Bentota Bodhimalu Rajamaha Viharaya (බෙන්තොට බෝධිමළු රජමහා විහාරය)

RATE THIS LOCATION :1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (2 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)
Loading...

Bentota is a resort town on Sri Lanka’s southwest coast. Its long Bentota Beach stretches north, where it becomes a sandy strip known as Paradise Island, parallel to Bentota Lagoon. Even though this town is now best known for its beaches, the history of this town goes as far as the 2nd century  BCE and has been a central city in the Buddhist civilisation in Sri Lanka.

Three hundred meters passing the Bentara Bridge, there is a road to the left called Circular Road which goes around the horseshoe shaped river. Five ancient Buddhist temples can be found along this route.

  1. Udakotuwa Bodhi Sameepa Rajamaha Viharaya
  2. Vanawasa Rajamaha Viharaya
  3. Bodhimalu Rajamaha Viharaya
  4. Galapatha Rajamaha Viharaya &
  5. Bemvehera Gane Rajamaha Viharaya

Although now operating as five different temples, it is believed that these 5 temples belonged to one large temple complex covering over 6 square kilometres in the ancient past. Based on archaeological studies, this temple complex has been found to be built by King Devanampiyatissa (250-210 BC) according to Mr. R. Ayrton, Commissioner of Archeology (1912-1913). During the reign of the Polonnaruwa kingdom, all five temples have been under the Galapatha Viharaya.

During the Portuguese occupation of the low country (1505 to 1658), this temple too faced the same fate as all other Buddhist temples in the coasted areas. Demolished and looted of all valuables by the Portuguese, this temple stayed hidden inside the jungles until it was re-discovered in mid 1800’s.

The Bodhi Sameepa Viharaya is the place where a secondary Bodhi Tree was located, Vanawasa Rajamaha Viharaya is where the Bikkus residential ‘Kuti’ were located, Bodhimaluwa Rajamaha Viharaya is where the sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhi was planted, the main image house and the relics of Maha Kasyapa Thero was enshrined at Galapatha Viharaya and Gane Rajamaha Viharaya is where the main Vehera (stupa) was located.

Bodhimalu Rajamaha Viharaya was built during the reign of the minister Devaprathiraja of the king Saddhatissa (137-119 BC) by the minister Devapathiraja.

The original Bodhi tree and Image House of Bodhimalu  Viharaya had fortunately escaped the Portuguese destruction can still be seen.  The image house of this temple is also unique. Generally, you will find statues of the two chief disciples, Sariyuth and Mugalan Theros beside the statue of Buddha. However, besides the huge seated Buddha statue at Bodhimalu Viharaya, you find two 18-cubit high statues of the deities of Vishnu and Kataragama. It was reported in 2017 that the building and the murals are decaying due to a lack of maintenance by the authorities.

Also See

Map of Bentota Bodhimalu Rajamaha Viharaya

Please click on the button below to load the Dynamic Google Map (ගූගල් සිතියම් පහලින්)
.

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.

Driving Directions to Bentota Bodhimalu Rajamaha Viharaya

Route from Colombo to Bentota Bodhimalu Rajamaha Viharaya Route from Bentota Bridge to Bodhimalu Rajamaha Viharaya
Via : Southern Expressway
Distance : 83 km
Travel time :1.45 hours
Driving directions : see on google map
Via : Bentota
Distance : 4 km
Travel time :10 minutes
Driving directions : see on Google Maps

© www.amazinglanka.com