It is located about half a mile south of Isurumuniya, among boulders.

Begun in the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa (mid-3rd century BC), the site was expanded during the reign of King Kasyapa (473 - 491 AD) to become home to about five hundred monks.

[1] The Vessagiri monks lived in rock shelters that were constructed by quarrying from local materials.

Today's visitor sees only the bare stones - and not all of those, since much of the rock was later carted away and reused elsewhere.

[2] Above the shelters are inscribed the names of donors written in Brahmi script.