Talaguru Rajamaha Viharaya is said to have been built in the time of king Saddhathissa (137-119 B.C.) using the natural caves and was named on memory of Nayake thero who for the first time in the country in the 2nd century Before Christ. (B.C.)
One could only imagine what the Thanthirimale Rajamaha Viharaya (Thanthirimale Temple) had looked like nearly 2300 years ago but the peace and serenity still prevails.
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.
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.
The national Namal Uyana in Galkiriyagama which has the largest Rose Quartz mountain in South Asia consists of 972 hectares or more.
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.
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”.
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.
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.
The Chandrasara Forest Hermitage is situated at the remote village of Halmillewa. This village can be reached from the Thalawa – Kekirawa Road.
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.
A sketch of the petroglyph Hidden on a side of a boulder face at the Ran Masu Uyana ( The Royal Goldfish Park) sandwiched between the Tissa Wewa and the Isurumuniya Rock Temple at Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka is a unique artifact of of the Ancient Sri Lanka which is locally known as “Bawa Chakraya” or the “Sakwala Chakraya”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
It is unknown who built Kantaka Chethiya stupa but it is said that the King Lanjatissa (119-109 BC) has built a stone mantel built for this stupa. Therefore we can assume that the stupa was built prior to 119 BC.
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.
The climb along the long flight of steps leading to its summit of Eth Vehera is a rewarding experience. The narrow steps winding its way upwards makes art in its very simplicity.
