Heritage

Toppigala Rock (Baron’s Cap) – The Past and the Present

Buddhist Archaeology Ruins at the Foot of Toppigala Rock

Located at the foot of Thoppigala (Kudumbimalai) Hill, this Anuradhapura-period Buddhist complex features a damaged stupa mound, building foundations, standing pillars, and a drip-ledge cave. Despite agricultural damage, scattered pillar bases, bricks, tile fragments, and a siripatulgala inside a nearby kovil confirm its historical significance.

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Toppigala is a distinct 715-foot-high rock formation on an almost flat landmass lying in between Polonnaruwa and Batticaloa. Its historic Sinhalese name has been lost to time. But the English called in the Baron’s Cap due to its shape resembling a British nobleman’s hat or a cap. The Tamil call this hill Kudumbimalai.

Access Route

To reach the site, travel from Kiran Junction towards Pulipanchakal Junction, where the road leading to Kudumbimalai village branches off to the left. Travel 15 km on this road to reach the Toppigala Heritage Center. Turning right at the center and traveling a further 2 km will bring you to the foot of the Toppigala Rock

Historical Background

The structural remains, together with the nature, artistic characteristics, and distribution of the other scattered artifacts found at the site, appear to be contemporary with the Anuradhapura period. The architectural evidence and associated archaeological remains indicate that the complex functioned as an ancient Buddhist religious site during this period.

Site Location and Nature of Archaeological Evidence

An access path with handrails has been built by the army on the southern side to reach the summit of Kudumbigala Rock. The ancient stupa remains at the summit exist in the form of a mound approximately 1.50 meters high. Medhananda Thero (2005) notes that the bricks proved that it belonged to the 1st century C.E. A rock inscription on the side of an adjoining rock had faced rigors of time. Bricks used to construct this heavily destroyed stupa are scattered around the area.

Geographical Coordinates

The exact location of the site is as follows:

Latitude: 7° 50′ 22.5″ N
Longitude: 81° 23′ 36.5″ E

References

Exploration and Documentation Division (Ed.). (2017). පුරාවිද්යා ස්ථාන හඳුනා ගැනීමේ ගවේෂණ වාර්තාව, මඩකලපුව දිස්ත්රික්කය. Department of Archaeology, Sri Lanka, pp. 356-257
Medhananda Thero, E. (2005). The Sinhala Buddhist heritage in the East and the North of Shri [i.e. Sri] Lanka (1st ed.). Dayawansa Jayakody & Co.
Wijerathne, M. W. W. (2015). නූතන තොප්පිගල සහ එහි ඓතිහාසික උරුමය. සාහිත්‍ය, විශේෂ කලාපය, 767–798.

Also See

Map of the Buddhist Archaeology Ruins at the Foot of Toppigala Rock

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Traveling to the Buddhist Archaeology Ruins at the Foot of Toppigala Rock

Route from Batticaloa to Buddhist Archaeology Ruins at the Foot of Toppigala Rock

Through: Chenkaladi – Kiran
Distance: 48 km
Travel time: 1.20 hours
Driving directions: see on Google Maps

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Toppigala Rock (Baron’s Cap) – The Past and the Present
Located at the foot of Thoppigala (Kudumbimalai) Hill, this Anuradhapura-period Buddhist complex features a damaged stupa mound, building foundations, standing pillars, and a drip-ledge cave. Despite agricultural damage, scattered pillar bases, bricks, tile fragments, and a siripatulgala inside a nearby kovil confirm its historical significance. […]
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