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Hatthigiripura, Hatthiselapura

The Pāḷi name for the modern town of Kurunegala in Sri Lanka. It is so called because nearby is a mountain shaped like a reclining elephant. It is first mentioned in the time of Parakkamabāhu II, who made his yuvarāja, Bhuvanekabāhu, build a vihāra there (Cv.lxxxv.62).

The king was cremated close to the vihāra, and his son, Vijayabāhu, made a pilgrimage to the vihāra, and to the place of cremation (Cv.lxxxviii.53 f). Bhuvanekabāhu removed the capital from Subhagiri to Hatthigiripura, where it remained until the death of Parakkamabāhu IV Cv.xc.59,106.