Kudumbigala Monastery
An ancient Buddhist forest monastery in the jungle between Panama and Kumana, with stupas and cave dwellings among great outcrops of rock. A climb to the top of the main rock looks out over the forest towards the sea.
- Where
- Panama, Eastern Province, Sri Lanka
- Grade
- Local gem
- Worth
- 10 points collected on site
- Coordinates
- 6.6706, 81.7438
Get the Kudumbigala Monastery stamp
Open LOQAH when you are at Kudumbigala Monastery. It checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp is yours: confirmed on site in gold and struck with the date. It goes into your Eastern Province volume with your photos and a note.
Near Kudumbigala Monastery
Kumana National Park 19 km
A park on the southeast coast that runs into Yala and was known as Yala East until 2006. It is famous for its birds, above all the great flocks of migratory waterfowl and wading birds that gather in its lagoons and swamps.
Arugam Bay 22 km
A curving bay on the Indian Ocean in the dry zone of the southeast coast, a historic settlement of the old Batticaloa territory. Its point break is one of the best known surf spots in Asia and draws surfers from around the world.
Muhudu Maha Vihara 25 km
A Buddhist temple by a wide beach at Pottuvil, believed to have been built more than 2,000 years ago by King Kavan Tissa of Ruhuna. Among its ruins are ancient stupas, stone Buddhas and two statues of old kings or gods.
Yala National Park 30 km
A 979 square kilometre park on the Indian Ocean, protected since 1900, with monsoon forest, scrub, lagoons and beach. It is the best known place in Sri Lanka to see leopards, and also shelters elephants and 215 species of birds.
Maligawila Buddha 44 km
A standing Buddha carved from a single block of limestone in the 7th century by Prince Aggabodhi of Ruhuna, the tallest free standing ancient Buddha statue in the country. Found broken into pieces in 1951, it was put back together and raised upright again in 1980.
Sithulpawwa Rajamaha Viharaya 45 km
An ancient monastery among the rocks of the Yala forest, 18 km east of Kataragama, believed to have been founded by King Kavantissa in the 2nd century BC. Its name comes from Chiththala Pabbatha, the hill of the quiet mind, and the rock summit looks out over the jungle.
Thirukkovil Temple 53 km
The chief Hindu temple of this east coast town, dedicated to Chitravelayudhar, once guardian deity of Mattakkalappu Desam and honoured as the principal temple of the Batticaloa region. Chola, Kotte and Kandyan kings all kept close ties with it.
Kiri Vehera 53 km
A white stupa 800 metres north of the Kataragama Devalaya, probably dating to the 3rd century BC. It is counted among the Solosmasthana, the 16 most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage sites of ancient Sri Lanka, and pilgrims bring it flowers after visiting the shrines below.
More hidden gems in Eastern Province
Questions
Where is Kudumbigala Monastery?
Kudumbigala Monastery is in Panama, Eastern Province, Sri Lanka. The nearest other LOQAH stamps are Kumana National Park (19 km), Arugam Bay (22 km), Muhudu Maha Vihara (25 km).
How do I get the Kudumbigala Monastery stamp?
Open LOQAH when you are at Kudumbigala Monastery and get its stamp. The app checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp goes into your Eastern Province volume, confirmed on site, with the date.
I have been to Kudumbigala Monastery before. Can I still have the stamp?
Yes. Add it from Earlier trips in your Eastern Province volume, with the date if you know it, or import your Google Timeline and LOQAH matches the places you were.
Collect your first stamp.
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