Namal Pokuna Monastery, near Dimbulagala, features ruins from the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa periods, including a stupa, Bodhighara & inscriptions.
Namal Pokuna Monastery (Dimbulagala) N amal Pokuna Archaeological Site (Sinhala: නාමල් පොකුණ පබ්බත විහාරය) is a ruined Buddhist monastery complex situated near the famous Dimbulagala Viharaya in Polonnaruwa District, Sri Lanka. History Traditional Beliefs The history of this site is associated with Kuveni, the queen of King Vijaya (543-505 B.C.) who is traditionally considered the first ruler of Sri Lanka. It is said that the Yaksa tribe (to which Kuveni belongs) was ruling the country from their citadel situated in the Dimbulagala mountain range when Vijaya assumed power in the country. As mentioned in the chronicle Mahavamsa, Prince Pandukabhaya (reigned 474-367 B.C.) had taken refuge at this place for four years. Inscriptions & Other Structures Several Early Brahmi Inscriptions have been found in the rock caves scattered around the Namal Pokuna monastery (Paranavitana, 1970). As revealed by them, this site was a Buddhist monastery site since the 3rd century B.C. Period: 3rd century B.C.-1st century A.D. Script…
