The sacred geography of the Indic world — every site mapped, dated, storied, and cited.
Aluvihare, Matale, Matale District · 7.4972°, 80.6219°
A cave monastery north of Matale, traced to the reign of Devanampiyatissa, whose caves carry painted walls and ceilings, Buddha images and early inscriptions. It is remembered above all as the place where the Pali Canon was first committed to writing under King Walagamba in the 1st century BCE; the site was declared a protected monument in 1974.
coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-28 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Anuradhapura
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