Kaludiya Pokuna Archaeological Site

Very off the beaten track. Was great that we had the whole place to ourselves but the road to get there was rough in our TukTuk and we decided to walk the last little bit. "Early Settlement (2nd Century BC onwards): While the monastery complex largely dates to later periods, the site shows signs of initial settlement as early as the 2nd century BC, with ancient cave dwellings likely inhabited by forest monks"

Kalupokuna or the Kaludiya Pokuna is a site with extensive ruins of a monastery on the slopes of a range of hills known as Eravalagala (also called Perawelagala), about a mile and a half to the south-east of Kumbukkandanvala, in the Vagapanaha Pallesiya Pattu of the Matale District. This is not to be confused with the Kaludiya Pokuna of Mihintale. This monastery has been organized as a Pabbatha Vihara as described by Mañjuśrībhāṣitavāstuvidyāśāstra with primary buildings built on a platform surrounded by a moat. Kaludiya Pokuna has been organized as a Pabbatha Vihara architecture. Archaeologists believe that Pabbata Vihara was built by merging with a natural rock formation. These are 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 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 that 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, 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 principal buildings of the monastery, which included a moderate-sized stupa and a structure supported by massive but roughly hewn stone pillars, were arranged on several terraces on the hillside and seemed to have been surrounded by a moat. As one ascends the hill, passing the terraced sites, the ground to the south and the east becomes rocky and among the huge granite boulders, there are twelve caves used in ancient days as dwelling places by Buddhist hermits. However, it is said that with this 40-hectare (100-acre) reserve, altogether 69 caves have been identified. About 750 feet to the south-west of the stupa, there is a rubble-faced pond, the muddy water which it is now filled with gives the whole site its modern name of “Kaludiyapokuna“

Great historic archeological site with lots of ruins, big trees, caves, etc... You can see there are two big trees (Diya Labu දිය ලබූ - people used to make traditional boats - ඔරු) and lots of Pus wal near walking path of it. May take around 1 hour to complete the walking path along these ruins, but if you interested in explore more stuff, you can check with guys in small archeological office there. Skip visiting early morning and late evening (around 6am or past 5pm) because of the wild elephants (it is their territory anyway). Visiting there: You can use 3-wheels, 4x4 vehicle or vehicle with a good ground clearance because, the road is damaged with rain and water streams.

Road is ideally for a 4*4 vehicle. But i drove there in my vezel. (needs some driving skills and Vehicle with a, ground clearance. Lots of areas to walk inside. You can find Some beautiful photo locations too. No tickets were needed.

Kaludiya Pokuna Archaeological Site in Dambulla is a stunning destination worth visiting. The site boasts beautiful surroundings that are enjoyable to explore during any time of the day due to favorable weather conditions and a pleasant environment. Occasionally, elephants may be spotted along the entrance road, adding to the allure of the experience. It's advisable to avoid visiting on rainy days, especially if traveling by bike, as the road conditions can be poor. Nevertheless, with its captivating beauty and historical significance, Kaludiya Pokuna Archaeological Site promises a memorable excursion for visitors.

This is an ancient buddhist temple constructed during King Sena the Two, more than one thousand three hundred years old site. Approaching path is bit difficult you have to walk about 500m. Are is surrounded by the jungle but must see place in Dabulla area. Car with high ground clearance can reached to the final point of the road.

Very interesting historic site in the middle of the jungle. Get yourself a guide that will show you hidden places, where buddhist monks used to live in the forest and will explain you a history of this ancient mistycal location, where Buddhists where living from cca 600 CE on.

Beautiful place to visit, but the road is bit difficult to get to the place.