KADURUGODA VIHARAYA

It is the first archaeological site discovered in the Jaffna peninsula (1917). Named Karidamalai in the ancient period, this site is said to have housed the first capital of the Tamil kingdoms (300 BC ?). The impressive number of dagobas or pedestals harmoniously arranged next to each other indicates the importance that Buddhism had for the Tamils of Jaffna at that time. The similarities between the findings at this site and those in the Tamil Nadu region confirm that there was a very important cultural exchange between the two regions.