Heritage

Budugehinna Rajamaha Viharaya (බුදුගේහින්න නාග මහා විහාරය)

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– The Temple That Is Called Punchi Dambulla Len Viharaya –

Inside the smaller Image House at Budugehinna Rajamaha Viharaya
Image courtesy of Dr. Ashan Geeganage

Budugehinna Rajamaha Viharaya, locally better known as the “Punchi Dambulla Len Viharaya” due its resemblance to the popular Dambulla Cave Temple, lies 14 km off the Galewela town.

The temple is said to have been occupied by Buddhist monks since the 3rd century BCE but the current temple was built during the Kandian Era. The main image house is built underneath a long cave filled with Buddha images. 2 parallel drip ledges, 3 feet apart have been cut into the cave to avoid water dripping in the cave. An inscription lies between these two drip ledges.

Inside the cave lies a multitude of images belonging to the Kandyan era. One standing image is carved out of granite, which probably belongs to the Anuradhapura period. This image was destroyed by treasure hunters some time ago but is now restored.

On a higher area from the main image house lies another smaller charming cave image house also of the Kandyan era. On the grounds of the cave temple lies a large oil lamp made of a granite block and some Siripathul Gal (carved footprint of Buddha). The Siripathul stone was used as an object of worship before statues were built to represent Buddha.

Budugehinna Rajamaha Viharaya can be reached along the Galewala – Kalawewa road close to the 32-kilometer post and close to the Devahuwa colonization scheme.

The long image house underneath the cave resembling the Dambulla Temple at Budugehinna Rajamaha Viharaya

The main image house of Budugehinna Rajamaha Viharaya

The granite Buddha statue of at the main image house of Budugehinna Rajamaha Viharaya

The smaller Image House at Budugehinna Rajamaha Viharaya

Also See

Map of Budugehinna Rajamaha Viharaya

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

Show Location (ගූගල් සිතියම)

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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Traveling Direction To Budugehinna Rajamaha Viharaya

Route from Colombo to Budugehinna Rajamaha Viharaya	Route from Dambulla to Budugehinna Rajamaha Viharaya
Though : Kurunegala – Galewela distance : 151 km Travel time : 4 hours Driving directions : see on google map	distance : 16 km Travel time : 30 mins Driving directions : see on google map

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