Matale Rusigama Dethispalaruha Rajamaha Viharaya (මාතලේ රුසිගම දෙතිස්ඵලරුහ රජමහා විහාරය)

Rusigama is a small town close to Pallepola town in Udupola Udusiyapattuwa in the Matale District. Rusigama (Ariyagama) Dethispalaruha Bodhiraja Maha Viharaya, popularly known as Rusigama Rajamaha Viharaya is an ancient temple hidden inside this village.

You can reach this temple from the road connecting Galewela and Matale across Pallepola. Passing Pallepola and traveling towards Matale for 1.5 km you will come across Kurakade Junction. The temple lies 3 km on the Rusigama road starting from Kurakade Junction.

The name Rusigama is believed to have originated due to the settlement of sages in the past. Two inscriptions belonging to the pre-Christian period have been found. These 2 inscriptions record the donation of caves to the Sangha (Wikramagamage,2004).

Inscription 1 : Parumaka-Sumanakasa lene
The cave of the chief Sumanaka

Inscription 2 : Gapati-Cudutara-puta Gutasa lene sagasa dine
The cave of Gutta, son of the householder Cunduttara, is given to the Sangha

Rusigama was also one of the sites selected by King Devanampiyatissa (250 BCE to 210 BCE) to plant one of the Dethis Pala Ruha Bodhi Trees, one of the very first 40 saplings of the Sri Maha Bodhi of Anuradhapura.

References

1. Paranavitana, S. (1970) Inscriptions of Ceylon | Volume I | Containing Cave Inscriptions From 3rd Century B.C. to 1st Century A.C. And Other Inscriptions In the Early Brahml Script Vol I). Colombo: Department of Archaeology.
2. Wikramagamage, C., (2004). Heritage of Rajarata: Major natural, cultural, and historic sites. Colombo. Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
3. Chandananda, M. (2021) ‘අටඵලරුහ දෙතිස්ඵලරුහ බෝ පුවත හා ඵෙතිහාසික මාතලේ රුසිගම බෝ පුවත පිලිබඳ විමර්ශනයක්’, පුරාවිදු වැලිපිල ඒකාබද්ධ පුරා විද්‍යා උපාධිධාරි සංගමයේ ත්‍රෛමාසික විද්‍යුත් සඟරාව , 2(4), pp. 9–13.

Also See

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

Map of Matale Rusigama Dethispalaruha Rajamaha Viharaya

Travel Directions to Matale Rusigama Dethispalaruha Rajamaha Viharaya

Route from Matale town to Rusigama Dethispalaruha Rajamaha Viharaya

Through : Kavudupalella Distance : 21 km Travel Time : 45 mins Driving Directions : see on Google map