Bambaragala Rajamaha Viharaya at Waduwawa – වඩුවාව බඹරගල රජමහා විහාරය

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The main cave temple of Waduwawa Bambaragala Rajamaha Viharaya
The main cave temple of Waduwawa Bambaragala Rajamaha Viharaya

Bambaragala Rajamaha Viharaya is an ancient temple lying at a bottom of a large rock known as Bambaragala in the village of Waduwawa in Polgahawela.

It is said that a rock sculptor (Gal Waduwa) was imprisoned at the top of the Dambadeniya Rock by the king Parakramabahu II (1244 -1279) .  His wife was allowed to send him food tied to a rope. One day the wife managed to send him a chisel and a hammer hidden in the food to her husband. The sculptor had managed to cut steps all the way to the bottom of the rock in a single night and gone in to hiding. The area where this ‘Gal Waduwa’ had hidden later came to known as Waduwawa.

The rock Bambaragala is a long and narrow rock stretching along the south east direction for about 600 meters and  is said to got its name due to large wasp (Bambara) nests found underneath its natural ledges. The Bambaragala Temple lies at the foot of this rock. The main image house is a large cave temple and 12 more caves have been discovered south of the main cave.  Brahmi inscriptions has been discovered on one of these caves.

No evidence has been discovered on the origin of this temple but it is believed that the temple has been in existence since the Anuradhapura kingdom. The current temple is definitely of recent origin, of Kandyan Era.

Also See

Map of Waduwawa Bambaragala Rajamaha 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 Waduwawa Bambaragala Rajamaha Viharaya

Route from Colombo to Waduwawa Bambaragala Rajamaha Viharaya

Route from Kurunegala to Waduwawa Bambaragala Rajamaha Viharaya

Though : Kadawatha – Yakkala – Alawwa – Ambepussa – Polgahawela
distance :78 km
Travel time : 2-2.5  hours.
Driving directions : see on google map
Though : Polgahawela
distance :26  km
Travel time : 30- 40 mins
Driving directions : see on google map

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