Toluvila Ruins at Anuradhapura

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Sedent Samadhi Statue of Toluvila appearing on Bell's 1894 annual report — Sedent Samadhi Statue of Toluvila appearing on Bell’s 1894 annual report

The Toluvila Aramic Complex is located on the outer circle of the ancient city of Anuradhapura, not far from the present-day railway station. Tradition holds that this was the site where Arahat Mahinda Thero sought shelter while travelling from Chethiya Pabbatha to the Maha Viharaya in the 3rd century BC.

Based on its architectural features, Toluvila has been classified as a Pabbata Vihara Complex. A defining characteristic of such monasteries is the presence of a moat encircling the vihara, which can still be observed here. The complex comprises numerous ruined structures arranged around the central shrine. The main image house, constructed on an elevated platform, dominates the site and remains the most prominent and best-preserved building, though no images of the Buddha survive within it today.

Many archaeologists believe that Pabbata Vihara was built by merging with a natural rock formation. Pabbata Vihara is built by arranging several rectangular building areas (courtyards) at different levels surrounded by water. In the upper courtyard itself are the four sacred buildings arranged in a specific order. In the ancient architecture book ‘Manju Sri Bhashitha Vastuvidyawa” (මඤ්ජු ශ්‍රී භාෂිත වාස්තුවිද්‍යාව) written in Sanskrit, these buildings and standards are well explained.

The basic feature of these monasteries is a large rectangular precinct or sacred quadrangle which contains the four major shrines, a stupa, a bodhighara, a patimaghara, and a prasada, which has been identified as the uposathaghara. Vijayaramaya, Pankuliya Asokaramaya, Pacina Tissa Pabbatha Viharaya, Puliyankulama Pabbata Viharaya (Pubbaramaya), Toluvila, and Vessagiriya are the temples of this tradition in Anuradhapura. Kaludiya Pokuna (Dhakkinagiri Viharaya) in Dambulla, Lahugala Magul Maha Viharaya, Menikdena, Pulukunava in the Gal Oya valley, and a group of shrines at the foot of the rock at Sigiriya and Moragoda in Padaviya are the other provincial sites where Pabbata Vihara have been identified. (Bandaranayake, 1974).

The monastery is believed to date to the late Anuradhapura period, between the 7th and 9th centuries. Its original name remains unknown, and today it is referred to as Toluvila, after the surrounding village (Seneviratna, 1994).

The site consists mainly of the ruins of a once magnificent image house. Within this structure, archaeologists discovered three granite-carved images—one seated and two standing. The seated figure, depicted in the Samadhi posture, stands at 5 feet 9 inches in height and is regarded as the most elegant Samadhi statue in Sri Lanka. This masterpiece is now preserved in the National Museum in Colombo. Beneath its seat, a smaller bronze replica of the statue was also unearthed and is likewise housed in the museum.

The image house at Toluvila is an architecturally intriguing structure. Within the outer walls of the monastery lies the main shrine complex. At each end of the site are significant religious features, with the sacred quadrangle positioned to the north. Some scholars suggest that this northern structure may have been a Bodhigara rather than an image house.

In total, the ruins of more than one hundred buildings are scattered across the monastery grounds. The sacred enclosure occupies the northern end, set on a raised earthen platform. This complex once comprised a small stupa at its northeastern corner, an image house directly to the south of the stupa, a second image house to the west of the first, and a Vatadage (stupa house), which is believed to have enshrined a miniature stupa.

The stupa at the northeastern corner, though now sadly looted and stripped of its treasures, was once a striking structure. Around it remain four delicately carved stone flower altars.

Important Information for Foreign Tourists Visiting Sites at Sacred City of Anuradhapura

Most of the more popular sites in Anuradhapura strictly check for tickets from tourists, while the less-visited sites tend to be more relaxed due to the lack of staff. However, tourists should be cautious, as some unscrupulous tuk-tuk drivers may attempt to exploit this situation.

They sometimes offer to take foreign tourists along routes where ticket checks are less common or even try to collect the entrance fee themselves, claiming they will purchase the tickets on the tourists’ behalf. Tourists are strongly advised not to fall for such scams, as this can lead to unnecessary complications with site security or the police.

