Western Monastery "N"of Ancient Anuradhapura

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An enhanced and colorised photo taken in 1924 of the Western Monastery 'N' of Ancient Anuradhapura — An enhanced and colorised photo taken in 1924 of the Western Monastery ‘N’ of Ancient Anuradhapura

In the western and northwestern suburbs of ancient Anuradhapura, a unique type of vihara complex can be found. These complexes are known by various names, including ‘Outer Circular Road Palaces,’ ‘Western Ruins,’ ‘Western Monasteries,’ ‘Double-platform buildings,’ ‘Tapovana Monasteries,’ and ‘Padhanaghara Monasteries.’ A distinctive feature of these buildings is their central structure, which consists of two segments: a prasada and a malaka, connected by a narrow passage.

Padhanaghara complexes were used by the meditating monks and are located away from the cities and human settlements. Padhanaghara are built on a unique architectural style with a moat surrounding them. Quite often these structures were built as twin structures on a rocky outcrop surrounded by the moat. Sometimes there are waterways even inside the moat underneath the buildings, such as this building complex.

The Western Monastery “N” is located in a shrub jungle about 75 meters off Watawandana Road. Its secluded location makes it unlikely for any pilgrim to discover or explore. To reach the site, travel along the Watawandana Road from the other cluster of Western Monasteries around the intersection of Arippu Road towards Jethavanaramaya. After 2.1 km from the intersection, there is a narrow gravel road towards the ruins which are largely hidden within this forest patch, covered by shrub jungle due to disuse.

This Padhanaghara complex stands on level terrain, punctuated by occasional rocky outcrops—one of which is cleverly used as the base for the second platform. The main approach begins in the east, at an oblong enclosure bordered by a low wall of rough stones, rising no more than six to twelve inches. From here, a long avenue extends westward toward the central porch, its boundary walls branching north and south to enclose Buildings N1, N2, and N5. To the east, traces of an ancient road still run for several hundred yards beside the Dakkhina Stupa, likely leading toward the citadel.

The Expansive Compound

The central compound is notably larger than that of Western Monastery H, enclosed by a brick wall set on a stone-faced terrace. On the east front, the wall projects outward in a pair of bays flanking the main porch. Small flights of steps—adorned with plain guardstones, simple mouldings, and pilasters in low relief—rise to the terrace. These appear at both northern and southern entrances, though much of the southern side is too damaged to confirm all its features.

The northern postern is unremarkable, of the familiar type. But the main porch stands out as one of the finest examples of this architectural style.

The Main Porch

The doorway itself is framed by four stone blocks—two side posts, an architrave, and a threshold. Inside, each surface is decorated with straight-line mouldings of restrained elegance. On the outer wall, where other monasteries might show plain brick or traces of whitewash, this building boasts exquisite recessed false windows cut in stone. Each recess is divided by a slim column in low relief, its center marked with a floral rosette.

In front of the doorway stand four stone pillars, supporting a slightly molded stone-slab roof. The floor beneath is paved and edged with a low parapet. On the inner side, the roof continues into the compound, supported by eight columns that form a spacious porch. Here, on either side, rest two stone couches with richly carved back-slabs, their wooden prototypes echoed in the small pilasters carved into the stone.

Though rough and fragmentary above, traces of brick and mortar suggest the porch once bore a curvilinear roof of solid masonry.

The Twin Platforms

At the heart of the courtyard lie two raised platforms. The first remains almost intact, with molded granite facing, balustrades, and guardstones still in place—though its steps are missing. The balustrades are especially fine, their inner sides decorated with small pilasters, and the cornice ends crowned by open lotus motifs in low relief.

A roofed stone bridge once linked this platform to the second. Supported by six pillars, the bridge crossed a moat that deepens to the north and east. Though its central slab is broken, its structure recalls the moats of other monasteries of this type.

The Second Platform

The second platform is faced with finely molded granite slabs resting directly on rock. What makes it exceptional is the survival of brick-built partitions within the core. Grooves in the brickwork mark the original plan of the rooms, allowing a rare glimpse of their arrangement—something usually lost in similar ruins. The pillars, grouped as in other Class I structures, suggest a carefully ordered layout of chambers.

Outbuilding Western Monastery N2

Outside the northern postern lies Building N2, a secondary structure found in similar positions at other large monasteries. Its granite-faced platform carries sixteen pillars in groups of four. Steps on the south side, with plain guardstones and balustrades, give access to this hall-like outbuilding.

Plan of the Western Monastery 'N' of Ancient Anuradhapura — Plan of the Western Monastery ‘N’ of Ancient Anuradhapura

Padhanaghara monasteries found west of the Ancient City of Anuradhapura are identified as

References

Archaeological Sites Web App (no date) ArcGIS web application. Available at: https://archaeologysl.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html (Accessed: 27 May 2024).
Bandaranayake, S., 1974. Sinhalese Monastic Architecture – The Viharas of Anuradhapura. Leiden: Brill.
Hocart, A. M. (1924). Memoirs of the Archaeological Survey of Ceylon: Vol. I–VI (1st ed.). Archaeological Survey of Ceylon.

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 Anuradhapura (Western Monastery ‘N’)

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