Nagadeepa Purana Raja Maha Viharaya
About This Place
Nagadeepa Purana Raja Maha Viharaya
This ancient temple is located on Nagadeepa Island, about 30 km from Jaffna and accessible via a 15-minute ferry ride from Kurikadduvan Jetty, Pungudutivu. It is one of the 16 most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage sites (Solosmasthana) in Sri Lanka. Pilgrims have been visiting Nagadeepa since the 1st century BC. The temple complex includes the Rajayathana Stupa, multiple shrine rooms, and one of the oldest Bodhi trees in the country. Despite repeated destruction by Tamil provincial kings and Portuguese in the 17th century, and damage during Sri Lanka's civil war, the temple has been restored and flourishes again today under the care of pilgrims and the Sri Lankan Army.
Difficulty
🧭 moderate
Best Time
📅 November to April – during the dry season and peak pilgrimage months (especially Poya days). Avoid monsoon season due to ferry service interruptions.
Safety Rating
Accessibility & Visitor Info
From Jaffna: ~30 km by road to Pungudutivu, then 15-minute ferry from Kurikadduvan Jetty. Ferries run regularly. Facilities for pilgrims have been improved post-war.
📖 Legends & Stories
Lord Buddha is believed to have visited this site five years after attaining enlightenment, to resolve a dispute between two Naga kings — Chulodara and Mahodara — over a gem-studded throne. The kings gifted the throne to the Buddha, who returned it and it was later enshrined in the Rajayathana Stupa. The temple was enhanced by several kings including Devanampiyatissa, Dutugamunu, and Dhatusena. A Burmese-gifted bronze Buddha statue was once destroyed in war but has since been recovered. The site is known as a place where war was avoided and peace was made.
Location
📍 Find It Here
9.674800, 79.780600
Community
Visitor Comments (0)
No comments yet
Be the first to share your experience!