Cultural · Trincomalee · East Coast
The Temple the Cholas Renamed
Velgam Vehera — 12 km northwest of Trincomalee, near Kanniya
ANCIENT STUPA RUINSPhoto by Singhalawap on Wikimedia CommonsBrick stupas, guard stones and moonstones on a site Hindus know as Natanar Kovil, rediscovered in 1929 and protected since 1934.
A Buddhist temple at Kanniya northwest of Trincomalee, believed founded under Devanampiyatissa in the 3rd century BCE and recorded in an inscription of Bhatika Tissa from the 2nd century CE. It survived the Chola invasion of 993; the Cholas renovated it, renamed it Rajarajaperumpalli, and left Tamil inscriptions recording their donations.
Location
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8.6458° N, 81.1709° EOSM
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