Harasgala Gallen Viharaya in Mahaoya (මහඔය හරස්ගල ගල්ලෙන් විහාරය පුරාවිද්‍යා භූමිය)

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Harasgala is a massive rocky outcrop in the village known by the same name on the Mahaoya – Padiyathalawa Road, about 7 km from the Mahaoya Junction. The Harsgala Gallen Viharaya, the current Buddhist temple is built upon an ancient aramaic complex which probably has a history going back to the period of king Saddhatissa (137-119 BC) of Anuradhapura kingdom who was the regional ruler of the Digamadulla Kingdom during the reign of king Dutugemunu.

The temple lies at the foot of the Harasgala rock, about 800 meters away from the Mahaoya – Padiyathalawa road. The collection of ancient drip ledge caves used by the meditating monks thousands of years ago on the temple premises were declared as a protected archaeological site by the Government with the Gazette issued on 10th October 2014, and describes the location as follows ;

“All drip ledged caves at the premises of Harasgala Gallen vihara (Latitude 07º 46573′ N and longitude 081º 32880′ E) belonging to Harasgala village situated in Grama Niladhari Division Kekirihena in the Divisional Secretary’s Division Mahaoya in Ampara District in Eastern Province. “

Above text point to a GPS location about 2.5 kms away from the marker shown on the map. This is probably an oversight by the printers of the gazette and the marker has been moved to the corrected point.

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Map of Mahaoya Harasgala Gallen Viharaya

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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

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Travel Directions to Mahaoya Harasgala Gallen Viharaya

Route from Mahaoya to Harasgala Gallen Viharaya
Through : Mahaoya – Padiyathalawa Road
Distance :8.5  km
Travel time : 15 mins
Time to spent : 30 mins
Driving directions : see on google map

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