Kantharodai Viharaya
Kantharodai Viharaya
4.5
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4.5
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Travel with Mahesh
Kandy, Sri Lanka61 contributions
July 2024 • Solo
Ancient Kantharodai Historical Site
The Ancient Kantharodai Historical Site, located in the village of Kandarodai in Chunnakam, Sri Lanka, is a fascinating place to visit. Known for its remains of stupas, this site is one of the oldest Buddhist relics still standing in the Jaffna Peninsula.
Local folklore tells intriguing stories about this place, often referred to as Kadurugoda Vihara. One legend from the 16th century speaks of King Sangili, who ruled the Jaffna Peninsula. During his reign, 60 Arhat Bhikkus practiced meditation in the area. Facing harassment from the king, these Bhikkus decided to leave for India. On their journey, they stopped in the Kadurugoda area to accept alms from the locals. Tragically, a poisoned mushroom curry led to their deaths. The stupas at the site are believed to enshrine the relics of these 60 Arhat Bhikkus. Another story suggests that the Bhikkus perished due to a prolonged famine.
Visiting the Ancient Kantharodai Historical Site offers a glimpse into the rich history and legends of the area, making it a must-see for history enthusiasts and travelers alike.
The Ancient Kantharodai Historical Site, located in the village of Kandarodai in Chunnakam, Sri Lanka, is a fascinating place to visit. Known for its remains of stupas, this site is one of the oldest Buddhist relics still standing in the Jaffna Peninsula.
Local folklore tells intriguing stories about this place, often referred to as Kadurugoda Vihara. One legend from the 16th century speaks of King Sangili, who ruled the Jaffna Peninsula. During his reign, 60 Arhat Bhikkus practiced meditation in the area. Facing harassment from the king, these Bhikkus decided to leave for India. On their journey, they stopped in the Kadurugoda area to accept alms from the locals. Tragically, a poisoned mushroom curry led to their deaths. The stupas at the site are believed to enshrine the relics of these 60 Arhat Bhikkus. Another story suggests that the Bhikkus perished due to a prolonged famine.
Visiting the Ancient Kantharodai Historical Site offers a glimpse into the rich history and legends of the area, making it a must-see for history enthusiasts and travelers alike.
Written 31 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chulanga
Doha, Qatar450 contributions
Aug 2013 • Friends
Historical Kadurugoda Purana Vihara dates back to Gauthama Buddha’s time. Buddha statues, coloured tiles and coins dating back to 1st Parakumba, Malla, Leelawathi and Buwenakabahu’s time has been excavated from the site.
Gauthama Buddha, when He visited Sri Lanka to solve the fight between the two brothers Chulodara & Mahodara, relaxed in this place since this was the coolest area in the Jaffna peninsula. During the 16th century, Jaffna was ruled by a very cruel king named Sangili. Because of him, Sixty Arahanths from Punkuduthivu island was going to India and on their way, stayed here. A mushroom curry served to them by the villagers had poisoned all of them and they had died on the spot. Their ashes were buried and 60 dagabos were built on the site.
Gauthama Buddha, when He visited Sri Lanka to solve the fight between the two brothers Chulodara & Mahodara, relaxed in this place since this was the coolest area in the Jaffna peninsula. During the 16th century, Jaffna was ruled by a very cruel king named Sangili. Because of him, Sixty Arahanths from Punkuduthivu island was going to India and on their way, stayed here. A mushroom curry served to them by the villagers had poisoned all of them and they had died on the spot. Their ashes were buried and 60 dagabos were built on the site.
Written 12 July 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AD2010
Melbourne, Australia84 contributions
Sept 2013 • Family
The Kadurugoda Temple is hidden gem that is not well known among travellers to the Jaffna region. The site is only a few km’s away from Jaffna city. Like most sites in this region, the directional signage to the site is not very good.
