Girihandu Seya
Eastern Province
About Girihandu Seya
Girihandu Seya at Thiriyai makes an astonishing claim with a straight face: to be the first Buddhist stupa ever built. Tradition - supported by a Sanskrit rock inscription at the site - holds that it was raised by Trapusa and Bahalika, the two merchant brothers who, in the scriptures, became the Buddha's very first lay disciples and received from him a handful of hair relics; their sea route brought them to this hill above the north-east coast. Whatever a historian makes of that, the monument is a beauty: a small stupa wrapped in a graceful stone vatadage of concentric pillars, reached by a long flight of rock-cut steps up the forested hill, with views over lagoons and empty coast that have barely changed since the merchants' era. North of Nilaveli on the lonely Pulmoddai road, it sees a trickle of pilgrims and almost no one else.
Top Activities
- ✓The hilltop vatadage and stupa
- ✓Ancient Sanskrit inscriptions
- ✓Rock stairway climb through forest
- ✓Coastal and lagoon views
- ✓Combine with Nilaveli and Pulmoddai coast
Nearby Attractions
Travel Tips
Carry water - the climb and terrace have no facilities.
The Pulmoddai coast road north of Nilaveli is a lovely, empty drive.
Respect the site's sanctity; it's an active pilgrimage temple.
Quick Info
Best Time
April to September
Weather
Hot; the stair climb is exposed - morning is best.
Estimated Daily Budget
8.8680°N, 81.0100°E
Open in Google Maps →Ready to Visit?
Add Girihandu Seya to your trip and let AI create your personalised itinerary.