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Trip Reports Archive » By Length » Two Days » Sithulpawwa Rock Temple – One of the greatest Buddhist site, south of Sri lanka

Sithulpawwa Rock Temple – One of the greatest Buddhist site, south of Sri lanka

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Hambantota, Sithulpawwa, Yala, Two Days, December, Dry Zone, Culture, History, 2010

Author: Lakmalnj (3 Trips)

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Year and Month December 2010
Number of Days Two days (1 night)
Crew
9 (between 3-74 years of age)
Accommodation Rest house in Sella – Kataragama
Transport Toyota Town-ace
Activities Ruins , Photography
Weather Good but very dry and hot
Route Galle -> Matara -> Hambantota -> Yala -> Sithulpawwa
Tips, Notes and Special remark
  • Roads towards the Sithulpawwa is dusty and sometime completely empty with no vehicles
  • Being on the road after 6 pm is not recommended because wild elephants might come to the road
  • There are several rest houses in Sithulpawwa to stay overnight
Author Lakmalnj
Comments Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread

  • Sithulpawwa Rock Temple – One of the greatest Buddhist site, south of Sri lanka

I visited there several months ago but I thought it is good to publish trip report at least now because I don’t see any trip report related to Sithulpawwa. Beacuse of the time past, I can’t remember much details about visited places at Sithulpawwa 🙁

Quote from deepsouth.lk

Sithulpawwa rock temple is historically significant and identified as one of the greatest 2nd century sites of Buddhist scholarship. With a history of over 2200 years, this is an ancient place of worship in the Hambantota district. The modern name Sithulpawwa is derived from the ancient ‘Cittalpabbata’, ‘The hill of the quiet mind’. It is said that in the 1st century AD as many as 12,000 Arahants lived here (monks that have achieved the highest mind level in Buddhism). Unlike the great monasteries in Anuradhapura and other towns, life at Sithulpawwa was hard and a monk or nun lived there only if they were interested in silence and solitude. Located opposite the Maha Sithulpawwa rock which is 400 feet (122M) in height is a cave temple. This cave temple, which is 67 feet high and 30 feet long, is part of the intricate cave-complex at Sithulpawwa.

 

The Dagoba of Sithulpawwa can be seen on the top of the rock. It is believed to have been built by King Kawantissa (100-140AD). A number of caves contain inscriptions in the early Brahmi script and from these inscriptions it was learned that a number of villages donated money to this temple for its upkeep. Ancient literary works give interesting information relating to this shrine. The image house at Sithulpawwa still contains some fragments of paintings. In the eastern precinct of Sithulpawwa the ruins of an ancient preaching house can be seen, where a cluster of 10 feet high pillars rises from the earth.

Sithulpawwa Stupa

Sithulpawwa Stupa

Path to Maha Sithulpawwa Stupa

Path to Maha Sithulpawwa Stupa

Sithulpawwa Stupa

Sithulpawwa Stupa

View from Rock Temple

View from Rock Temple

View from Rock Temple

View from Rock Temple

View from Rock Temple

View from Rock Temple

Path from Maha Sithulpawwa

Path from Maha Sithulpawwa

Maha Sithulpawwa

Maha Sithulpawwa

Maha Sithulpawwa

Maha Sithulpawwa

Kuda Sithulpawwa

Kuda Sithulpawwa

Archeological site with some ruins - Patimagaraya

Archeological site with some ruins - Patimagaraya

.

Archeological site with some ruins

Archeological site with some ruins

Archeological site with some ruins

Archeological site with some ruins

The cave complex

The cave complex

The cave complex with some ancient paintings

The cave complex with some ancient paintings

Archeological site with some ruins

Archeological site with some ruins

Archeological site with some ruins

Archeological site with some ruins

Archeological site with some ruins

Archeological site with some ruins

Details about Sithulpawwa Inscriptions

Details about Sithulpawwa Inscriptions (Click Image to Enlarge)

Sithulpawwa Inscriptions

Sithulpawwa Inscriptions

Sithulpawwa Inscriptions

Sithulpawwa Inscriptions (Click image to Enlarge)

Click image to Enlarge

Sithulpawwa Inscriptions

Sithulpawwa Inscriptions

Kuttam Pokuna  and Sithulpawwa Stupa

Kuttam Pokuna and Sithulpawwa Stupa

Kuttam Pokuna – Large pond

Kuttam Pokuna – Large pond

Sometime Elephants come close to Sithulpawwa Viharaya

Sometime Elephants come close to Sithulpawwa Viharaya

Sometime Elephants come close to Sithulpawwa Viharaya

Sometime Elephants come close to Sithulpawwa Viharaya

Dusty Road to Sithulpawwa

Dusty Road to Sithulpawwa

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