Samudragiri Pichchamal Viharaya

Kuchchaveli is a small coastal fishing village located about North of Trincomalee. The Pichchamal Viharaya at Kuchchaveli lies on a small rocky outcrop at the sea about 4 km to the North where the Yan Oya meets the sea.

Such temples are generally called Samudragiri temples or Muhudu Viharas. They were build on a high ground bordering the sea. Some other temples belonging to this category of temples are Ambalantota Gotha Pabbatha at the mouth of Walawe River, Bundala, Kirinda, Okanda, Sastrawela, Gokanna at the entrance to the Trincomalee harbour (where the Koneswaram Kovil stands today), Lanka Patuna at Foul Point and Dambakola Patuna in Jaffna.

As with the most other sea coast temples, sea erosion has washed away most of the temple but few ruins still remain today. The most intriguing is the engraving of 16 stupas on face of a rock on panel of 4’x4' neatly divided in to 16 squares. No such carvings had been found anywhere in the island and is believed to be of Mahayana origin. On top of a small rock by the sea lies a restored stupa and some of the archaeological artifacts found at various times. This rocky hill is locally known as ‘Karandi Malai’ in tamil which translates in to ‘Walas Kanda’ in Sinhala.

Another important artifact is a standing buddha statue. The torso and the face has been found separately and based on the artistic style of this statue Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thero has placed it to 2nd century. An inscription written is Sanskrit lies on a another rock face which has been dated to 6th century. This inscription was deface