Galvehera Maluwa Viharaya at Ahungalla (අහුන්ගල්ල ගල්වෙහෙර මළුව විහාරය)

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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 was called Weliganga (Sandy River) and the area where the river falls to sea has been called Welithota. Bodhiwansa and a number of other ancient texts state that King Gotabhaya, the third Ruhuna Ruler after King Mahanaga, built a temple at Welithota near the Weliganga called Waluka Thitta Viharaya which is believed to be this temple. This temple has also been called Embalawa Rahath Gal Vehera.

During the reign of King Parakrambahu II (13th century) of Dambadeniya Kingdom ( 1220–1354), Ruhuna was under the control of a powerful minister called Devapathiraja. It is said that he built a granite stupa at this temple and this area was called Galvehera due to this reason.

Almost after 50 years of appeals to the Archeological Department to carry out a methodical study of these ruins, a Buddhist donor has taken up the matter and developed the temple from his private funds. He has also diverted his private funds toward the archeology department in order the carry out a proper archeological study of this temple.

It is said that a large number of pillars, blocks of rock, toilet covers and foundations, all made or carved out of stone litter the private properties surrounding the temple which are probably remains of  Buddhist buildings of a large temple complex in the ancient past.

The highlight of this temple complex is the recently discovered ancient Bodhigara ( Bo-Tree house) made out of granite which has been restored to some level. This Bo Tree House has been built with openings on 3 sides for worshipping.

It is believed this Bodhigara goes back to the days of King Devanampiyatissa (250-210 BC) when he is said to planted the last of the of the 32 samplings (Dethispala Bodhi)  from the Sri Maha Bodhi in this area.

The excavations have also discovered a 300-year-old temple, parts of an ancient limestone Buddha statue, ancient coins, nails etc. The marker on the Google map below indicates the presumed location of the temple in the Galvehera area.

Alternate names : Galwehera Maluwa, Gal Vehera Maluwa, Gal Wehera Maluwa

Also See

Map of the Ahungalla Galvehera Maluwa Viharaya

Please click on the button below to load the Dynamic Google Map (ගූගල් සිතියම් පහලින්)
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The map above also shows other places of interest within a approximately 20 km radius of the current site. Click on any of the markers and the info box to take you to information of these sites

Zoom out the map to see more surrounding locations using the mouse scroll wheel or map controls.

Driving Directions to Ahungalla Galvehera Maluwa Viharaya

The exact location of the temple is not known. The route below directs you to Galvehera Village in Ahungalla

Route from Colombo to Ahungalla Galvehera Maluwa Viharaya
Though : Moratuwa – Panadura – Kalutara
Distance : 77 km
Travel time : 1.5 hours (without traffic)
Driving directions : see on Google map

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