Kuchchaveli Viharaya, a Buddhist temple dates back to the 2nd century CE. Excavations reveal ruins & artifacts, highlighting its historical value.
Kuchchaveli Viharaya
Ancient Kuchchaveli Stupa (Photo credit: Pasindu Chathurange, Google Street View) Samudragiri Pichchamal Viharaya , also known as Kuchchaveli Viharaya (Sinhala: කුච්චවේලි සමුද්රගිරි පිච්චමල් විහාරය), is a Buddhist temple situated on a rocky cliff by the side of the Kuchchaweli sea in Trincomalee District, Sri Lanka. The Kuchchaveli Police Station is located very close to the temple premises. History Excavations done at the site have unearthed the ruins of an image house and several other buildings. A standing Buddha statue made of rock and the heads of two Buddha statues were discovered buried in the ground of the image house (Medhananda, 2003). According to the view of Medhananda Thera, these statues display artistic features of the 2nd century A.D. (Medhananda, 2003). Several Roman coins belonging to the 4th century A.D. and Chinese porcelain have also been found on this site indicating that Kuchchveli was not only home to a religious facility but a seaport in ancient times (Haramoto …
