Nagadeepa Purana Viharaya, Buddhist temple on Nainativu island, Jaffna District, Sri Lanka

Nagadeepa Purana Viharaya is a Buddhist temple on Nainativu island whose main stupa is painted white, with a bulbous dome on concentric rounded tiers, a square harmika above, and a tall conical spire of stacked rings ending in a pointed finial. A faint leaf-shaped motif marks the front of the dome, and a smaller white building stands beside it.

The Mahavamsa and the Tamil epic Manimekalai record that the Buddha visited Nainativu five years after his enlightenment to settle a dispute between the Naga kings Chulodara and Mahodara over a gem-studded throne. The shrine was later developed under kings Devanampiya Tissa and Dutugemunu. In 1958 rioters blew up the stupa and beheaded a Burmese-gifted Buddha statue; the temple was secretly restored. In 2011 businessmen from Ratnapura donated a gold- and silver-plated throne.

The temple draws thousands of pilgrims throughout the year who gather here to participate in religious ceremonies and prayer. The community shares a deep connection to this sacred place, which serves as a central hub of faith and spiritual practice.

Visitors reach the island by ferry from Kurikadduwan Jetty, with boats operating regularly during daylight. It is best to check weather conditions beforehand and wear comfortable walking shoes, as reaching the temple requires walking after arrival.

The gem-studded throne at the centre of the dispute is not ancient: businessmen from Ratnapura donated a gold- and silver-plated replica in 2011. The temple also holds a memory of the 1990 expulsion of Muslims from the north, when the chief monk sheltered Muslim refugees and the navy has since served the first Iftar of Ramadan inside the temple grounds.