Paramakanda Raja Maha Viharaya
An ancient cave temple on a long granite rock near Anamaduwa, with early Brahmi inscriptions, a reclining Buddha and wide views over the forest.
About 4 km from Anamaduwa, in the dry interior of Puttalam district, the Paramakanda Raja Maha Viharaya sits on a long, whale backed granite rock rising out of the forest. Tradition links the temple to King Walagamba in the 1st century BC, the king who also gave Sri Lanka many of its famous cave temples, and the site is now a protected archaeological site.
The rock carries several early Brahmi inscriptions, which show that monks lived in its caves well over two thousand years ago. One of the oldest records a stone cistern donated by a mariner named Tissa, a reminder of how closely this area was once linked to trade along the coast. Another, from a few centuries later, records a gift of paddy land for building the stupa. Ancient inscriptions nearby give the old name of the temple as Acchagiritissa Pabbata Viharaya.
Today you can visit the cave shrines, with a reclining Buddha and the remains of old wall paintings, and then climb onto the rock itself for wide views over the forest, paddy fields and small tanks below. Sadly, treasure hunters have damaged some of the statues over the years, which makes the site feel all the more precious.
This is an active temple, so dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered, and remove your shoes and hat at the shrines. The bare rock gets very hot in the middle of the day, so visit early in the morning or late in the afternoon, and bring water. Paramakanda is a good detour on the road between Puttalam and Kurunegala.
At a glance
- Entry fee: Free. Donations are welcome.
- Opening hours: Daylight hours
- Time needed: 1 to 1.5 hours
- Best time: Early morning or late afternoon, to avoid the heat on the rock
How to get there
In Paramakanda village, about 4km from Anamaduwa, inland from Puttalam. Take a tuk tuk from Anamaduwa town.