Ruins of the Image House of Maha Viharaya

Ruins of the Image House of the Maha Vihara Monastery

The newly uncovered Image House is situated just south of the southeast corner of Lovamahapaya. Adjacent to its southern side, extending from the Sri Maha Bodhi courtyard, lies Dikman Road, established during the English colonial period. The section of the road near the monument, now outside the Sri Maha Bodhi courtyard, serves as the Perahara road, recently constructed utilizing cement block stones.

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Ruins of Pankuliya Asokaramaya Temple

Asokaramaya : Pankuliya Buddha Statue (අසෝකාරාමය : පන්කුලිය සමාධි බුද්ධ ප්‍රතිමාව)

Asokaramaya is located in a beautiful surrounding in the village of Pankuliya. This is a fairly unknown site to the average pilgrim but has one of the best carved Buddha statues in the country today. This statute equals the quality of the famous Samadhi Statue and the Tholuvila statue (which is now kept in the Colombo museum).

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Tapovana Monastery (Western Monasteries) in Anuradhapura - අනුරාධපුර තපෝවනය

Western Monastery ‘H’ of Ancient Anuradhapura (අනුරාධපුර බටහිර ආරාමය H)

The main component of the hermitages of these monks were the padhanagaras or the meditation houses, which were beautifully built of well-proportioned and meticulously- dressed plain stone. The distinguishing feature of these monuments is that they are made up of two sections- a residential pasada or kuti at the back and an open platform or malaka in front- joined together by a relatively narrow passage or stone bridge. Its foundations were built in such a manner that a moat surrounded the platforms.

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Ruins of the Western Monastery 'C' of Ancient Anuradhapura

Western Monastery ‘C’ of Ancient Anuradhapura (අනුරාධපුර බටහිර ආරාමය C)

The concealed Western Monastery “C” lies nestled amidst contemporary residences and overgrown shrub jungles in Anuradhapura off Arippu Road. Its secluded location makes it unlikely for any pilgrim to discover or explore. While some restoration efforts have been made in the past to revive parts of the main Padhanaghara complex, a significant portion of the area is currently dominated by shrub jungle, having fallen into disuse.

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Ruins of the Western Monastery 'B' of Ancient Anuradhapura

Western Monastery ‘B’ of Ancient Anuradhapura (අනුරාධපුර බටහිර ආරාමය B)

The concealed Western Monastery B lies nestled amidst contemporary residences and overgrown shrub jungles in Anuradhapura. Its secluded location makes it unlikely for any pilgrim to discover or explore. While some restoration efforts have been made in the past to revive parts of the main Padhanaghara complex, a significant portion of the area is currently dominated by shrub jungle, having fallen into disuse.

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Aluthdivulwewa Purana Tampita Viharaya - අළුත්දිවුල්වැව පුරාණ ටැම්පිට විහාරය

Aluthdivulwewa Purana Tampita Viharaya

At Aluthdivulwewa Tampita Viharaya entrance, only one gatekeeper statues exists today. Regrettably, the other has been lost to time, leaving only one to stand guard. The exterior of the viharaya is painted in white. Stepping inside, one is greeted by the interior walls that bear the artistic imprints of the Kandy era, replicating the rich cultural heritage of the region. However, it is disheartening to note that the lack of proper maintenance has led to the gradual deterioration of many paintings, diminishing their original splendor.

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Wahalkada Wewa : වාහල්කඩ වැව

Ancient Wahalkada Wewa Reservoir

While specific information about its origin remains elusive, some people consider Weerawapi Reservoir to be among the great 16 reservoirs, believed to have been constructed by King Mahasen (234-301 BC), now known as Wahalkada Reservoir. Historical records indicate restoration work of this were taken place during the reigns of King Agbo (in 608 -618 AD) and Maha Parakumba. (1153 to 1186 A D)

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Ataviragollewa Pillar Inscription

Ataviragollewa Pillar Inscription (ඇටවීරගොල්ලෑව ටැම් ලිපිය)

The content of the Ataviragollewa Pillar Inscription tell us that king Abha Siri Sangabo ransacked the Pandya Country, and obtained a victory in the ninth year. of his reign, that his son was Abha Salamevan, and that in the tenth year of this king’s sovereignty, the immunities mentioned in the record were granted to the village Velangama belonging to the Sirisangabo-rad-pirivena, and an attani pillar was set up to that effect by three officials.

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Anointing Pavilion : Abhisheka Mandapaya of Abhayagiri Monastery (අභයගිරි ආරාමයේ අභිෂේක මණ්ඩපය)

Anointing Pavilion : Abhisheka Mandapaya of Abhayagiri Monastery (අභයගිරි ආරාමයේ අභිෂේක මණ්ඩපය)

The Anointing Pavilion of Abhayagiriya of Anuradhapura belongs to the type described as snanagraha (bathing house) described in the Bodhicharyavatara. It had been the practice to anoint the Buddha statues with fragrant water as Mahayana rituals. Such festivals are held even today in Sri Lanka.

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Left Balustrade of Panchawasa of Thuparamaya

Unique Balustrade Carvings of Thuparama Panchayatana (ථූපාරාම පංචායතන සුවිශේෂී කොරවක්ගල්)

An exquisitely carved unique pair of Balustrades (Korawakgal) in front of a building belonging to Thuparama Monastery not found anywhere in the Country. Unlike any other, side bas-reliefs are with a forest scene with thatched houses in between sylvan groves which all make separate divisions of the entire panel.

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