Angaligala (also known as Anjaleehela, Anjalihela, Anjaleegala) is a Buddhist temple of the ancient Magama Kingdom lying in the picturesque remote village of Debarahela. The new temple as well as the ruins of the ancient temple lie on a rocky plain extending from north to south. Traveling from Thanamalwila towards Weerawila you will come across … Read more
Bandagiriya forms the highest point in Hambantota District. Located at its summit is the ancient Bandagiriya Vihara (temple). In Dathuwamsa, one of the ancient chronicles of Sri Lankan history, it is mentioned that this temple was built by King Kawantissa in the 2nd century BC. The name is also mentioned in ancient graffiti discovered in … Read more
En route to the Kirinda Temple lies an archaeological site known as the Dalada Viharaya. A conserved stupa surrounded by a few granite monoliths and some other ruins can be found at this site.
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
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
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
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
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
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
Kasagala Raja Maha Vihara (Sinhala: කසාගල රජ මහා විහාරය) is an ancient Buddhist Temple, situated in Angunukolapelessa, Hambantota District, Sri Lanka. It is situated about 10 km (6.2 mi) away from Ranna Junction along Ranna – Weeraketiya road. The temple has been formally recognized by the Government as an archaeological site in Sri Lanka. The … Read more
Menik Vehera (also written as Manik Vehera) is situated within close proximity to Yatala Stupa but not large in size. It has been restored in 1894 keeping to the original shape. This stupa is attributed to King Mahanaga. Henry Parker believes that it was constructed by King Dutugemunu. Remains of several ancient buildings are found … Read more
Mulkirigala Raja Maha Vihara (also known as Mulgirigala Raja Maha Vihara) (Sinhala: මුල්කිරිගල රජමහා විහාරය) is an ancient Buddhist temple in Mulkirigala, Sri Lanka. It has been built on a 205 m (673 ft) high natural rock, surrounded by another four rocks known as Benagala, Kondagala, Bisogala, and Seelawathiegala. The temple site is located about … Read more
Naigala Rajamaha Viharaya (Sinhala: නයිගල රජ මහා විහාරය) is an ancient Buddhist temple situated in Weeraketiya, Hambantota District, Sri Lanka. It is located about 2 km (1.2 mi) away from Weeraketiya junction and 8 km (5.0 mi) from the ancient Buddhist temple, Mulkirigala Raja Maha Vihara. This temple has been built according to the Pabbata … Read more
Debarawewa Paschimarama Rajamaha Viharaya is situated on the bank of Kirindi Oya, by the side of the Weerawila-Deberawewa main road. The construction of this temple is attributed to King Mahanaga of the 3rd century BC. This was an important temple, very near the capital city of Ruhuna, which went into obscurity with the change of … Read more
Sithulpawwa Rajamaha Viharaya is an ancient Buddhist monastery located in Hambantota District, South Eastern Sri Lanka. Situated 18 km east of the pilgrimage town Katharagama, it is believed to have been built in the 2nd century B.C. by King Kavantissa. Sithulpawwa Vihara can be reached by traveling 18 miles along the Tissamaharama-Yodhakandiya road towards the … Read more
The Tissamaharama Raja Maha Vihara is an ancient Buddhist temple in Tissamaharama, Southern Province of Sri Lanka. It was one of the four major Buddhist monasteries established in Sri Lanka, after the arrival of Arhant Mahinda Thera to the country. The site of the Tissamaharama Raja Maha Vihara was consecrated by Buddha himself, who spent … Read more
Yatala Vehera (also spelled Yatala Wehera) is an ancient Buddhist stupa dating back to the 3rd Century B.C., located in Deberawewa – Thissamaharama in the Hambantota District of Sri Lanka. The stupa is built on a stage made of large flat granite stones and has a surrounding wall of sculpted elephant heads, a moat, and … Read more