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Image courtesy of Dr. Ashan Geeganage
According to Chronicles, Gokanna Viharaya was built by Mahasen in the 3rd century at the top of the rock where the Koneswaram Kovil stands today. Trincomalee (Gokanna) being one of the busiest ports in the past, the temple also grew with the support of the rulers at various times.
In 1505, the Portuguese landed in Sri Lanka and under their control, Buddhist Temples were ransacked, valuables looted, burnt and destroyed in the name of Jesus Christ.
De Queyroz, a Portuguese historian says that the Gokana Vihara was a Buddhist temple until it was destroyed by the Portuguese in the 16th century. According to him the Pagoda or the Stupa of the temple was destroyed by Portuguese Trincomalee’s ruler Costantino da Sa while Buddhist monks were still in residence there.
The old Gokanna Viharaya gradually became a site for the Hindus to worship and the current Kovil was built in 1856 any Buddhist heritage of this site is now buried under the foundations of the Konesvaram Temple lost forever.
The new Gokanna Viharaya now lies inside Fort Fredrick on the North of the point close to the fort entrance of the fort. A few Buddhist artefacts which have been unearthed at various times have found a }}}}}home in this new temple.
Also See
Map of Gokanna Viharaya at Trincomalee
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Travel Directions to Gokanna Viharaya at Trincomalee
| Route from Trincomalee (railway station) to Gokanna Viharaya |
| Through : Distance : 3.5 km Travel time : 20 minutes Driving directions : see on Google map |
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