 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.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.