We travelled on KKS road or better known as Jaffna- Kankesenthurai road and turned to Puttur-Kantarodai road at the intersection. The turn off signage is somewhat hidden therefore it is recommended that an online map is used for directions. After a few km’s heading towards Kantarodai the road leading to the site is marked with a sign post on the left side of the road. The condition of the road leading to the site is poor. A few km’s had to be travelled to find the next sign post. Finally after passing an old Hindu temple we arrived at the site.
It was a sheer delight to see the rather unusually structured stupas scattered around the temple site. The temple is not occupied by monks therefore it is guarded by the Sri Lankan army to prevent further destruction and looting.
Signage at the site indicates that the site itself is dates back to the time of Buddha. According to the historical chronicles Nagadeepa is the place where Buddha made his second visit to Sri Lanka. The famous sermon he preached to Chulodhara and Mahodhara over their dispute was made at this Kadurugoda area. The exact place where Buddha made his sermon is called Rajyathana Chithya (Stupa) located in Kadurugoda.
A piece of a Black-Red pot with letters belonging to the pre-historic period was found in Kadurugoda area. Similar pieces of Black-Red pots with letters were found from Gedige area in Anuradhapura too. Both pieces found in Kadurugoda and Gedige had old Sinhala Brhami letters with Sinhala names. References to this temple are also found in the Nam Potha written in Kandiyan Period.
It is believed that the site was constructed to deposit the "Dathu"( remianings) of 60 arahath monks who lived in "Punkuduthiv" area.
Majority of the sutpa’s have been destroyed and a handful remain. I have not seen a similar site anywhere else in Sri Lanka. For me it was it was the highlight of my trip to the Jaffna region. This place is a must for anyone interested in Sri Lankan history.
We travelled on KKS road or better known as Jaffna- Kankesenthurai road and turned to Puttur-Kantarodai road at the intersection. The turn off signage is somewhat hidden therefore it is recommended that an online map is used for directions. After a few km’s heading towards Kantarodai the road leading to the site is marked with a sign post on the left side of the road. The condition of the road leading to the site is poor. A few km’s had to be travelled to find the next sign post. Finally after passing an old Hindu temple we arrived at the site.
It was a sheer delight to see the rather unusually structured stupas scattered around the temple site. The temple is not occupied by monks therefore it is guarded by the Sri Lankan army to prevent further destruction and looting.
Signage at the site indicates that the site itself is dates back to the time of Buddha. According to the historical chronicles Nagadeepa is the place where Buddha made his second visit to Sri Lanka. The famous sermon he preached to Chulodhara and Mahodhara over their dispute was made at this Kadurugoda area. The exact place where Buddha made his sermon is called Rajyathana Chithya (Stupa) located in Kadurugoda.
A piece of a Black-Red pot with letters belonging to the pre-historic period was found in Kadurugoda area. Similar pieces of Black-Red pots with letters were found from Gedige area in Anuradhapura too. Both pieces found in Kadurugoda and Gedige had old Sinhala Brhami letters with Sinhala names. References to this temple are also found in the Nam Potha written in Kandiyan Period.
It is believed that the site was constructed to deposit the "Dathu"( remianings) of 60 arahath monks who lived in "Punkuduthiv" area.
Majority of the sutpa’s have been destroyed and a handful remain. I have not seen a similar site anywhere else in Sri Lanka. For me it was it was the highlight of my trip to the Jaffna region. This place is a must for anyone interested in Sri Lankan history.
Written 15 September 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Somadevii
Colombo, Sri Lanka27 contributions
Jan 2014 • Friends
Why is the country's trilingual policy not being applied here? All the information is in Sinhala and there is a horrid tin shed housing a Buddha statue in the premises....
Written 2 February 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1LifeStand
Colombo, Sri Lanka5,302 contributions
Dec 2011 • Friends
Located near Chunnakam, site was discovered in 1916. There are about 100 miniature dagobas thought to be votive (as a result of a vow) dagobas made by a king or relics of Tamil Arahats enshrined in them or a place that the Buddha visited while in Sri Lanka. The largest of them is no more than 12 feet in diameter! Having more than a 2000 year old history, it is evidence of the Sinhalese Buddhist influence in the Peninsula.
