Kurundi Raja Maha Vihara
Kurundi Stupa | |
Kurundi Buddhist Archaeological Site Shown within Northern Province | |
| Location | Mullaitivu District, Northern Province, Sri Lanka |
|---|---|
| Region | Thannimurippu |
| Coordinates | 9°06′58.9″N 80°45′44.2″E / 9.116361°N 80.762278°E |
| Type | Pabbatarama Buddhist monastic tradition |
| Area | Approximately 420 acres |
| History | |
| Builder | King Khallatanaga |
| Material | Laterite stone |
| Founded | 109–104 BCE (2nd century BCE) |
| Abandoned | 13th century CE |
| Periods | From the Anuradhapura period to the end of the Polonnaruwa period |
| Cultures | Sinhalese Buddhist |
| Events | ●Traditionally believed to be a place visited by the Buddha during his second visit to Sri Lanka. ●Believed to be the place where the Kurundi Atthakatha was composed. |
| Site notes | |
| Archaeologists | J. P. Lewis (first recorded) H. C. P. Bell John Still Henry Parker Ellawala Medhananda Thero |
| Condition | Under conservation |
| Ownership | Department of Archaeology (Sri Lanka) |
| Management | Amarapura Sri Kalyanivansa Nikaya |
| Public access | Yes |
| Website | kurundi |
| Official name | Kurundi Buddhist Archaeological Site |
| Type | Pabbatarama complex |
| Criteria | Buddhist Monastery |
| Designated | 12 May 1933 (Archaeological Reserve) 16 August 2013 (Archaeological Monument) |
| Reference no. | Gazette No. 7981 |
Kurundi Raja Maha Vihara or Kurundi/Kurundhi Archaeological Site (Sinhala: කුරුන්දි රජ මහා විහාරය, Tamil: குருந்தி ராஜ மகா விஹாரை) is an ancient Buddhist monastic complex dating to the 2nd century BCE, located in the Mullaitivu District of the Northern Province in Sri Lanka. It is situated within the Muhudubadapattu Divisional Secretariat Division, in the Komalamunai Central Grama Niladhari Division. The monastery is believed to have been constructed by King Khallatanaga during the 2nd century BCE.The site is also referred to in various historical sources by several names including Kurundavashoka, Kurundapasaka, Kurundachulaka, Kurundapillaka, Kurundivelu, and Piyangala Ancient Vihara.
The archaeological site can be reached by travelling from Vavuniya along the A9 highway through Puliyankulam and passing the town of Nedunkeni towards Mullaitivu. After travelling approximately 6 km towards Mullaitivu, an access road leads towards the Thannimurippu forest reserve. From there, travelling about 10 km through the reserve leads to the archaeological complex.Alternatively, the site can also be accessed via the Mullaitivu–Kokkilai B297 road. Travelling about 11 km from Mullaitivu and turning south at the Alampil junction, the route passes near the headquarters of the 24th Battalion of the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment. From there, travelling about 12 km south leads to an access road marked by a signboard, from which the site can be reached after travelling approximately 4 km.
The monastic complex was declared an archaeological reserve on 12 May 1933 by the British Ceylon government through Government Gazette No. 7981. It was later declared a protected archaeological monument by the Government of Sri Lanka on 16 August 2013.According to archaeologist Henry Parker, Kurundavashoka Vihara is the largest ruined monastic complex in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka.