It was a temple where Sri Lankan Buddhist history was made. Deepaduttaramaya built initially in 1785 was the first Buddhist temple in Colombo and was home to Ven. Migettuewatte Sri Gunananda Thera, the leader of the famous ‘Panadura Vadaya’ and a great orator. It was where the Buddhist flag was designed and hoisted for the … Read more
According to the folklore Deliwala Kota Vehera was built by a regional king called Keerthi Tissa in the 3rd century BC. On a request by him, King Devanmpiyatissa (250-210 BC) invited Mihindu Maha Thero and he came to this temple with the relics which were ceremoniously enshrined. According to Professor Paranavithana, this stupa was built … Read more
Dematamal Viharaya is a Buddhist temple in Okkampitiya village, Monaragala district, Sri Lanka. The Stupa of Dematamal Viharaya is considered as one of the oldest Stupas in Sri Lanka built in the 2nd Century BC. According to folklore, it is the place that provided safety to Prince Saddhatissa, who was attempting to flee after losing … Read more
The little town of Devinuwara or the “City of Gods” is located at the southern edge of the country, about 6.5kms southeast of Matara. Devinuwara is also known as Dondra in English. At the height of its splendor, in the 13th-15th centuries, Devinuwara has been a busy seaport and a most renowned place of pilgrimage … Read more
Devanagala Raja Maha Viharaya is an ancient cave temple in the Mawanella area of the Kegalle District which has been in the news recently. Devanagala Temple is believed to be built during the era of King Parakramabahu the Great (1153-1186) of Polonnaruwa Kingdom. There is also a belief that the temple was first built by … Read more
Thanamalwila Devram Vehera Rajamaha Viharaya is one of the hundreds of ancient temples belonging to the Magama Kingdom lying in the Hambantota District. As with many others, the archaeological value of the temple has been long neglected and is bound to disappear soon. A preserved ancient stupa with a diameter of approximately 40 meters and … Read more
Dhowa Rock Temple or Dowa Raja Maha Viharaya (Sinhala: දෝව රජ මහා විහාරය) is a heritage listed rock temple in Sri Lanka, located in the central mountains of the Uva Province. It is adjacent to Dhowa, a small village situated on the Badulla-Bandarawela main road (approximately 7.5 km (4.7 mi) north of Bandarawela). The temple … Read more
The Kirthi Sri Rajasinghe Rajamaha Vihara is a foremost Buddhist Vihara in Rambukkana. The Maha Pirivena at the Vihara provides education to monks and lay students. The Vihara is closely connected to the Buddhist Renaissance of the Kandy period. The commencement of the current Vihara is attributed to the Rev. Kadiragoda Medhankare, a member of … Read more
Dodanthale Raja Maha Vihara (also known as Sri Seneviratne Uposatha Raja Maha Vihara) is a historic Buddhist temple situated in Mawanella, Kegalle District, Sri Lanka. The temple is located about 4 km (2.5 mi) away from Mawanella town. The temple has been formally recognized by the Government as an archaeological site in Sri Lanka. The … Read more
Elamaldeniya Raja Maha Viharaya lies about 18km away from Morawaka town and 8 km away from Pitabeddara Town. The Temple built during the 2nd century BC is on a rocky hill isolated from human habitation and is attributed to King Saddhatissa ( 137-119 BC ) of the Anuradhapura Era. The temple has been built by … Read more
The Banlangoda Pinnawela Elugala Rajamaja Viharaya is an ancient Tampita Temple in the Kanathiriyanwela village. Believed to be connected to King Vatta Gamini Abaya, better known as King Walagamba (103 BC – 89 BC) this temple has been seen the patronage of King Mayadunne (1521-1581), Seetawaka Rajasinhe (1581 – 1591?) and many kings of the … Read more
Edagala Forest Hermitage is situated at an ancient cave temple site on the Udawalawe – Thanamalwila Road. The hermitage has been so named due to a bed carved on a rock underneath a cave. Drip ledges have been carved on all the caves of this hermitage, an indication that this site has been occupied by … Read more
Eraminigammana Sri Susilaramaya is an ancient temple going to the era of the Kandyan Kingdom lying close to Hemmathagama in the Kegalle district. The temple consists of two historical buildings, one is the old Bana Maduwa (preaching hall) and the other is the ancient Tampita Viharaya. A Tampita Viharaya is a structure built on a … Read more
Yala National Park is one of the most popular wildlife parks in Sri Lanka, covering over 100,000 hectares. Yala is also said to have the highest concentration of leopards in the world and attracts close to a million visitors a year. However, the area covering Yala was part of the ancient kingdom of Rohana, which … Read more
Many of the rivers flowing through our country have been named in Pali, as mentioned in our chronicles such as the Mahavamsa, and Culavamsa. Among them is the Bentota Benthara River flowing through the deep south. About 38 miles away from the Colombo-Galle-Matara highway, this river is named Culavamsa (Part 1) as Bhimathitha. It is … Read more
