Heritage

Mirahala Rajamaha Viharaya Archaeological Site in Bakmitiyawa (බක්මිටියාව මීරහල රජමහා විහාරය පුරාවිද්‍යා භූමිය)

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Dilapidated stupa of Miragala Rajamaha Viharaya
Photo courtesy of Dr. Ashan Geeganage

Bakmitiyawa in Damana is an extremely remote village in the Ampara District. Away from civilization, the villagers are chena farmers totally depending on the Duwiligala Oya which flows across their village for their water needs. Bakmitiyawa village was established over 200 years ago by a few families who fled to hide after the 1818 Uva–Wellassa rebellion against the British. The village has slowly grown but the Tamil LTTE Terrorists brutally killed about 60 villagers during the height of the terrorist activities. With the terrorist activities, most villagers have fled from this area during the last part of the 20th century.

Access to this village is from Kandaudapanguwa on the Siyambalanduwa – Wadinagala road or from Pannalagama. From Kandaudapanguwa, it is 17 km of gravel roads through paddy fields and chenas and 7 km of gravel roads from Pannalagama.

It is said that the name of the villagers in this area has been derived from Mee flowers thus the name “Mirahala” (Meerahala) was coined for the area. Mirahala Rajamaha Viharaya (Meerahala Rajamaha Viharaya) is an ancient temple complex in Bakmitiyawa with a history going back as far as 1st century BC to the times of King Saddhatissa.

The ancient stupa and other archaeological remains of the Mirahala Rajamaha Viharaya were declared as a protected archaeological site by the Government with the Gazette issued on 10th October 2014, and describes the location as follows ;

“Ancient Chaithya at Meerahala ancient vihara premises and other archaeological evidence in Meerahala village in Grama Niladari Division W/25/B Bakmitiyawa in Divisional Secretary’s Division, Damana in Ampara District in Eastern Province. (latitude 07º 38350′ N and longitude 081º 65840’E).”

Also See

Map of Mirahala Rajamaha Viharaya

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Travel Directions to Mirahala Rajamaha Viharaya

Route from Ampara to Mirahala Rajamaha Viharaya

Through : Damana
Distance : 47 km
Travel time : 1 hour
Time to spend : 30 mins
Driving directions : see on google map

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Also See

Map of Mirahala Rajamaha Viharaya

Travel Directions to Mirahala Rajamaha Viharaya

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