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Pidurangala Rajamaha Viharaya is an ancient Buddhist monastery located in the Matale District of Central Province, Sri Lanka. The monastery was built by the King Kashyapa (473-495 CE) to relocate monks who were residing in Sigiriya rock before the construction of the fortress. Also, it is believed that this monastery has been served as the royal monastery during the reign of King Kashyapa. Pidurangala is a massive rock similar to Sigiriya, said to be just four feet short of the height of Sigiriya. From certain places at a distance, one can see the view of both Sigiriya and Pidurangala. Surrounding the Pidurangala Read more...
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Avukana Buddha Statue is a great masterpiece of sculpture which explain the competence of artist in ancient Sri Lanka. It is an over 40 feet high Buddha statue carved out of a great granite rock face built during the reign of King Dhatusena (455 – 473 AD). It is located in the vicinity of Kala Wewa in Anuradhapura district of North Central Province, Sri Lanka. In this is statue the Lord Buddha is depicted in Asisa Mudra which is a pose of blessing. Originally this statue had been placed inside an Image house and now you can see only the crumbling brick walls of Read more...
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Vijithapura Rajamaha Viharaya is an ancient Buddhist temple worshiped by Buddhist all around the country. The temple is located closer to the Kala Wewa in Anuradhapura district of North Central Province, Sri Lanka. You can access this temple through Kekirawa – Galewela road and only about 10km away from the Kekirawa temple. According to the historical sources (like Mahavamsa, Deepavamsa, Tupavamsa, and Saddharmalankaraya), the history of the Vijithapura area goes back to the reign of King Vijaya (543–505 BCE). The beginning of the Vijithapura Rajamaha Viharaya is not clearly identified. However, according to the legends, the history of the temple Read more...
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Enderagala Wana Senasuna is a Buddhist temple in a calm and quiet location in Dambulla in the Matale District of Sri Lanka. According to the inscription found in the caves, the history of this temple dates back to the 2nd – 1st century B.C. The temple is located beside the Ambepussa – Kurunegala – Trincomalee (A006) Highway, only 6km away from the Dambulla city. You can reach Enderagala Wana Senasuna withing15 minutes from Dambulla Cave Temple. The Stupa of the temple is located in a rock summit provide panoramic, 360-degree view of the area. On a clear day, you can Read more...
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The Somawathiya Stupa is said to be enshrined the right tooth relic of Lord Buddha. It is located in Somawathiya Rajamaha Vihara premises in Polonnaruwa District of North Central Province. The area in which the temple located belongs to the Somawathiya National Park as well. The stupa was built during the reign of the King Kavanthissa (205–161 BC ) and it was named after his sister called princes Somawathi. Enter your current location in the search box below the map to find the best route to the Somawathiya Stupa. Click here to find a list of accommodations around Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka. External Read more...
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Korathota Raja Maha Viharaya is an ancient Buddhist temple located in Kaduwela, Colombo District of Sri Lanka. This temple, which dates back to 2000 years, is one of the few ancient temples found in the Western Province, sited on the top of a mountain next to the Belungala Rock in Kaduwela. This temple boasts of having the oldest and longest cave inscriptions in the Colombo district. Enter your current location in the search box below the map to find the best route to the Korathota Raja Maha Viharaya. Click here to find a list of accommodations around Kaduwela, Sri Lanka. Read more...
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Punchi Dambadiva is located in the Ratnapura District of Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka. It is Buddhist temple which hosts replicas of the sacred monuments found in the pilgrim site of Dambadiva. The Punchi Dambadiva project has been started in 1981 and currently consists of the replica of Buddhagayawa, Piriniwan Manchakaya depicting the passing away of Buddha located in Kusinarawa, a replica of the first dhamma sermon Buddha gave to his five disciples in Isipathanaramaya and many others monuments. Enter your current location in the search box under the map to find the best route to the Punchi Dabadiva. Click here Read more...
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Muhudu Maha Viharaya is a Buddhist temple located in the Ampara District of Eastern Province, Sri Lanka. According to the historical evidence, the history of this temple goes back to the reign of King Kavantissa (205-161 B.C.). The temple is located on the Potuvil coast and it is believed to be the place where Viharamahadevi, the daughter of King Kelani Tissa was landed as said in the legend. External Links මුහුදු මහ විහාරයේ අද කතාව – Silumina Muhudu Maha Vihara – Department of Archaeology Three women in Sinhala history – The Island Read more...
