Yatala Wehera
Verification: in review · Coordinates: unverified
What is this site?
Ancient built on an elevated terrace surrounded by a wide moat, famous for its sculptured elephant-head retaining wall and lotus-petal stone pillars.
Why it matters
Built by King Yatalatissa to celebrate his birth in the 3rd century BCE, representing an early example of moated architecture in Ruhuna.
Description
Excavated in the 19th and 20th centuries, yielding exceptional limestone Asanaghara slabs and Bodhisattva figures now housed in the on-site museum. Associated patrons (as supplied): King Yatalatissa. Key features to look for: Carved monolithic stone pillars topped with open lotus petals; Elephant-forequarter revetment wall enclosing the terrace; Preserved moat waters surrounding the platform; Exhibits inside the Yatala Archaeological Museum.
Photos
No rights-cleared photographs yet.
Historical and scholarly sources
- Reference as supplied in project dataset (pending verification): Antiquities Schedule 01
Visiting responsibly
Dress modestly at religious sites, remove shoes and hats where requested, never climb on monuments or pose with your back to Buddha images, and follow guidance from custodians and the Department of Archaeology.