Galenda Rajamaha Rajamaha Viharaya at Ambalantota is an ancient temple that has been forgotten by the general public for centuries. Only the fallen rock pillars which once proudly held Buddhist buildings now bear witness to the antiquity of the temple. A pair of splendidly carved Gurard Stone (Muragala) lies on the ground for weather-worn for … Read more
Ahungalla Galvehera Maluwa Temple is a recently renovated abandoned temple in the Galviharaya Area of Ahungalla. After hundreds of years of neglect, the residents have cleared the area and re-established the temple. When King Mahanaga was ruling the Ruhuna region around the 3rd century BC, the Maduganga has been called Weliganga ( Sandy River) and … Read more
Passing Pulinathalarama Viharaya at Ambalthota is another ancient temple called Gangaramaya Rajamaha Viharaya belonging to the Kandyan Era. Lying close to a tributary of the Walawe River from one side and the sea from another side, this temple too has been subjected to the horrors of the 2006 tsunami. At this temple, you can find … Read more
Gangaramaya Temple (Sinhala: ශ්රී ගංගාරාම මහාවිහාරය śrī gangārāma mahāvihāraya, Tamil: ஸ்ரீ கங்காராம மகாவிகாரம் Srī Gaṅgārāma Makāvikāram) is one of the most important temples in Colombo, Sri Lanka, being a mix of modern architecture and cultural essence. Located on the Beira Lake, it was completed in the late 19th century. ArchitectureThe temple’s architecture demonstrates an eclectic … Read more
Gatabaru Raja Maha Viharaya (Getabaru Raja Maha Viharaya) is on a mountaintop on the Akuressa – Deniyaya Road (A17) between Morawaka and Deniyaya. Until recently this temple has been rather neglected due to the rough terrain of the location. But now a good tar road has been built from the bottom of the mountain to … Read more
As you travel passing Nonagama Junction in Ambalantota, just before the bridge over the Walawe River, you will find the Girihandu Rajamaha Viharaya of Ambalantota. The temple is believed to be built by King Devanapiyatissa in the 2nd century BC. Due to its current name, some believe that the hair relics of Buddha brought by … Read more
Walagamba Purana Viharaya in Gonaganara in Buttala is an ancient temple scatted with ruins of the ancient civilization in the Rohana area. The temple is hidden deep inside Buttala on the Sella Kataragama road. The turn-off to the temple is 14.5 km from Buttala and 25 km from Sella Kataragama. A small board indicates this … Read more
Gondiwala Purana Tampita Viharaya is reachable from Kegalle – Mawanella road. Passing Uthuwankana junction and then the Uthuwankana Catholic Church take the left turn to Weganthale road from the Kondeniya Junction and travel about 1 km to reach the temple. A Tampita Viharaya is a structure built on a wooden platform that rests on a … Read more
Veheragala Archaeological Site lies in the temple complex known as the Gothapabbatha Rajamaha Viharaya in the area known as Bodagama on the Udawalawe and Thanamalwila Road. This is a site now preserved by the Department of Archaeology and covers a considerable area. ‘Historical Topography of Ancient and Medieval Ceylon’ by C.W. Nicholas published in 1963 … Read more
Peellawela Purana Rajamaha Viharaya is an ancient temple in the Hakuruwela area in Weeraketiya, Hambantota district. Among the buildings of this temple is a Tampita Viharaya built during the Kandyan era. However, the presence of Siri Pathul Gal (blocks of rock carved with a footprint of Buddha) which were objects of veneration in the 2-3rd … Read more
Built during King Devanapiyatissa’s era (250-210 BC), Buttala Happoruwa Purana Viharaya (Hathporuwa Purana Viharaya) is an ancient temple on the Sella Kataragama – Buttala road. According to historical records, when the sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhi of India was planted in Anuradhapura Mahamevuna Uyana, 8 offshoots sprung from it and they were planted in … Read more
Hathagala Purana Rajamaha Viharaya is an ancient temple in the Southern province lying between Hungama and Nonagama along the Matara – Hambantota road. Today this temple is also a pirivena providing education to Buddhist monks. Much of the history of this temple is lost in time, but the temple has received royal patronage from King … Read more
The ruins at the deserted Helamulla Degalhela Viharaya at the foot of the Degalhela Rock are another unexplored and unknown ancient Buddhist site in Siyambalanduwa. Degalhela has been so named due to the two fused rocks which make the Degalhela mountain range. The Helamulla Degalhela temple lies at the foot of the mountain and is … Read more
Hingula Rajamaha Viharaya is an ancient temple with a Tampita Viharaya hidden just a kilometer away from the Kandy Road and 5 km from the Mawanella in Kegalle District. To reach the temple travel 4.3 km from Mawanella junction towards Kandy and take the right turn onto Aluthnuwara Road. Take the narrow concrete laid road … Read more
Have you ever felt like you have been immersed in the green comfort of the countryside? You may think that I am talking of Knuckles or the Sinharaja forest But strangely sometimes these luxuries come very close to home and the city of Colombo. Just turn off at the Nelundeniya junction on the Kandy road … Read more