Kudumbigala Monastery

Assumed as built in the year of 246 BC during the time of King Devanampiyatissa, this monastery complex has served as a refugee for Buddhist monks who wanted to get away from the chaos in cities and follow their paths to enlightenment. Currently, archeologists have found nearly 200 different caves used by monks of the time to reside. Stone inscriptions of Brahmi script found at one of these caves named as the Maha Sudharshana Lena confirms that this complex was used by monks while the legend says that this cave was made and gifted by warrior Nandimitra, one of King Dutugemunu’s ten warrior giants.
This monastery complex is also very significant as the only standing cylindrical dagaba of the Sri Lankan history is located at this complex. Some of the statues and other items were damaged by the LTTE in 1994 when they attacked the premises killing 17 civilians. However, the premises were open to public again once the government defeated the LTTE in 2009.