Archaeological Ruins at the Foot of Toppigala

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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These ancient Buddhist Archaeological Ruins are located at the foot of Thoppigala (Kudumbimalai) Hill in Kudumbimalai village, within the Kudumbimalai (209-D) Grama Niladhari Division of the Koralai Pattu South (Kiran) Divisional Secretariat Division.

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. Upon reaching the village, the ruins can be found near the Ganesh Kovil, in an area situated at the foot of Kudumbimalai Hill.

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

The site is a monument complex comprising the remains of several buildings and an ancient stupa, situated in a low-lying area of the Kudumbimalai range characterized by scattered flat rock outcrops. The stupa mound is approximately 2 m high and 10 m in diameter, although its central portion has been destroyed. Other building sites located around the stupa also appear to have been damaged or destroyed as a result of cultivation activities. Pillar base stones, fragments of pillars, bricks, and roof-tile fragments associated with these structures are scattered at various locations throughout the site.

Approximately 30 m south of the stupa is a building site where four pillars remain in their original positions, together with several fallen pillars. The pillars at this location are large and roughly finished. A smaller building site lies approximately 50 m to the southeast. This structure was constructed using short pillars, five of which remain in their original positions.

Approximately 40 m north of the stupa is another pillar standing approximately 2 m high in its original position, with bricks scattered across the surrounding ground. On the north-central side of this location is a small cave with a drip ledge, or katarama, carved into the rock. Opening towards the southwest, the cave has a maximum height of approximately 4 m and extends to a depth of about 3 m.

Approximately 50 m west of the stupa is a recently constructed Ganesh Kovil. Within the kovil are a pillar base stone, two balustrades or korawakgal, and a footprint stone, or siripatulgala. In front of the kovil is a location believed to have been an ancient pond. Two conical depressions or markings are also visible on the rock outcrop situated to the south of the pond.

The site exhibits simple and early architectural characteristics, while the surviving structural remains and associated artifacts provide evidence of an ancient Buddhist temple complex. Based on these archaeological features, the site can be identified as a Buddhist religious complex constructed during the Anuradhapura period.

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. 352-253

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