Muhudu maha vihara, Buddhist temple in Pottuvil, Sri Lanka

Muhudu Maha Vihara is a Buddhist temple located near a wide beach in the Ampara District, featuring stone statues and remains of ancient religious structures. The complex includes multiple areas with ancient monuments built across different periods.

The temple was founded over 2000 years ago by King Kavan Tissa of Ruhuna and contains ruins of stupas and religious buildings from various periods. The site shows traces of multiple building phases and religious developments across centuries.

Local tradition holds that the temple marks the spot where Viharamahadevi came ashore, and the site is still an active place of worship. The stone image house and its carved figures of the Buddha and two kings or gods are the focus of veneration for Theravada Buddhists.

The ruins stand on open ground beside a wide beach, with no shelter from sun or rain, so bring water and protection from the heat. The site lies near Pottuvil in Ampara District, Eastern Province, reached by road along the coast. Ground around the fallen stone columns and statues is uneven; watch your footing.

Scholars lean toward Muhudu Maha Vihara, not Kirinda, as Viharamahadevi's landing site: Kirinda's coast has a steep cliff, making a safe landing there unlikely. The Rajavaliya chronicle says she was set adrift in a golden vessel in the 2nd century BC after Kelaniya was submerged by the sea.