A Damila stronghold, subdued by Dutthagāmani after a four months' siege.
Its commander was called Mahela (Mhv.xxv.48f).
The Mahāvamsa Tīkā (479f.) explains that the city lay off the road leading from Vijitapura to Anurādhapura. It was the king's elephant, Kandula, who led the way thither. The city erected on the spot where the elephant turned off the main road was called Nivattagirinagara.