Although a viharaya, there are no priests at the site.
Although a viharaya, there are no priests at the site.
Written 15 November 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yohan P
Negombo, Sri Lanka271 contributions
Jan 2018 • Friends
Off the main road of jaffna kankasanthurai main road. It's not hard to find.This place has like 20 stupas.
The person in charge told us that they believe those stupas are tons of monks who were poisoned and as a memorial these stupas we're built on their graves.
It's very unique from the other archaeological sites.
The stupas are intact. It's will not take long time to visit, I think it's worth a visit
The person in charge told us that they believe those stupas are tons of monks who were poisoned and as a memorial these stupas we're built on their graves.
It's very unique from the other archaeological sites.
The stupas are intact. It's will not take long time to visit, I think it's worth a visit
Written 24 January 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rayski
Alexandria, VA86 contributions
Dec 2014 • Family
Among the dozen places we visited in or around Jaffna, this is most interesting one. Maybe because it is somewhat mysterious of exactly who and when these monuments were build, and what was the purpose. Apparently, the stupas had been extensively rebuild in recently years, and some of the feature could have been added to favor the interpretation this is the early mark of Buddhism on the island (Buddhism and Hinduism are contentious in Sri Lanka especially in the North). Even though the history of those stupas are murky, this is a pleasant site located in between villages and near a very busy Hindu temple. We had a devil a time finding the place but when we arrived there were two large buses of tourists from south part of the country. What was interesting was the fact that Army Officers were on hand to give guided tour and lecture for the tourists, adding some political flavor to this place. One recommendation, hire a driver who knows where this place is to do the visit.
Written 1 February 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Malith De Silva
Moratuwa, Sri Lanka376 contributions
Aug 2017 • Friends
Located in the vicinity of chunnakam town which apprx. 12km to kks side from jaffna. Several ancient buddhist stupas and ruins held and it believe that Buddha to visited this place.
Written 7 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lee P
Colombo, Sri Lanka20 contributions
Sept 2015 • Friends
Actually visited this place in early 2012, before it was heavily guarded by the armed soldiers other reviewers speak of, so I remember it being serene and quiet; with few tourists and no one to give guided tours except our own local Jaffna guide. It is a small yet spectacular site, but unless you have more than a layman's interest, a fifteen minute visit is more than adequate to absorb the atmosphere of the place, take photos and contemplate the different and various stories that attempt to explain the origins of the structures found here. I did find it incongruous that this site was being referred to by a recently-bestowed Sinhala name "kadurugoda viharaya" when these are clearly Tamil speaking lands with no evidence of Sinhala place names anywhere else: I suppose this seemingly unauthentic moniker is a consequence of the Sinhala Buddhist occupation of these northern lands during the recent civil war.
Written 13 September 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DilrukshiH
Colombo, Sri Lanka2,679 contributions
July 2015 • Friends
A temple of great history & significance, it is also known as KADURUGODA TEMPLE.
Although the Archeological department owns it, The Sri-Lankan Army maintains it very well, they go out of their way to give a conducted tour to explain the history of the place, which is appreciated very much.
Has many ruins of Stupas, which has a lot of history connected to Buddhism. Well worth a visit, if you are interested in history & archeology.
Although the Archeological department owns it, The Sri-Lankan Army maintains it very well, they go out of their way to give a conducted tour to explain the history of the place, which is appreciated very much.
Has many ruins of Stupas, which has a lot of history connected to Buddhism. Well worth a visit, if you are interested in history & archeology.
Written 6 August 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dudleyjaya
Matara, Sri Lanka
Could you please give me the route to this sacred site . Thank you very much .
Written 17 February 2018
located few km from chunnakam town, u can easily find this place n route from google map..
Written 18 February 2018
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