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Mahiyangana Rajamaha Viharaya is an ancient Buddhist temple located in Badulla District of Uva Province, Sri Lanka. it is one of the Solosmasthana (16 most sacred places to be worshiped by Buddhist in Sri Lanka), and it is believed to be the place where the Lord Buddha’s first visit to the country. According to the historical sources, Buddha visited this place in the ninth month after he attained enlightenment. External Links වසර 2600කට පෙර බුදුන් වැඩිය මියුගුණ පුදබිම Read more...
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Kudumbigala Monastery is an ancient Buddhist monastic complex constructed in 246 BC, during the reign of the King Devanampiyatissa. It is located in the Ampara District of Eastern Province, Sri Lanka. The site is paved with large rock boulders and rock surfaces surrounded by a thick jungle. The monastic complex has been untouched for a long period of time and it was re-discovered in recent past. Archaeologists had recovered over 200 rock caves belonging to this forgotten monastery. According to a rock inscription found in the cave named “Maha Sudharshana Lena” itself, it has been built and offered to Arhats by the Read more...
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Deegawapi Stupa is one of the Solosmasthana (16 most sacred places to be worshiped by Buddhist in Sri Lanka), located in Ampara District of Eastern Province, Sri Lanka. Deegavapi has always been a place of reverence for Buddhists in Sri Lanka. According to the legends, the Lord Buddha in his third visit to Sri Lanka proceeded to Deegavapi after placing an imprint of his foot on a gemstone at the summit of Sri Pada (Adam’s Peak). It is said to be that the stupa we see today is located in the place where the Lord Buddha and 500 arhats spent Read more...
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Koneswaram Temple is a Hindu temple in Trincomalee District of Eastern Province, Sri Lanka. The temple is located in the top of the Swami Rock promontory that overlooks the Indian Ocean, Trincomalee Harbour, and the Trincomalee District. The exact date of construction of the temple remains vague. However, according to the historical evidence, the temple was likely to found before 400 B.C. External Links Koneswaram temple – Wikipedia.org Swami Rock and Koneswaram temple Read more...
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Yudaganawa Temple is located in Buttala Divisional Secretariat division of the Monaragala District of Uva Province, Sri Lanka. This has been identified as the largest ancient stupa in the Uva Province. The origin of this stupa is not yet clear. However, historians believe this is the site which the King Dutugemunu had the major battle against his brother Saddhatissa in 2nd century BC. Also, there is a belief that this is the stupa made by King Parakramabahu the Great in memory of his mother Queen Ratnavali who was cremated here. Enter your location in the search box below the Map to get Read more...
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The Sankapala Raja Maha Viharaya is located in the Ratnapura District of Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka. According to rock inscription found here, the history of this temple goes back to the reign of King Dutugemunu (161-137 BC). As said by the legends, there had been Ten Giants in king Dutugemunu’s troops. The giant Pussadeva is one of them who had a special skill of blowing conch shells (“Sankha” in Sinhala) so loudly. The symbol of the giant was also the conch shell itself. After winning the Vijithapura war, the king Dutugemunu has offered this area to the Pussadeva giant. Later, he has Read more...
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The Dematamal Viharaya is an ancient Buddhist temple in the Okkampitiya village in Monaragala District, Sri Lanka. The history of this temple dates back to the 2nd – 3rd century BC. According to the legend, this is the temple which the King King Saddhatissa hid after being defeated in the battle with King Dutugemunu (Brother of King Saddhatissa). External Links ගැමුණු කුමරුට බියේ තිස්ස කුමරු සැඟවී සිටි දෙමටමල් විහාරය දෙටුමල් නමින් බිහිවූ දෙමටමල් විහාරය Read more...
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The Maligavila sacred place is famous for its giant free-standing Buddha Statue belongs to 7th century. It is located in the Monaragala District of Uva Province, Sri Lanka. According to the ancient chronicle Chulavamsa, the Statue has been made by a Prince named Aggabodhi. The Buddha statue is 14.5m tall and it has carved out of a single limestone. Initially, there had been an image house surrounding this statue and the foundation of it can still be seen today. At about 500 m to the southeast, there is another statue called Dambegoda Bodhisattva Statue. According to the Mahavamsa, this statue has been Read more...
