VESSAGIRI MONASTERY

It is the remains of a cave monastery founded during the reign of King Devanamipiyatissa in the 3rd century B.C. It was later extended during the reign of Kasyapa in the^5th century. The site could then accommodate 500 monks. The shelters were much more advanced than what can be seen today, as many of the materials used were later reused for the construction of monuments. Nevertheless, a walk among the large rocks and the forest constitutes a pleasant bucolic stop, especially since the site is little visited.