(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
Loading...
Angaligala (also known as Anjaleehela, Anjalihela, Anjaleegala) is a Buddhist temple of the ancient Magama Kingdom lying in the picturesque remote village of Debarahela. The new temple as well as the ruins of the ancient temple lie on a rocky plain extending from north to south. Travelling from Thanamalwila towards Weerawila you will come across the turn-off to the Anjaligala Rajamaha Viharaya Temple after about 18 km. Turning at the marker of Department of Archaeology to the left travel a further 4 km to reach this temple.
Ruins of a heavily weathered and dilapidated stupa are found on the highest point of the rock, on the northern side. Other visible historical artefacts of the site comprise four inscriptions engraved on the natural rock boulders and two ruined building structures. The ruined buildings do not provide clues to understand the date of construction. According to the palaeographical analysis of three inscriptions, they can be ascribed to the first century CE. The fourth can be dated to the fourth century CE.
One inscription is made during the reign of King Sirimeghavanna (Kithsiri Mevan) (303-311 CE). This inscription was made at a Royal commemoration ceremony and reveals details of renovations carried out to this monastery located in the northern quarter of Mahagama. King Sirimeghavanna had also made a donation of kahavanu (gold coins) for the upkeep of this temple. Since this is in a fragment state, obtaining more meaningful information has been limited.
This place has been declared as a protected archaeological site by the Department of Archaeology of Sri Lanka.
photo and information by the curtsey of Dr. Ashan Geeganage
References
- Somadeva, R., 2006. URBAN ORIGINS IN SOUTHERN SRI LANKA. Doctoral Thesis in Archaeology. Uppsala University.
Also See
Map of Tissamaharama Anjaligala Rajamaha Viharaya Ruins
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.
Travel Directions to Tissamaharama Anjaligala Rajamaha Viharaya Ruins
| Route from Thanamalwila to Tissamaharama Anjaligala Rajamaha Viharaya Ruins |
| Through : Weerawila Road Distance : 21 km Travel time :30 minutes Driving directions : see on google map |
0-09 m (80) 10-19 m (69) 20-29 m (42) 30-39 m (47) 40-49 m (23) 50-99 m (43) Ambalama (152) Ancient Anicuts (31) Ashtapala Bodhi (5) Attraction Article (3) Attractions (197) Beaches (6) Biosphere Reserves (3) Botanical Gardens (3) Bridges (34) Caving (4) Church (6) Cities (9) Destinations (16) Dethis Pala Bodhi (15) Devalaya (41) Flora and Fauna (43) Forts (48) Heritage (1602) Heritage Article (28) Historic Events (5) History (7) Hot Springs (9) Hydro Heritage (85) Irrigation Article (4) Islands (15) Kovil (25) Lighthouses (27) Memorials (28) Mile Posts (6) Mosque (3) Museums (8) National Parks (22) over 100 m (15) Pabbatha Vihara (10) Personalities (7) Pillar/Slab Inscriptions (35) Pre Historic Burial Sites (18) Prehistory (37) Ravana (12) Reservoirs (44) Ruins in Wilpattu (5) Ruins in Yala (24) Santuaries (7) Sluice Gates (11) Stone Bridges (18) Strict Nature Reserves (3) Survey Towers (13) Tampita Vihara (238) Travel (3) View Points (9) Walawwa (12) Waterfalls (375) Wildlife Article (24) Yathuru Pokuna (4)
Abhayagiri Monastery (19) Ampara District (191) Anuradhapura District (194) Avissawella (4) Badulla (2) Badulla District (105) Batticaloa District (19) Buttala (2) Colombo (5) Colombo District (62) Dambulla (4) Delft (5) Galle (1) Galle District (56) Gampaha District (47) Hambantota (4) Hambantota District (99) India (1) Jaffna (7) Jaffna District (54) Kalutara District (47) Kandy District (177) Kegalle District (146) Kilinochchi District (9) Kingdom of Anuradhapura (80) Kingdom of Kandy (14) Kingdom of Kotte (9) Kingdom of Polonnaruwa (55) Kurunegala (5) Kurunegala District (110) Maha Vihara (14) Mannar District (47) Mannar Island (10) Matale (3) Matale District (63) Matara District (26) Mihintale (22) Monaragala (5) Monaragala District (70) Mullaitivu District (19) Nuwara Eliya (7) Nuwara Eliya District (108) Panama (1) Polonnaruwa District (107) Puttalam District (24) RAMSAR site (1) Ratnapura (4) Ratnapura District (142) Tissamaharama (2) Trincomalee (7) Trincomalee District (43) Vavuniya District (27) waterfalls in Sinharaja (3) Wellawaya (6)