Balaharuwa Rajamaha Viharaya Archaeological Site

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Balaharuwa, a village steeped in history, has existed since ancient times. According to R.L. Brohier (1965/2000, p. 125), it once served as the district headquarters of the Gonbadde Dissava. The Dissava’s primary responsibility was to maintain royal cattle pens with the finest livestock bred in the surrounding countryside for the Sinhalese kings.

At the heart of the village lies the Balaharuwa Wewa, an ancient reservoir that was restored in 1956. This renovation allowed the surrounding lands to be cultivated once again, bringing prosperity to local farmers. At one end of the reservoir’s bund stands the Balaharuwa Rajamaha Viharaya, a present-day temple. Adjacent to the new temple are the ruins of a much older monastic complex.

The Stupa and Image House

As described by Sumanasekara Banda (1986, pp. 8–11), the most prominent feature among the ruins is a large, now-dilapidated stupa with a circumference of approximately 315 feet. What makes this stupa particularly unusual is the presence of eight rows of stone steps embedded directly into its wall—an architectural feature not seen in any other known stupa. The topmost step is quite large, measuring 6 feet 8 inches long, 8 feet wide, and 8 inches thick, though it does not appear to be a flower altar. At the base of these steps were two ancient guard stones shaped like snakes, devoid of any guardian carvings—another sign of their considerable antiquity.

It remains unclear why the steps were built in such a manner, pressed into the stupa itself. A full understanding of the stupa ‘s structure will only be possible once a proper archaeological excavation is conducted.

Nearby, parts of an image house stood. One wall remained mostly intact—16 feet in length, 2 feet 10 inches thick, and standing to a height of 16 feet. Built using bricks and a cement-like mortar, the wall was supported by a stone pillar rising 8 feet 10 inches above ground level. Surrounding the image house were four square stone pillars, each measuring about 11 inches on one side, spaced 20 feet 9 inches apart, suggesting a roughly square layout.

One of the bricks used in this structure was measured to be 1 foot 3 inches long, 9 inches wide, and 2 feet 5 inches thick. The base of the image house was quite wide but remains partially buried, making it difficult to determine the full dimensions of the structure.

Other Structures on the Rocks

The surrounding area features several rocky outcrops, many of which were clearly used for construction. On top of a rock about five feet high stood the remnant of a square building, approximately 17 feet long and 6 inches wide. This structure, believed to have been a devalaya (shrine), was reduced to a few remaining walls, standing only about a foot high and 2 feet 6 inches thick, built with bricks and mortar.

Other nearby buildings, made mostly of stone, were mostly reduced to their foundations. One structure measured 20 feet in length and 15 feet 6 inches in width, while another, even larger, was a square building measuring 25 feet on each side. This second structure appeared to have once been enclosed by a stone wall, one section of which extends for 85 feet. Close to these remains, the ruins of a small stupa could also be seen.

Decorative Stonework and Rock Pools

On another rock, elaborately carved stone pillars were discovered. Notably, there are stone steps adorned with carving of dwarfs (vamana). These steps were carved from limestone similar to that found at Maligawila, a material not easy to work with. Three dwarf figures appeared every one foot nine inches along a step that measured 5 feet 8 inches in length and 10 inches in width. The dwarf carvings themselves were 5 inches high and 8 inches wide, sculpted onto a 7-inch face of the step. A total of eight such steps were discovered.

Several ruined buildings also stood atop this rock, and a large, deep pool (kema) stood nearby. Remarkably, the pool reportedly never dries up, even during dry periods.

All across this landscape, nearly every hilltop held signs of ancient structures, indicating that this area once supported a thriving and active religious and possibly residential community.

The Need for Updated Study

Given that the available report dates back over 40 years, the current state of these archaeological remains is uncertain. Further investigation and updated documentation are needed to fully understand the historical and cultural significance of the Balaharuwa ruins.

References

Brohier, R. L. (2000). Seeing Ceylon in vistas of scenery, history, legend and folklore. Sooriya Publishers. (Original work published 1965)
Sumanasekara Banda, S. J. (1986). ඌවේ දායාද (1st ed.). Sarvodaya Vishwa Lekha.

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