Nagalakanda Archaeological Site

Not to be confused with Nagalakanda Viharaya (Nikawewa) Nagalakanda Archaeological Site , also known as Mahasena Aranya Senasanaya (Sinhala: නාගලකන්ද පුරාවිද්‍යා ස්ථානය), is a ruined Buddhist monastery situated in Nagalakanda near Minneriya in Polonnaruwa District, Sri Lanka. Presently the monastery functions as a forest hermitage. History Believed to have been erected by King Mahasena (276-301 A.D.), this monastery was known among locals in the past as Minneri Maha Vehera. The dolomite standing Buddha statue on the temple premises is a work belonging to the 8th century A.D. ( Chutiwongs et al., 2007 ). A 9-10th century Sinhala slab inscription of an unidentifiable king-titled Sirisangbo has been unearthed from this site and it registers a decree of a grant of immunities (Ranawella, 2005). Also, a 10th-century slab inscription of an unidentifiable king-titled Abha Salamevan has been recorded from nearby Belumgala premises (Ranawella, 2005) The site The site consists of the ruins of a  Stupa , a…