(18 votes, average: 3.50 out of 5)
Loading...
Thanthirimale Rajamaha Viharaya is a 3rd-century BCE monastery near Anuradhapura, famous for its 2,300-year-old Bodhi tree and massive rock-carved Buddhas. This 250-acre sanctuary features a 45-foot reclining statue, ancient meditation caves with Brahmi inscriptions, and an ancient library, all set within a serene, boulder-strewn forest landscape.
Thanthirimale Rajamaha Viharaya (Thanthirimale Temple) is today surrounded by massive boulders and dense forest. Although it is difficult to imagine the monastery as it stood nearly 2,300 years ago, its atmosphere of peace and serenity remains unchanged.
History
Built in the third century BCE, the monastery served as the one-day resting place used by King Devanampiyatissa for Arahanth Theri Sangamitta during her journey to Anuradhapura. Over time, Thanthirimale developed from a small temple into a large monastery by the end of the Anuradhapura period.
Thanthirimale did not originally bear this name. The first known settlement in the area was established by Upatissa, a minister of King Vijaya, who selected this land enclosed on three sides by the Malwatu Oya and Kanadara Oya to build a town known as Upatissa Gama.
Some traditions state that during King Devanampiyatissa’s reign (307-267 BCE), the site was called Thivanka Bamunu-Gama, one of the places where an Ashta Pala Bodhi sapling was planted. A rock inscription near the ancient Bodhi tree appears to confirm this name, although its authenticity has been questioned. The Sinhala Bodhiwamsa mentions Thanthirimale as the site of one of the Dethis Pala Bodhi trees.
Certain scholars even suggest that Thanthirimale may be the long-lost Panduvasdewu Nuwara, the legendary kingdom of King Panduwasdewa (504–474 BCE), father of Unmada Chithra and grandfather of King Pandukabaya (437–367 BCE).
By the third century BCE, the site seems to have been a developed settlement, as King Devanampiyatissa selected Thanthirimale as one of the locations for planting a Bodhi tree from the first thirty-two shoots of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura. This Bodhi tree, now nearly 2,300 years old, still stands.
Sculptures and Architectural Features
The most striking features at Thanthirimale are the Samadhi and reclining Buddha statues carved directly into the large rock formations.
The Samadhi statue, located near the Bodhi tree, displays characteristics of the late Anuradhapura period. Standing 2.4 m (8 ft) tall, it appears unfinished. Two rows of uncarved outlines of Buddha statues beside it suggest that work was interrupted during the final years of the Anuradhapura era, just before the Kalinga-Maga invasion.
A similar sense of incompleteness is evident in the reclining Buddha statue, which is 13.7 m (45 ft) long. It reflects stylistic features of the Polonnaruwa period, although the artist appears to have been constrained—likely due to the Kalinga-Maga invasion—and left the statue without its intended refined form.
This invasion caused a significant migration from Anuradhapura to Polonnaruwa, leaving many grand monasteries and palaces abandoned. Even the great Buddha statues were left exposed, with only guardian figures such as gods and lions remaining. Roofs and stone pillars disappeared centuries ago, exposing the sculptures to the elements. However, the most severe damage was caused by treasure hunters.
When Ven. Kudakongaskada Vimalagnana Thera rediscovered Thanthirimale in the early 1960s, both the reclining and Samadhi statues had been heavily damaged by treasure hunters who had dug into them in search of valuables.
The Samadhi statue has since been restored to resemble its original form, but attempts by the Department of Archaeology to reconstruct the reclining statue—begun in 1974—have so far been unsuccessful.
Many stone containers originally carved to hold gems were scattered throughout the monastery grounds; these are now collected in the site’s museum.
Only the monastery library and twelve meditation caves escaped destruction by treasure hunters.
Monastic Structures and Early Inscriptions
The Pothgula, or monastery library, stands atop a high rock. The twelve Padhanagaraya structures are the only buildings within the monastery area. Spread across 250 acres (101 ha), these were meditation or dwelling spaces for monks. Surrounded by water, they were also used for pohoya-karma, or punitive rituals.
Five meditation caves located within the deep forest date to the first century BCE. These contain Brahmi inscriptions that record the names of donors and builders.
Some inscriptions at Thanthirimale are believed to be as old as 4,000 years, suggesting the presence of a civilization predating the Buddhist era introduced by Arahanth Mahinda.
Getting There
Thanthirimale can be reached in two ways. One route is via the Anuradhapura–Mahavillachchiya road; take Sri Wimalagnana Road and travel approximately 20 km (12.4 miles) to reach the Thanthirimale Rajamaha Viharaya. The second route follows the Madavachchiya–Mannar road; turn left at Gajasingha Pura and cross the Malawatu Oya to arrive at the temple.
Also See
Map of Thanthirimale Rajamaha Viharaya
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
Zoom out the map to see more surrounding locations using the mouse scroll wheel or map controls.
Travel Directions to Thanthirimale Rajamaha Viharaya
| Route from Colombo to Thanthirimale Rajamaha Viharaya |
| Through : Puttalam – Nochchiyagama Distance : 240 km Travel time :4.5-5 hours Driving directions : see on google map |