Heritage

Rotumba Budugala Rajamaha Viharaya (රොටුඹ බුදුගල රජමහා විහාරය)

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The image house built in 1904 in Rotumba Budugala Rajamaha Viharaya
photo by : Central Cultural Fund – Matara

The Budugala Rajamaha Viharaya which we are exploring in this article lies in Rotumba in the Morawaka Korale. The temple has been built utilizing several natural rock caves on a rocky outcrop. According to legend, this cave temple was built by King Watta Gamini Abhaya, better known as King Walagamba (89-77 BC) of Anuradhapura kingdom.

Today you can see two caves with images. One of these was renovated in 1904 by Don Thomas Jasin Disanayake (දොන් තෝමස් ජාසිං දිසානායක) after discovering it covered in jungle. The complete cave temple including the 18 cubit (riyan) reclining Buddha statue was built during this era.

Behind this cave temple, another cave is found. An ancient 24-cubit clay reclining Buddha statue has been turned into just a crumbling mound of clay with a wooden Siraspatha (headdress) by its side. This is probably the oldest artefact of the building.

Furthermore, iron slag has been discovered in another cave and a large Brahmi rock inscription is found at the temple. The content of the original inscription has been repeated below the original probably by a priest who had realized that the original is washed away by time and weather. Based on this inscription, it is believed that this has been an adobe of a group of Maha Rahaths in the ancient past.

The washed out ancient reclining Buddha statue at Rotumba Budugala Rajamaha Viharaya

The Brahmi Inscriptions at Rotumba Budugala Rajamaha Viharaya

Also See

Map of Rotumba Budugala Rajamaha Viharaya

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

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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 Directions to Rotumba Budugala Rajamaha Viharaya

Route from Akuressa to Rotumba Budugala Rajamaha Viharaya

Through : Pitabeddara
Time to spend – 30 – 60 minutes
Distance : 30 km
Travel time : 1 hour
Driving directions : see on Google map

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Also See

Map of Rotumba Budugala Rajamaha Viharaya

Traveling Directions to Rotumba Budugala Rajamaha Viharaya

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