Pottuvil Archaeological Tour

Tour Highlights

• Visit a Buddhist stupa situated near the sea
• Observe statues of Lord Buddha, gods and bodhisattvas
• See the ruins of an image house

Tour Description

Situated in the Ampara district in the tiny town of Pottuvil is a Buddhist stupa that is surrounded by Sand Hills Being at close proximity to the beach, the site promises breathtaking views of the surrounding beach while also giving you a good dose of religious architecture. The temple was said to be built almost 2000 years ago by the Ruhuna king KavanTissa. It was believed that Princess Vihara Maha Devi, who was to be the queen of king KavanTissa, was washed ashore at this exact spot. Currently inhabited by only one monk, the place is a serene and spiritualistic retrieve from your usual holiday activities.

Its location in the beach resulted in most of its ruins being buried under dunes of sands over time. We will go down the narrow road off the Pottuvil-Arugam Bay road to reach the temple. You can see an image house that was constructed out of bricks, the walls of which are now resting as ruins. You can view a standing statue of Lord Buddha, two Bodhisatvas and ageing statues of old kings or gods with certain parts missing. Archeological Tour will let you admire the beauty of the beach while tapping into the spiritual side of this area.

Tour Details

• Duration: 2 Hours
• Good For:  Couples, Families, Singles
• Languages: English, Sinhala
• Difficulty: Easy
• Tour Participants: 2 to 6