report of 1961-62. (Mathew, 1983)

The ruins of this ancient Monastery are spread over 30 acres of land. Three more ancient structures are found in the vicinity. They were of two storeys. Many other ruins, consisting of pillars, steps, ponds and other things are scattered all over the area. Encroachment of these ruins by people has enormously damaged these ruins (Medhānanda, 2005).

Today there is a massive Hindu Kovil, a very popular pilgrimage site among the Hindus in the area at the top of the rock and several smaller kovils, buildings and statues are built all over the area. Some fallen rock pillars, several pillar bases and a large stone flower altar or an Asanaghara are seen today. Any existence of the larger ruins reported by Godakumbura, Cyril Mathew and Ven. Medhananda thero are unknown.

Thanthamalai Sri Murugan Temple at Rahatgala, now an popular pilgrimage site for Hindius.

Ready to be spit to for a stone column - Buddhist Archaeological Ruins of Rahatgala - Batticaloa

Buddhist Archaeological Ruins of Rahatgala - Batticaloa

Ancient stone steps at Buddhist Archaeological Ruins of Rahatgala - Batticaloa

Stone pillar bases of ancient buildings at Buddhist Archaeological Ruins of Rahatgala - Batticaloa

References

Medhānanda, E. (2005). The Sinhala Buddhist heritage in the East and the North of Shri [i.e. Sri] Lanka. 1st ed. Colombo: Dayawansa Jayakody & Co. , p.23
Mathew, C., 1983. An Appeal to UNESCO to Safeguard and Preserve the Cultural Property in Sri Lana Endangered by Racial Prejudice, Unlawful Occupation or Wilful destruction.

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