Discover Anamaduwa: Market, Temple Art and Rock Inscriptions

Anamaduwa is home to the Sathi Pola, a weekly market in town; nearby, you can also find temple art, rock formations and early inscriptions. The attractions range from the goods on offer at a market to Buddhist artworks and historical written records. This gives you a choice of cultural highlights to take into account when planning your trip.

The Sathi Pola: a weekly market in Anamaduwa

The Sathi Pola is a weekly market in Anamaduwa. Its colourful stalls line Anamaduwa Road. The goods on offer include fruit, vegetables, fish, meat and other food, as well as toys, clothing, accessories and plants. Ingredients for Bulath Vita, a betel chew, are also available. The selection ranges from fresh everyday produce to daily necessities and traditional betel. If you plan to visit the market, check the market day and opening hours in advance.

Rock formations and temple art in the surrounding area

Near Anamaduwa is Paramakanda Viharaya, also known as the ancient Acchagiritissa-pabbata Viharaya. Puttalam is a district of Sri Lanka; the Buddhist temple is situated on a rocky outcrop called Paramakanda. A cave in the temple contains sculptures and paintings in the Kandyan tradition. East of the terrace stands a shrine with two statues carved from limestone in the 8th century AD. The temple complex thus brings together cave art and a clearly dated sculpture.

The rocks also help orient you: Paramakanda Raja Maha Viharaya is on the opposite, northern side of the rock formation, northwest of Anamaduwa. The ascent at Paramakanda Temple follows a well-maintained staircase through the monastery grounds. The granite rock can be climbed without mountaineering experience. As current access conditions may change, check them before your visit.

Thonigala: inscriptions and historical accounts

Near the town, two Thonigala rock inscriptions are found on a low rock. They are in the early Brahmi script. The two stone inscriptions are described as the largest in Sri Lanka; each is said to be about 30 metres long. Their scale sets them apart from the artworks in the temple: here, the focus is on writing and historical accounts.

According to the account, the inscriptions describe donations. Lord Tissa, son of Lord Abhaya, is said to have donated a nearby tank to a Thero. King Gamini Abhaya is also associated with the donation of the ancient cities of Achanagaraka and Tawirikiya in the 1st century AD. The reported contents give the inscriptions an additional historical significance alongside their extraordinary length.

Crafts and choosing your destination

In nearby Kumaragama, pottery has been practised as a trade for generations. This craft tradition adds another cultural facet of the area alongside religious art and inscriptions.

Your preferred focus can help guide your choice of holiday rental: if the weekly market is your main interest, focus your search on Anamaduwa. If you are particularly interested in temple art, rock inscriptions or crafts, include destinations in the surrounding area in your travel plans as well.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Dambadeniya, Puttalam, Kudawa, Bandara Koswatta, Boraluwewa, Galgamuwa, Madampe, Pallama

Return to the main travel overview: North Western Province.