Kingdom of Anuradhapura

According to the description provided on the information board of the site, it states that the building exhibits the style of architecture of the Anuradhapura period and according to folklore, this was the palace of the king’s viceroy. As to who built it or its purpose is uncertain. From the design, it could be surmised that the structure has been built for purposes other than a palace. The building has been conserved in 1951.

The Western Monastery “N” is located in a shrub jungle about 75 meters off Watawandana Road. Its secluded location makes it unlikely for any pilgrim to discover or explore. To reach the site, travel along the Watawandana Road from the other cluster of Western Monasteries around the intersection of Arippu Road towards Jethavanaramaya.

The Western Monastery “M” is located in a shrub jungle about 750 meters off Watawandana Road. Its secluded location makes it unlikely for any pilgrim to discover or explore. To reach the site, travel along the Watawandana Road from the other cluster of Western Monasteries around the intersection of Arippu Road towards Jethavanaramaya.

The Western Monastery “E” is located in the shrub jungle along Watawandana Road, close to Arippu Road. Its secluded location makes it unlikely for any pilgrim to discover or explore. To reach the site, turn onto Watawandana Road at Lolugaswewa Junction on Arippu Road, travel 360 meters, and then take the narrow gravel road to the left at the 2km post near a new Buddhist temple.

The Western Monastery “D” is located in the shrub jungle along Watawandana Road, close to Arippu Road. Its secluded location makes it unlikely for any pilgrim to discover or explore. To reach the site, turn onto Watawandana Road at Lolugaswewa Junction on Arippu Road, travel 375 meters, and then take the narrow gravel road to the left.

The newly uncovered Image House is situated just south of the southeast corner of Lovamahapaya. Adjacent to its southern side, extending from the Sri Maha Bodhi courtyard, lies Dikman Road, established during the English colonial period. The section of the road near the monument, now outside the Sri Maha Bodhi courtyard, serves as the Perahara road, recently constructed utilizing cement block stones.

The Western Monastery “K” in Anuradhapura lie 800 meters on Watawandana Road from the roundabout where the Watawandana Road joins the Arippu Road. The ruins of “K” lie opposite to the Ruins J on the same road but covered in shrub jungle.

The main component of the hermitages of these monks were the padhanagaras or the meditation houses, which were beautifully built of well-proportioned and meticulously- dressed plain stone. The distinguishing feature of these monuments is that they are made up of two sections- a residential pasada or kuti at the back and an open platform or malaka in front- joined together by a relatively narrow passage or stone bridge. Its foundations were built in such a manner that a moat surrounded the platforms.

Western Monastery “J” lies hidden near the minor reservoir called Lolugas Wewa where the Watawandana Road meets Arippu Road. The ruins have been conserved but due to lack of foot traffic, the area is covered in shrubs jungle again.

The concealed Western Monastery “C” lies nestled amidst contemporary residences and overgrown shrub jungles in Anuradhapura off Arippu Road. Its secluded location makes it unlikely for any pilgrim to discover or explore. While some restoration efforts have been made in the past to revive parts of the main Padhanaghara complex, a significant portion of the area is currently dominated by shrub jungle, having fallen into disuse.

The concealed Western Monastery B lies nestled amidst contemporary residences and overgrown shrub jungles in Anuradhapura. Its secluded location makes it unlikely for any pilgrim to discover or explore. While some restoration efforts have been made in the past to revive parts of the main Padhanaghara complex, a significant portion of the area is currently dominated by shrub jungle, having fallen into disuse.

A special type of vihara complexes are found western and northwestern suburbs of the city of ancient Anuradhapura. They are variously referred to as ‘Outer Circular Road Palaces‘, ‘Western Ruins‘ or ‘Western Monasteries‘, ‘Double-platform buildings‘, ‘Tapovana Monasteries‘, ‘Padhanagara Monasteries‘ etc., The distinctive feature of these buildings are that their central structure is made up of…