Ritigala Ancient Buddhist Monastery, Buddhist monastery and archaeological site in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.
Ritigala Ancient Buddhist Monastery is a monastic complex on the eastern slope of Ritigala Mountain with stone platforms and ancient architectural remains spread across multiple hectares. The site includes meditation spaces and residential areas built into the natural contours of the mountainside.
The ruins and rock inscriptions of this monastery date to the 1st century BCE when it was founded as a meditation center. The site remained inhabited over many centuries and served as part of Sri Lanka's broader monastic network.
The monastery was home to Pansukulika monks who practiced a distinct form of Buddhism centered on meditation rather than formal worship. Visitors can still observe how this community shaped its daily life around simplicity and inner practice rather than elaborate ceremonies.
Visiting requires good walking endurance as paths are steep and rocky with uneven terrain throughout the site. Early morning or late afternoon lighting works best for safe navigation and comfortable exploration.
The monastery features decorated stone urinals that symbolize rejection of elaborate Buddhist rituals. These unusual structures reveal how the Pansukulika monks intentionally chose simplicity over conventional religious practices.
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