Heritage

Sitamalai Rock Buddhist Monastic Ruins (සීතාමලායි පර්වත බෞද්ධ ආරාමික නටබුන්)

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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.

The Rock with Stupa Ruins in the Sitamalai Rock is located in the village of Ōmeḍiyāmadu, within the Grāma Niladhāri Division of Punanai East No. 211-B, in the Kōrale Pattu North (Vakarai) Divisional Secretariat.

Access Route

Travelling from Welikanda town towards Batticaloa along the A11 highway, turn left onto the Ridiṭhenna road and continue for approximately 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) to reach the village of Ōmeḍiyāmadu. From the village, proceed about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) along Palliya Pāra (Church Road) towards the Ōmeḍiyāmadu Reservoir. Thereafter, continue along the right side of the paddy field up to the Murugan Kōviladi in order to reach the rock containing the ruins.

Historical Background

The ruins of a prominent Buddhist shrine complex, which can be dated to the early Anurādhapura period, are situated around this rocky outcrop.

Location of the Site and Nature of Archaeological Evidence

The site contains the ruins of an ancient Buddhist monastery centered around a rocky outcrop known as Sītāmalai. The rock outcrop extends across an area measuring approximately 90 × 90 meters (295 × 295 feet). At the highest point of the rock stand the remains of a stupa constructed using bricks and rubble stone. Despite extensive destruction, the base of the stupa remains visible up to approximately the first basal ring.

Another structural feature is located approximately 10 meters (33 feet) east of the main remains and contains foundations belonging to an additional construction. This structure appears to have been built using well-fired and carefully processed bricks. Further evidence of two additional building sites can be identified at the southern foot of the rock.

Geographical Coordinates

The exact location of the site is as follows:

North Latitude: 8°01’04.2″N
East Longitude: 81°19’31.0″ 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 Sitamalai Rock Buddhist Monastic Ruins

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Traveling Directions to Sitamalai Rock Buddhist Monastic Ruins

Route from Polonnaruwa to Sitamalai Rock Buddhist Monastic Ruins

Through: Manampitiya – Welikanda
Distance: 53 km
Travel time: 1.15 hours
Driving directions : see on Google Maps

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