Vijithapura Rajamaha Viharaya (විජිතපුර රජමහා විහාරය)
Vijithapura Raja Maha Viharaya is believed to be built on the winning grounds of the last battle of King Dutugemunu against the Tamil Invader Elara.
Anuradhapura District
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Thalaguru Rajamaha Viharaya (තලගුරු රජමහා විහාරය)
Historical evidence suggests that Talaguru Rajamaha Viharaya’s origins trace back to the reign of King Saddhatissa (137–119 BCE). The Rasavahini chronicle records that Arahant Dhammadinna Thero resided here and preached the Satipatthana Sutta to a group of fruit bats (kiri-vavula). It is said that the bats attained Arahantship, passed away, and were reborn in the surrounding area.
Thanthirimale Rajamaha Viharaya (තන්තිරිමලේ රජමහා විහාරය)
Thanthirimale Rajamaha Viharaya is a 3rd-century BCE monastery near Anuradhapura, famous for its 2,300-year-old Bodhi tree and massive rock-carved Buddhas. This 250-acre sanctuary features a 45-foot reclining statue, ancient meditation caves with Brahmi inscriptions, and an ancient library, all set within a serene, boulder-strewn forest landscape.
Ritigala Forest Monastey Ruins (රිටිගල ආරණ්ය සේනාසනය නටබුන්)
Ritigala Ruins decorative urinal These are at least 70 caves at Ritigala which were prepared for monks between the 1st century BCE and the early centuries CE.
Kotagala Kotasara Sri Piyangalu Rajamaha Viharaya (කොටාගල ශ්රී කොටසර පියංගලු රජමහා විහාරය)
After traveling 12 kilometers to Kekirawa and another 12 kilometers to Dambulla from Kekirawa in the District of Anuradhapura, Kotagala Sri Piyangalu Raja Maha Viharaya can be seen.
Jathika Namal Uyana (ජාතික නාමල් උයන)
Jathika Namal Uyana is Asia’s largest ironwood forest and pink quartz mountain range, spanning 260 acres near Dambulla. This 550-million-year-old geological marvel features seven shimmering ridges, ancient monastery ruins, and a diverse ecosystem of medicinal herbs, offering a serene blend of prehistoric nature and spiritual history.
Kinihiri Kanda Rajamaha Viharaya (කිනිහිරිකන්ද රජ මහා විහාරය)
Built during 1st Century BC, Kinihiri Kanda Rajamaha Viharaya is a series of 24 caves on the 550 feet tall Kinihiri mountain in Dambulla. The top of Kinihiri mountain has a rounded-shape. Inside the largest of the cave complex, lies a 26-foot long Buddha Statue.
Isinbassagala Ruwangiri Rajamaha Viharaya (ඉසින්බැස්සගල රුවන්ගිරි රජමහා විහාරය)
Traveling 1.4 kilometres (0.9 miles) passing the small town of Medawachchiya on the A9 (Kandy-Jaffna) highway, u will come across this beautiful stupa situated on top of a large rock and a name board claiming the name of “Isinbassagala”. The name loosely translate to “the rock that the sage came from”.
Hatthikuchchi Monastic Complex / Rajanganaya Ruins (හත්ථිකුච්ජි විහාරය)
Located in the picturesque landscape covering 300 acres, Hatthikuchchi Aramic complex ( also referred as Hatthikucchi, Hastikuchchi, Hasti Kuchchi) dates back to 3 rd century BC. But this location is most famous as the place that exiled king Sirisangabo offered his own head to a pheasant.
Handagala Kanda Ancient Cave Temple (හඳගලකන්ද ලෙන් විහාරය)
A lesser known place that lay mostly in ruins today is situated in a serene forest-clad area in a village called Ratmalgahawewa 22 miles north-east of Anuradhapura. This sacred site called Handagala cave temple could be reached by proceeding about two miles from Ratmalgahawewa junction on the Kebitigollewa road and continuing westwards for another two miles.
Halmillewa Chandrasara Forest Hermitage (චන්ද්රසාර ගුහාව වන සෙනසුණ)
The Chandrasara Forest Hermitage is situated at the remote village of Halmillewa. This village can be reached from the Thalawa – Kekirawa Road.
Kahatagasdigiliya Sri Gonagiri Rajamaha Viharaya (ගෝනගිරි රජමහා විහාරය)
A little beyond the town of Kahatagasdigiliya, my destination, is the historic Gonagiri Rajamaha Viharaya which rises majestically against the backdrop of huge rock boulder.
Sakwala Chakraya or the STARGATE of Ranmasu Uyana, Sri Lanka (සක්වල චක්රය)
Sakwala Chakraya, the “Universe Cycle” at Ranmasu Uyana, is a mysterious 6-foot circular rock carving. Often called a “Stargate,” this ancient chart features concentric rings and strange geometric symbols. While some view it as a map for interstellar travel, archaeologists suggest it is an early cosmographical map of the universe.
Ruins of the Ancient Hospital Complex of Mihintale (මිහින්තලා ආරාමයේ පැරණි වෙදහල නටබුන්)
The ruins of the present Hospital Complex is attributed to King Sena II (853-887 AD). But it is believed that there was a hospital at Mihintale long before this building. The inner Chamber of the hospital is centered around a Buddha Shrine.
Ambastala Dagaba (Sela Chethiya) and the Vatadage (අම්බස්තල දාගැබ)
Climbing up the 1,840 steps of Mihintale, this is the first relic which comes to view once you reach the upper terrace of Mihintale Complex. Ambastala Dagaba (also called Sela Chethiya) believed to be built by by King Mahadatika Mahanaga (09-21 AC) on the exact place where the great Mahinda Thero met the King Devanampiyatissa.
Rajagiri Kanda of Mihintale (රජගිරි කන්ද)
Rising prominently above the surrounding plains are the unusually bald boulders of the Rajagiri Kanda or the mountain of the kings. This is accessible from the road almost directly in front of the entrance to the Kaludiya pokuna complex.
Mihindu Guhawa : The Cave of Arhat Mahinda (මිහිඳු ගුහාව)
When one climbs down about three hundred yards on to the eastern side passing the site of the Sila Cetiya at Mihintale, one reaches a stone slab sheltered by another rock called Mihindu Guhawa.
Mihintale Maha Seya (මිහින්තලේ මහා සෑය)
From whichever road you are traveling to Mihintale your first sight is almost always the Mihintale Maha seya, the largest and the most conspicuous stupa built half way up the Mihintale mountain.
Kantaka Chethiya at Mihintale (මිහින්තලේ කන්ථක චෛත්යය)
Kantaka Chethiya in Mihintale is one of Sri Lanka’s most architecturally significant stupas, dating back to at least the 2nd century BCE. While it was once a forgotten mound of debris, its 1930s restoration revealed some of the finest examples of early Anuradhapura-period craftsmanship, particularly its world-class vahalkada.
Indikatu Seya Monastery Complex at Mihintale (මිහින්තලේ ඉඳිකටු සෑය ආරාමය)
Indikatu Seya is a monastery complex lying within the lager Mihintale Complex. A stone parapet encloses the monastic establishment identified as the Indikatu Seya monastery. According the legend the smithy instruments and tools used in the construction of Mihintale Monastery is enshrined in this stupa.