(3 votes, average: 4.67 out of 5)
Loading...
The ancient Tapassara Cave Monastery (Len Viharaya) is located in Mahindapura, a few kilometers along the road that turns off toward the Somawathiya Forest Reserve, on the Seruwila–Verugal road in Trincomalee.
The main feature of the site is a moderately large cave known as Tapassara Lena, which has a drip ledge (katāram) carved into the rock and was dedicated for monastic use. It rests on a natural rock slab situated approximately 400 meters to the left of the main road.
At the base of this rock slab lies a moderately large pond. It is believed that a small stupa once stood at the highest point of the rock, although its remains have now been completely destroyed.
About 50 meters from the rock slab is a larger area containing numerous scattered ruins, including a brick-and-stone foundation thought to belong to another ancient dagaba (stupa). Stone pillars and pillar bases from several other buildings can also be seen throughout the area. The characteristics of these stone structures indicate that they belong to the Early Anuradhapura period.
Unfortunately, the area containing these ruins has been repeatedly excavated and severely damaged by treasure hunters.
To the southeast, toward the Echalanpattu area, lie two moderately large reservoirs that strongly suggest the region once supported a prosperous community with a substantial population.
Also See
Map of Serunuwara Thapassara Ancient Cave Temple
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 Serunuwara Thapassara Ancient Cave Temple
| Route from Colombo to Serunuwara Thapassara Ancient Cave Temple | Route from Trincomalee to Serunuwara Thapassara Ancient Cave Temple |
| Through : Kandy – Mahiyanganaya – Padiyatalawa – Maha Oya Distance : 281 km Travel time : 6 hours. Driving Directions : See on Google map | Distance: 49 km Travel time : 1 hour. Driving Directions: See on Google Maps. |
0-09 m (89) 10-19 m (77) 20-29 m (47) 30-39 m (50) 40-49 m (25) 50-99 m (50) Ambalama (176) Ancient Anicuts (35) Articles (0) Asanaghara (8) Ashtapala Bodhi (5) Attraction Articles (3) Attractions (266) Beaches (10) Biosphere Reserves (3) Botanical Gardens (5) Bridges (35) Cave Art (13) Caving (7) Churches (30) Cities (9) Destinations (18) Dethis Pala Bodhi (27) Devalaya (51) Events (3) Flora and Fauna (82) Forts (52) Heritage (1918) Heritage Articles (27) Historic Events (7) History (7) Hot Springs (9) Hydro Heritage (104) Irrigation Articles (4) Islands (15) Kings of Sri Lanka (188) Kovils (29) Kuludage (11) Lighthouses (29) Memorials (57) Mile Posts (6) Misc (1) Mosques (4) Museums (15) National Parks (24) over 100 m (20) Pabbatha Vihara (13) Padhanagara (27) Personalities (211) Pillar/Slab Inscriptions (48) Popular Tourist Attractions (231) Pre Historic Burial Sites (22) Prehistory (42) Prehistory Articles (2) RAMSAR sites (6) Ravana (16) Reservoirs (72) Rock Inscriptions (36) Ruins in Wilpattu (11) Ruins in Yala (25) Santuaries (7) Sluice Gates (17) Stone Bridges (18) Strict Nature Reserves (3) Sumaithangi (3) Survey Towers (18) Tampita Vihara (242) Travel (5) View Points (24) Walawwa (13) War Memorials (26) Waterfalls (380) Wildlife Articles (28) Yathuru Pokuna (4)
Abhayagiri Monastery (20) Ampara District (196) Anuradhapura District (240) Badulla District (123) Batticaloa District (86) Colombo District (123) Galle District (76) Gampaha District (63) Hambantota District (124) Jaffna District (77) Kalutara District (53) Kandy District (217) Kegalle District (165) Kilinochchi District (13) Kingdom of Anuradhapura (88) Kingdom of Kandy (19) Kingdom of Kotte (9) Kingdom of Polonnaruwa (58) Kurunegala District (183) Maha Vihara (18) Mannar District (47) Mannar Island (10) Matale District (94) Matara District (53) Mihintale (22) Monaragala District (113) Mullaitivu District (39) Negombo (5) Nuwara Eliya District (126) Polonnaruwa District (138) Puttalam District (43) Ratnapura District (177) Trincomalee District (80) Vavuniya District (34) waterfalls in Sinharaja (3) z Delft 1 (5) z Jaffna 1 (20) z Jaffna 2 (26) z Jaffna 3 (14)