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Situated in Thiriyaya, about 29 miles north of Trincomalee. The path leading to it did not give an easy journey through bumpy roads, jungle and ferry to travel to Girihandu seya during early days. But now, it's much developed and is easily reachable.
The story of Girihandu seya dates back to the period, when two brothers, Tapassu and Palluka who were traders, who journeyed across oceans in their occupations were the Buddha’s first devotees. On the 50th day of enlightenment, the brothers offered the first alms of bee’s honey to Lord Buddha. They listened to his deep spiritual understanding, Tapassu and Palluka received a lock of hair from the Buddha to engage in proper worshiping practices. They travelled to eastern shores of Lanka and placed the sacred hair in a stupa inside the girihand rock that became known as the Girihandu seya. Thus it is believed the Girihandu seya is the first stupa in Lanka.
Also it is situated a short distance from Yan oya. The significant thiriyaya stone inscription is a slight detour from the main stairway about mid-way of the climb remnants of many buildings lay scattered across small areas. Some rock caves situated here bear early Brahmin inscriptions indicating the existence of monasteries even during pre-Christian times. The earliest datable inscription at the site is the pre-Christian Brahmin inscription recording the dedication of a cave to the Buddhist monks.
Namal Pokuna Temple is an interesting temple hidden into the forest of Dimbulagala that gives the pleasure of visiting and exploring unspotted historic monuments.
This temple is situated on the same road leading to the famous Dimbulagala Raja Maha Viharaya in Polonnaruwa district of Sri Lanka. This place seems to be rarely visited even though both Viharayas are situated on the same mountain range.
A large granite parapet is seen at the entrance of this historically valuable complex. Namal Pokuna Temple ruins contains a stupa, an image house with buddha statues in which one is found on the ground without head and feet and another one standing with only knees and pedestals, a bo tree shrine, ponds and unrecognized buildings.
Caves here have been used by monks and priests to meditate and ponds are now covered by jungle. The path through the jungle leads to the Ancient Akasa Chaithiya on the top of Dimbulagala mountain range.
Pleasure of walking and mild climbing can be experienced while visiting this site.
The Stupa is built upon a two metres high platform with three entrances and only a portion of the dome has lasted. The large image house comprises a large platform with a single entrance facing north and the ruins along with the Bo-tree shrine and the unidentified building remain in a good state of conservation. This site represents the architectural features of the Anurathapura era.
This ancient City is commonly accepted to have the most extensive collection of stone ruins in an designated area the Rajagala ruins are special due to many reasons. Still considered as the unexplored area where exploration is still ongoing by the archaeology department, the Rajagala ruins offer some thing unique to visitors. the half built Buddha statues, the stone water works that guard it ( all of which still work) and as of 2018 more than 700 ruins have been identified and documented.
The stone inscriptions from various periods provide insight into civilization in ancient Sri Lanka and is considered to be some of the most accepted validations of the arrival of Buddhism to Sri Lanka known as the advent of Arahat Mahinda, the son of Emperor Asoka of India to Sri Lanka bringing with him the sublime Dhamma of the Buddha, during the reign of King Devanampiyatissa is much significant, as this event changed the entire social, political, national, religions and cultural attitudes of the people of Sri Lanka.
A large number of primary cave paintings of an unknown period and some wall paintings of the Anuradhapura period could be seen in this sacred area and if your a history buff this could be the ideal getaway for your frolic among some monuments dating back to the 3rd B.C
