20 min drive
Velgam Vehera
Brick stupas and ruins of an ancient Buddhist temple, honoured by Sinhala and Tamil Buddhists alike.
Some photos via Wikimedia Commons: Singhalawap, CC BY-SA 3.0; Singhalawap, CC BY-SA 3.0
What to expect
Velgam Vehera is believed to date from the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa in the 3rd century BC, and was restored by later kings before it was abandoned as the old kingdoms moved south.
Today its brick stupas and foundations stand quietly among the trees as a protected archaeological site, with inscriptions showing it was honoured by both Sinhala and Tamil Buddhists.