Information on the Anuradhapura Cultural Heritage Ticket and where and how to purchase can be found here

The seated statue in the Samadhi posture of Toluvila Monastery considered the most elegant Samadhi Statue in Sri Lanka which is now moved to the National Museum in Colombo.

Accompanying buildings around the main ruins at Toluvila

Steps towards the top of the image house

References

Wikramagamage, C., 2004. Heritage of Rajarata: Major natural, cultural, and historic sites. Colombo. Central Bank of Sri Lanka. p.214.
Seneviratna, A., 1994. Ancient Anuradhapura. 1st ed. Colombo: Archaeological Survey Department, Sri Lanka, p 214.
Bell, H., 1914. Archaeological Survey of Ceylon Plans and Plates for Annual Report 1894. Colombo, Ceylon: Archaeological Survey of Ceylon.
Bell, H., 1904. Archaeological Survey of Ceylon – North-Central, Sabaragamuwa, Central Provinces – Annual Report – 1894. Colombo, Ceylon: Archaeological Survey of Ceylon, pp.3-5.
Wikramagamage, C., 2004. Heritage of Rajarata: Major natural, cultural, and historic sites. Colombo. Central Bank of Sri Lanka. p.214.
Seneviratna, A., 1994. Ancient Anuradhapura. 1st ed. Colombo: Archaeological Survey Department, Sri Lanka, p 214.
Bell, H., 1914. Archaeological Survey of Ceylon Plans and Plates for Annual Report 1894. Colombo, Ceylon: Archaeological Survey of Ceylon.
Bell, H., 1904. Archaeological Survey of Ceylon – North-Central, Sabaragamuwa, Central Provinces – Annual Report – 1894. Colombo, Ceylon: Archaeological Survey of Ceylon, pp.3-5.
Bandaranayake, S., 1974. Sinhalese Monastic Architecture – The Viharas of Anuradhapura. Leiden: Brill.

Also See

Anuradhapura – The city of the God Kings
Solosmasthana – The Sixteen Buddhist Sacred Sites Hallowed by Buddha
Atamasthana – The Eight Sacred Sites in Anuradhapura

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Driving Directions to Toluvila Ruins at Anuradhapura

Colombo to Anuradhapura By Bus

Anuradhapura can be conveniently reached by bus, train, or private transport. Both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned buses operate from the Colombo Fort Main Bus Station. In addition, luxury buses departing from various locations in Colombo travel via Anuradhapura to Vavuniya and Jaffna; these require advance online booking and generally operate overnight, arriving at their final destinations early in the morning.

Colombo to Anuradhapura By Train

Five daily trains operate from Colombo Fort Railway Station to Anuradhapura. Typically, the first train departs at 9.40 a.m. and the last at 8.30 p.m. The journey takes approximately four to five hours, depending on the number of stops made by the particular service.

Colombo to Anuradhapura By Car or Van

Anuradhapura can be accessed from Colombo via several routes, with the two primary corridors running through Puttalam and Kurunegala. The Puttalam route passes the scenic Wilpattu area. From Kurunegala, there are two main approaches: the more commonly used route via Dambulla and an alternative route via Galgamuwa. Among all options, the Kurunegala–Dambulla route (Route 2) is the most frequently used.

Route 01 from Colombo to Anuradhapura	Route 02 from Colombo to Anuradhapura
Through: Negombo – Chilaw – Puttalam Distance from Colombo: 210 km Travel time: 4.30-5.00 hours Driving Directions: see on Google Maps	Through: Negombo – Chilaw – Puttalam Distance from Colombo: 210 km Travel time: 4.30-5.00 hours Driving Directions: see on Google Maps.
Route 03 from Colombo to Anuradhapura	Route from Kandy to Anuradhapura
Through : Katunayake Expressway – Narammala – Wariyapola – Padeniya – Thambuthegama Distance from Colombo: 203 km Travel Time: 4.30-5.00 hours Driving Directions: see on Google Maps	Through: Katugastota – Matale – Dambulla Distance from Colombo: 136 km Travel Time: 3.5 hours Driving Directions: see on Google Maps