Hangamuwa Rajamaha Viharaya | AmazingLanka.com

RATE THIS LOCATION : 1 Star

(14 votes, average: 3.14 out of 5)

Ruins at the Hangamuwa Rajamaha Viharaya

Hidden amid the rocky hills of Hangamuwa lies an ancient monastery that once thrived over 2,000 years ago. From serene cave shrines to centuries-old inscriptions and ponds carved in stone, this forgotten sanctuary still whispers the timeless legacy of Sri Lanka’s early Buddhist civilization.

The Hangamuwa Archaeological Site lies within the Hangamuwa Grama Niladhari Division (No. 387) in the Polpithigama Divisional Secretariat of the Kurunegala District. It is located about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) past Kumbukgete on the Kurunegala–Madagala main road and roughly 2 kilometers south of the Hangamuwa Junction along a side road.

Ancient Monastic Origins

The site features rock caves with drip ledges designed to prevent rainwater from seeping inside, which were used by meditating monks between the 3rd century BCE and 1st century CE. By the mid-Anuradhapura period, the area had developed into a full-fledged monastery, evidenced by remains of stupas, image houses, monk residences, and ponds dating from the 4th to 7th centuries CE.

An inscription in medieval Sinhala script from the 8th–10th centuries CE refers to this site as Hakara Vahara or Boralu Viharaya. Excavations in the temple courtyard unearthed a metal Bodhisattva statue dating to around the 7th century CE, confirming that the monastery flourished for several centuries before falling into disuse.

Architectural and Archaeological Remains

To the north of the present temple lies the ruin of a stupa, about 7 meters (23 feet) in diameter and 2 meters (6.5 feet) high, resting on a 40-centimeter (1.3-foot) high square platform. Approximately 40 meters (131 feet) east of it stands a ruined image house measuring 10 by 7 meters (33 by 23 feet), with its main entrance facing west. South of this building is a drip-ledged cave.

Excavations in 1964–65 revealed several stone pillars standing 2 meters (6 feet 8 inches) high, a flight of stone steps, and a finely polished plain moonstone. On the opposite rock surface, three Brahmi inscriptions were identified, one of which is a Vaharala inscription dating to the 8th–10th centuries CE.

Monastic Hydraulics and Artifacts

About 20 meters (66 feet) west of the cave lies an ancient oval-shaped pond, featuring a stone staircase leading down from the northeast. The design allows rainwater to flow into a second pond located nearby. To the west, another square-shaped pond can be found. Scattered throughout the site are relics including a stone flower altar, a Siripathul stone (footprint of the Buddha), moonstones, and Korawakgal (balustrades).

Inscriptions at Hangamuwa

The site also contains several inscriptions from the 5th to 7th centuries CE and others written in medieval script from the 9th–10th centuries CE. The inscription in medieval script has been published in Inscriptions of Ceylon, Volume V.

ස්වස්ති රනමා වැසි රියන්
මිත් හිමි ගෙබොවටා මපෙ –
ළ් කැර්වයි වැල්මිලවට් ර-
-න් කළ දී නැළියෙකැ බත් හිර් සන්ද් පවත්
නා තාක් පවත්නා කොට් ලහ බත් ර……..
හම්බු ……..
…….. මහමෙතෙ ……..

svasti Rajnamā väsi Riyan
mit himi Gebovață mape-
l kärvayi väl-milavaț ra-
-n kaļand dī näļiyekä bat hir sand pavat
nā tāk pavatnā kot lahabat ra….
hambu ……..
…….. Mahamete ……..

Translation
Blessings! Lord Riyan-mit who dwells in Rajnamā (pirivena) having caused the alms-hall to be built at Gebovață, and having paid (some) kalandas of gold as välmila for the purpose of purchasing salāka meals cooked of one näliya (of rice); the provision of this meals shall be continued till the sun and the moon last. gruel…..Mahamete

References

Dissanayake, S. B. (2024). 1016 වර්ෂය සඳහා පුරාවිද්‍යා අධ්‍යක්‍ෂක ජනරාල්ගේ පාලන වාර්තාව. Department of Archaeology, Sri Lanka.
Godakumbura, C. E. (1967). Administration Report of the Archaeological Commissioner for the financial year 1964-65: Part IV – Education, Science and Art (G). Government of Ceylon.
Ranawella, G. S. (2005). Inscriptions of Ceylon : Volume V Part III: Containing pillar inscriptions, slab inscriptions and rock inscription from 9th century to 10th century AD. Department of Archaeology, Sri Lanka.

Also See

Map of Hangamuwa Rajamaha Viharaya

Click on the button below to load the Dynamic Google Map

Show Location on Google Maps

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.

Traveling Directions to Hangamuwa Rajamaha Viharaya

Route from Colombo to Isinbassagala Ruwangiri Rajamaha Viharaya	Route from Anuradhapura Town to Isinbassagala Ruwangiri Rajamaha Viharaya
Though : Puttlam – Anuradhapura – Madawachchiya Distance :245 km Travel time : 3.15 – 4 hours Driving directions : see on google map	Distance : 36 km Travel time : 45 mins – 1 hour Driving directions : see on google map