Panduwasnuwara
The ruins of an ancient capital in Kurunegala District, said to have been Parakramapura, the seat of Parakramabahu in the 12th century. Its remains lie at Kotampitiya, about 3 km from Hettipola on the road from Wariyapola to Chilaw.
- Where
- Hettipola, North Western Province, Sri Lanka
- Grade
- Local gem
- Worth
- 10 points collected on site
- Coordinates
- 7.6044, 80.1061
Get the Panduwasnuwara stamp
Open LOQAH when you are at Panduwasnuwara. 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 North Western Province volume with your photos and a note.
Near Panduwasnuwara
Munneswaram Temple 32 km
A Hindu temple complex near Chilaw, one of the ancient Pancha Ishwarams of Shiva on the island. It has stood since at least 1000 CE, and its legends tie it to Rama, hero king of the Ramayana.
Yapahuwa Rock Fortress 33 km
A medieval citadel built around a granite rock that rises almost 100 metres from the plains, midway between Kurunegala and Anuradhapura, and for a short time a royal capital. A steep ornamental stairway guarded by carved stone lions climbs towards the top.
Ridi Viharaya 42 km
A temple from the 2nd century BCE at Ridigama, called the Silver Temple because silver ore found here paid for the completion of the Ruwanweli stupa. According to the Mahavamsa, King Dutugemunu built it in gratitude.
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage 46 km
A breeding and care centre for Asian elephants near Kegalle, home to the largest captive herd in the world: 71 animals across three generations in 2023. Each day the herd is walked down to the river to bathe.
Negombo Lagoon 58 km
A large estuarine lagoon on the edge of Negombo, a short way north of Colombo. Fishermen work its shallow waters from small boats, and its mangrove fringes and channels are a calm contrast to the beach town beside it.
Aluvihare Rock Temple 58 km
A cave temple among boulders 30 km north of Kandy on the Matale road, traced back to King Devanampiyatissa in the 3rd century BC. It is where monks are said to have first written down the Buddhist Pali Canon, on palm leaves, in the 1st century BC.
Sri Muthumariamman Temple 59 km
A Hindu temple in Matale dedicated to the goddess Mariamman. Its tall gopuram gateway is covered in rows of brightly painted figures of gods and guardians, and it is one of the best known Hindu temples in the central hills.
Nalanda Gedige 60 km
A complete stone temple near Matale, built between the 8th and 10th centuries in a Dravidian style more often seen in South India. Its original site is said to be the geographical centre of Sri Lanka, and an inscription found there shows it served as a Buddhist monastery.
More hidden gems in North Western Province
Questions
Where is Panduwasnuwara?
Panduwasnuwara is in Hettipola, North Western Province, Sri Lanka. The nearest other LOQAH stamps are Munneswaram Temple (32 km), Yapahuwa Rock Fortress (33 km), Ridi Viharaya (42 km).
How do I get the Panduwasnuwara stamp?
Open LOQAH when you are at Panduwasnuwara and get its stamp. The app checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp goes into your North Western Province volume, confirmed on site, with the date.
I have been to Panduwasnuwara before. Can I still have the stamp?
Yes. Add it from Earlier trips in your North Western 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.
LOQAH is free on iPhone and Android, in India and 20 more countries, with more countries on the way. Stand at a place, collect its stamp, and keep every trip in a passport that grows.