Destination

One of the earliest Buddhist sites, sanctified by the visit of the Buddha to settle a dispute among two clans of people living here. It is mentioned that he had levitated at once terrifying the people and he had expelled the Yakshas of one clan to a site called Nagadeepa-identified at Nainativu Island in Jaffna and settled the dispute. A Dagoba was erected at the site enshrining the Sacred locks of the Buddha’s hair. This Dagoba was conserved recently and the Archaeologists who excavated the ruined monument opened up the Relic Chamber inside and found fallen plaster containing paintings and were able to get 4 paintings after fixing the pieces together. They are now in the Kandy Museum.

Few miles away are the two settlements of Veddhas-the aborigines of Sri Lanka. They are living at Dambana-15 miles away and Hennanegala- 25 miles away, near the entrance to Maduruoya National Park.