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Added by Jopie, at 30 June 2015
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10 Reviews
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30 April 2018
historical place I've ever seen
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28 April 2018
ARANKELE_ The ancient monastery
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11 March 2018
Loved the wilderness and ancient ruins
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21 December 2017
The ancient monastery of Arankele which is acclaimed to be the premier Forest Hemitage of Sri Lanka was constructed in the past for the use of Bhikkhus engaged in meditation. It is located in the Ganewatta Divisional Secretariat Division of the Kurunegala District.
There are two schools of thought regarding the origin of its name. One such thought is the combination of the word “aran” derived from Arahat and “kele” being forest hermitage where the Arahants took shelter. The other being the adaptation of the two words “Arama” meaning monastery and “kele” meaning forest to form the word Arankele which had further evolved to sound Arankele.
This Bhikkhu monastery which is in a natural habitat has mountain slopes and plataues dotted with hundreds of buildings such as padhanagharas, Jantagharas (hot water bathing houses), Bodhigharas (parapet encrcling Bo trees), ponds, promenades, caves etc.
Of the buildings in the sacred area, the presence of a Jantaghara for the aged and the sick Bhikkhus is of special significance. In the Jantaghara, places are set aside for hot baths, saunas and medicinal baths. In this building the hearths used for boiling water and grinding stones for the making of medicinal pastes from herbs are found as well.
The Cankamanaghara found in the complex is a sheltered promenade. Sanitary utilities comprising of the triade-urinals, toilets and wash rooms are located in the vicinity of the building.
In addition to ponds brimming with warter, long promenades, residences for the monks, buildings, Bodhigharas, Padhanagharas for the use of monks engaged in meditation are well placed in the monastic complex.response / report this review -
14 October 2017
Cool and calm place. Lovely place.
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27 September 2017
"Arankele Buddhist Monastery" is a hidden treasure of proud ancient Sri Lanka. This is the most calm, silent and peaceful natural environment I have ever visited. This place was bigger than we thought and home for ruins of lot of stony buildings and ponds. This place provide evidence for the ancient existence of "Rahath Theros" including famous Maliyadeva Maha rahath thero". This place had been home for Buddhist monks who spend time for meditation. You will never regret visiting this place twice or more.
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24 January 2017
Arankele Forest Monastery was the austere abode of a sect of recluse monks called Pansukulika practicing extreme austerity. The history of the cave hermitage dates back to the 6th century: Arankele Forest Monastery is believed to be where the last known Arhat monk, Maliyadeva resided along with no less than 12,000 monastic monks.
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19 December 2016
Remains of a large Monastery dating back to 5th century. Meters long paved meditation paths, remains of dwellings, ponds found in a very large area. Much to be excavated yet.
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09 April 2016
This is most important place for archeologist ,this is "padanagara"
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07 July 2015
this location is wrong
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