Ruins at Nikawewa Viharaya (Photo credit: Google Street View)
Nikawewa Vam-iwura Purana Viharaya (Sinhala: නිකවැව වම් ඉවුර පුරාණ විහාරය) is a Buddhist temple situated on the bank of Nika Wewa tank in Nikawewa Left in Mullaitivu District, Sri Lanka.
The site
The modern temple has been established over the ruins of an ancient Buddhist site. A large number of ancient monuments such as dilapidated Stupa mound, a ruined building (probably an image house), Siri Pathul Gal, Korawak Gal, Sandakada Pahana (moonstones), flower altars, pieces of broken Buddha statues, stone pillars, lavatory stones and other stone artefacts are found in the temple premises as well as in the surrounding private lands (Asanga & Nishantha, 2018).
The Stupa mound is located to the southeast of the Bodhi tree about 30 m distance (Asanga & Nishantha, 2018). It is about 2 m in height and has a diameter of nearly 15 m (Asanga & Nishantha, 2018). The mound has been dug from the top by vandals who searched treasures in its relic chamber. A flight of steps accompanied by Korawak Gal and a flower altar are found around the Stupa. Destroying some of the monuments, the modern tarred road has been laid over the ruins of the temple.
References
1) Asanga, M.V.G.K.; Nishantha, I.P.S., 2018. Pauranika Sthana Ha Smaraka: Mulathivu Distrikkaya (In Sinhala). Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka. ISBN:978-955-7457-25-3. pp.158-161.
Location Map
This page was last updated on 4 October 2022
