Steeped in legend, this ancient Anamaduwa Nandimithra Nawawangu Rajamaha Viharaya was built by King Dutugemunu’s giant warrior, Nandimithra. Once featuring a unique nonagon stupa, the site now yields remarkable treasures, including a reconstructed 9th-century hollow-cast copper Buddha.
Jathika Namal Uyana is Asia’s largest ironwood forest and pink quartz mountain range, spanning 260 acres near Dambulla. This 550-million-year-old geological marvel features seven shimmering ridges, ancient monastery ruins, and a diverse ecosystem of medicinal herbs, offering a serene blend of prehistoric nature and spiritual history.
Nallur Kandaswamy Temple lies about 3 km from the Jaffna town on the KKS (Kankasanthurai) Road. This is one of the most important temples in the Jaffna Peninsula and the most well known.
Nalanda Gedige is situated one km to the east of the A9 route 20km north of Aluvihare. It is one of a number of remarkable archaeological sites in Sri Lanka that receive few tourists through no limitations of their own.
In a quiet out of the way spot almost hidden from human kind is the Nagolla Aramaya or the Gonmottawa Kanda Hermitage.
Nakuleswaram is situated north of the main town of Jaffna and is close to the Port City of Kankesanturai. It is dedicated to main deity in Saivism Lord Siva and is one of the five ancient Sivan temples in the island.
Nagolla Raja Maha Viharaya is thought to be built by King Vatta Gamini Abaya aka King Walagamba between 103 BC – 89BC, during his hiding from South Indian invaders.
Nagapooshani Amman Kovil on the island of Nainativu is a very ancient Hindu temple. It is believed that this temple was originally erected many millennia before by the Nagas who were a pre-historic race of people of Sri Lanka.
Lankapatuna Samudragiri Viharaya at Trincomalee is said to be lieing in the exact location where the Prince Dantha and Princess Hemamala landed in Sri Lanka with the tooth relic of the Buddha.
Miella (Myella) Kanda Ancient Caves lies deep inside elephant infested jungles of Monaragala District. The complex is covered with ancient ruins littering a wide area all of which has been destroyed by treasure hunters.
An Archaeology Department Board points to the turn off to the Muwapitiya Tampita Vihara, a short distance before reaching the Rambukkana town along the Kegalle road.
Muthiyangana Raja Maha Viharaya lies in the middle of the busy city of Baddulla in the Uva province. The History of this temple goes back to the time of Buddha
It is said that Pottuvil Muhudu Maha Viharaya is the place where Queen Vihara Maha Devi and her entourage were washed ashore and not at Kirinda.
Medirigiriya Vatadage is situated in a beautiful surrounding has a history going in to the pre-Christian times.
The Mawaragala monastery lies on top of a rocky mountain in the the midst of a 500-acre forest. The drip-ledge caves with brahmi inscriptions had been built on the slope of that mountain.
Maniyangama Raja Maha Viharaya or the Gala Yata Viharaya is a delightful cave temple attributed to King Valagamba of the 1st century BC. The temple has been renovated by King Kirthi Sri Rajasinghe (1747 – 1781 AD ) of Kandyan Kingdom.
Maragala Gallenagoda Len Viharaya cave is of medium size – being 20 feet long, 50 feet high and 40 feet broad having well chiselled drip ledges on the apex of these cave shelter.
Maligawila Buddha Statue is carved out of a single limestone rock and stands about 14.5 metres high. This is the tallest free standing buddha image in the ancient Sri Lanka. Dambegoda Bodhisattva statue, Another massive statue in the same complex stands 500 meters away.
Not far from Colombo, about two miles from the Tihariya junction turning to the right, we came to Maligatenne rock cave temple, our first destination. We could see a small dagaba, right on top of a high mountain, shining white amidst the green foliage, set against a clear blue sky.
A wise king got his illegitimate son ordained as a Buddhist monk at this very place called Magultenna where this clandestine love affair started. He built a Vihara later came to be called as Makuletenna Raja Maha Viharaya.