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Buduruwagala is an ancient Buddhist temple located in Monaragala District of Uva Province, Sri Lanka. The Sinhalese name “Buduruwagala” has the meaning of “the rock of Buddhist Sculpture”. As the name suggests, the main attraction of this site is the rock with seven statues including the tallest standing Buddha statue in Sri Lanka. The standing Buddha image sculptured at the center is 51 feet tall, making it the tallest in Sri Lanka. On the right of the Standing Buddha image are the sculptures of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisatva, Goddess Tara, Prince Sudhana and on the left are the sculptures of Maitree Bodhisatva, Read more...
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The Girihandu Seya stupa is located in Thiriyaya in Trincomalee District of Eastern Province, Sri Lanka. According to the legend, this is the stupa mentioned in the story of Thapassu and Bhalluka two traders. As such, it is considered to be the first Stupa built by enshrining the relic of Lord Buddha and probably it was built around 528 B.C. The stupa was originally a small in size and had been renovated in the 8th century A.D. The Vatadage encircling stupa was built during the renovation. External Links Thiriyaya Girihandu Seya Thiriyaya – Department of Archaeology Read more...
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The Rajagala Monastery is a sacred site in which history dates back to the Advent of Arhath Mahinda Thera. This place is in the Uhana area of the Ampara District in Eastern Province, Sri Lanka. The archaeological excavation is still underway and it is one of the largest archaeological sites in Sri Lanka with 1025 acres. The rock inscription found here regarding the Arhat Mahinda Thera is the most valued inscription of archaeological interest. According to the archaeological discoveries, the area had been inhabited from the prehistoric times. You can read more about this site from the external links given below. Read more...
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Demalamaha Seya is an ancient stupa built by the King Parakramabahu (1153-1186). It is located in the main archaeological site in the Polonnaruwa District of North Central Province, Sri Lanka. As it was described in the ancient chronicle Mahawansa, the stupa named “Demalamaha Seya” was with a height of approximately 1300 cubit (594.36 m). Presently this brick built stupa has a perimeter of 600 m and height of 25.65 m. The excavation and the conservation project of the Demalamaha Seya was commenced by the Central Cultural Fund in 2014. n.b. These photos were taken in October 2017 External Links Bringing back Read more...
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The Lovamahapaya is one of the Eight Sacred places known as “Atamasthana” and it is located in the Sacred City of Anuradhapura in North Central Province, Sri Lanka. When you walk towards Ruwanweliseya from Sri Maha Bodhiya, The Lovamahapaya can be seen on your right-hand side. According to the Mahawamsa, the Lowamahapaya was a nine-story building and It was built by the King Dutugemunu (161-137 BC). You can read more about this place by visiting the external links given below. Photo Credit: Balou46, ChampikaG External Links: King Dutugemunu’s gracious gift to Maha Sangha The Entrance Into the Tusita-Heaven Read more...
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Tivanka Image House is identified as the image house of Jetavanaramaya Monastery built by the King Parakramabahu the Great (1153 – 1186). It is located in the main archaeological site of Polonnaruwa District in North Central Province, Sri Lanka. The name Tivanka (means three bends) is given due to its giant Buddha image is bent at three places, namely shoulder, hip, and knee. The image house is famous due to the paintings on its interior walls. The paintings belong to the 12th century and they depict certain incidents from Jataka Stories and the life of Buddha. Like Thuparamaya and Lankathilaka, this image Read more...
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Baddhasima Prasadaya is the Pohoyageya or Uposathagharaya (Chapter House) of the monks of Alahana Piriwena where they rehearsed the codes of discipline (Especially the pati mokka). It is located in Polonnaruwa District of North Central Province, Sri Lanka. The remaining pillars and brick walls suggest that there had been a multi-storied building and according to the Mahavamsa, there had been a twelve storied building. As such, this may be the largest of the Uposathaghara in the Island. The central Platform of the building was to locate the relic casket while four monks seated on the stone pedestal facing the cardinal directions read the code of Read more...
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Hatadage is an ancient shrine in the Polonnaruwa District of North Central Province, Sri Lanka. It was built by the King Nissanka Malla (1187-1196 A.D.). This had been used to place the sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha. According to historical sources, the shrine has built in sixty hours. The English translation of the Sinhalese word “Hata” is sixty, represent the duration of the construction period and the word “Dage” has the meaning of “relic shrine”. The remaining features of the building for today, evidence that the shrine was originally a two-story building. The shrine is 120 ft in length Read more...