A revered Buddhist temple on Nainativu island, one of the sacred sites believed to have been visited by the Buddha.

Overview

The Nagadeepa Purana Vihara stands on the small island of Nainativu, reached by a short navy ferry from the mainland. Its silvery bell-shaped stupa and blue-and-white shrine make it one of the holiest Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the north, held to be one of the few places the Buddha personally visited. The peaceful island setting, with the Hindu Nagapooshani Amman temple close by, makes the boat trip a memorable half-day excursion from Jaffna.

History

According to the Mahavamsa chronicle, the Buddha came to Nagadeepa to mediate a dispute between two Naga kings over a jewelled throne, making it one of the sixteen most sacred Buddhist sites associated with his visits to the island. The temple has been rebuilt over the centuries and remains an active place of pilgrimage for Sri Lankan Buddhists.