Spread across some 300 acres of scrub jungle near Galgamuwa, Haththikuchchi Viharaya is one of the great ruined monastery complexes of the Anuradhapura period, established originally in the 2nd century BCE during the reign of King Devanampiyatissa — the same king who received Buddhism in Sri Lanka from the missionary monk Mahinda. Archaeological evidence shows continuous occupation from the 3rd century BCE through the 10th century CE.
The site is named for the large rock at its centre, shaped like a kneeling elephant (hatthi = elephant, kuchchi = belly). The rock is associated with King Siri Sangabo, who is said to have meditated here and to have made his final sacrifice nearby. A dagoba on the summit of the rock is still maintained as an active place of worship, and the surrounding area contains the remains of image houses, monks' cells, ponds, and the foundations of large assembly halls. Stone inscriptions found on site have confirmed the identities of several royal patrons.
The site is partially excavated and not heavily visited — the combination of jungle, scattered ruins, and atmospheric silence gives it a quality that more polished sites have lost.