Mahathalakolawewa Rajamaha Viharaya in Medirigiriya (මැදිරිගිරිය මහතලාකොලවැව රජමහා විහාරය)

Mahathalakolawewa village is an remote village surrounded by jungles in Medirigirya area. According to legend, the Mahathalakolawewa Rajamaha Viharaya in this remote village has been a temporary home to the Right Tooth Relic of Buddha before it was enshrined in the Somawathi Chaithya.

Granite ruins of a ancient image house can be still found at this temple. A large headless statue of a standing Buddha carved out of granite lies fallen in the middle of these ruins. The head of this statue is believed be stolen by treasure looters.

Recent excavations carried out by the Central Cultural Fund  at the temple has  discovered that it has been a large complex with number of buildings going as far as 1st Century BC.

Mahathalakolawewa Rajamaha Viharaya Dig Reveals Evidence of Human Habitation in the 1st century BC

The on-going excavations in the Mahathalakolawewa (Mahathalakola Wewa) Rajamaha Viharaya archaeological site has brought to light that even before the capital was shifted to Polonnaruwa, development activities had been implemented in the area. It also indicated that human habitats had existed in the area even during the First Century BC- the Anuradhapura Period. The researchers had also found clear evidence of historic bi-lateral relations between Sri Lanka and China.

Director General of the Central Cultural Fund Prof. Prishantha Gunawardene said the finds included those similar to the archaeological remains found in Anuradhapura. He said debris of earthen vessels, pieces of oars, parts of furnaces and pieces of Chinese porcelain plates were among the finds. He said that Polonnaruwa had been well developed and industrialised during the Anuradhapura Period.

“We have found evidence of a large building complex including a monastery and a shrine room at the Medirigiriya archaeological site. This traditional belief is that the Sacred Right Tooth Relic of the Buddha had been enshrined in it before it was placed in the Somawathi Cheithiya. The Chinese ceramic ware belonged to the 8th or 9th century BC. We found similar archaeological remains during excavations in the Alahana Pirivena project.  This is a clear indication of centuries long bi-lateral relations between Sri Lanka and China,” the professor said.

The marker points to only approximate area of the temple.

Also See

• Ancient Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka
• Other Places of Interest Within Close Proximity

Map of  Medirigiriya Mahathalakolawewa Rajamaha Viharaya

Travel Directions to Medirigiriya Mahathalakolawewa Rajamaha Viharaya

Route from Medirigiriya to Rajamaha Viharaya

Time to Spend : 30   minutes Distance :34  km Travel time : 1 hour Driving directions : see on google map