Bayawa Rajamaha Viharaya is an ancient temple lying in Avulegama lying between Nikaweratiya and Padeniya in Kurunegala district. Significance of this temple is the Tampita Viharaya built during the Kandyan era.
Ahugoda Purana Tampita Viharaya believed to be built in the 17th century, consists of 3 buildings with a historical significance. A Tampita Viharaya, an ancient Sangawasa and a Kuludage.
Bambaragala Rajamaha Viharaya is an ancient temple lying at a bottom of a large rock known as Bambaragala in the village of Waduwawa in Polgahawela. No evidence has been discovered on the origin of this temple. Some believe that the temple has been in existence since the Anuradhapura kingdom. The current temple is definitely of recent origin, of Kandyan Era.
Kandayaya Purana Pothgul Viharaya is one of the hundreds of ancient Buddhist temples in the Kurunegala District. Few drip ledge caves and granite ruins of an ancient temple complex can be seen at this temple today. A Sri Pathul Gala, an object of veneration before the development of Buddha statues is an indication that this temple’s beginning going back to the early Anuradhapura Era.
Viharegama Maliyadeva Rajamaha Viharaya lies about 16 kilometers away from the Dambadeniya. It is said that the Maliyadeva Thero who is considered the last Arhaths of Sri Lanka had been cremated at Viharegama and a stupa had been built at Viharegama depositing the ashes.
Ranagala (Renagala) has been a popular ancient cross road connecting Siriwardhanapura, Anuradhapura, Kurunegala and Kandy. One proof of the importance of this is the ancient Ambalama at Ranagala. This Ambalama lies on the edge of a large paddy field in Ranagala and about 500 meters before the popular Rangala Rajamaha Viharaya.
Ranagala Rajamaha Viharaya is a temple situated on a popular ancient cross road connecting Siriwardhanapura, Anuradhapura, Kurunegala and Kandy. Lying on rocky outcrop known as Viharagala, surround by paddy fields offering a fantastic view, the temple you see today is an modern one except for few remnants of the ancient past.
The Tampita Viharaya is built on a wooden platform on six large granite stumps. A wooden ladder with 5 steps leads to the verandah of the vihara-ge. the walls of the inner chamber is adorned with clay figures of deities by the entrance.
A large temple complex now reduced to granite pillar stumps and foundations has been preserved at this temple. Number of such buildings and few artifacts of the by gone era can be seen at this temple.
The Sri Sumittaramaya temple Tampita Viharaya structure is laid on 20 massive granite pillars about 4 feet tall and the wall are pained on a layer of clay. Unfortunately it doesn’t have the original paintings of Kandyan era, murals in the structure seems to have been recently retouched.
The Katupilagolla ambalama lies in Ridigama in Kurunegala between Rambadagalla Viharaya and Ridi Viharaya. The building lies on a 3 way junction on the turn off to the Raddagoda and Delhena estates at Delwita.
The inscription has been made in the 13th century on the 5th year of the Queen Kalyaniwathi (1202-1208) of Polonnaruwa Kingdom. An Adhikari called Chudamani of Bandhalagoda region has repaired a breached sluice gate of the Batalagoda Reservoir and in addition built a second sluice.
Sagala Rajamaja Viharaya lies on a top of a massive rock called Sri Sagala Rajamaha Viharaya in the Ridigama area west of the popular Rambadagalla Viharaya. The whole rock called Nelligala is believed to have been massive Aramaic complex since the 1st century BC.
Halambagala Rajamaha Viharaya is an ancient cave temple on the Nikaweratiya – Abanpola route in Kurunegala. The the main image house of the temple lies in a large drip ledge cave. Number of other drip ledge caves can be found scattered around the premises.
The Tampita Viharaya of the Hulugalla temple is a wooden structure built on 16 granite pillars. A wooden stair takes you up to a ornate wooden door. An ancient Buddha statue with murals on the walls are weatherworn.
Kelimune Ambalama is an old wayside rest lying in the village of Kelimune on the Wariyapola – Kurunegala Road. The Ambalama lies deserted and covered with weed with no attention by any authority.
A centuries-old stupa, concealed beneath a blanket of lush vegetation, appears as a mere hillock nestled in the rugged expanse adjacent to the scenic Andiyagala Reservoir.
Usgala Swarnabimbarama Rajamaha Viharaya is situated in the Kobeigane provincial secretary division in the Kurunegala District. This temple is attributed to the king Kirthi Sri Rajasinhe (1747 – 1781) of the Kandyan Kingdom.
The Tampita viharaya at Thalakiriyawa is a small image house neglected with time, one horizontal beam now supported by a stack of clay tiles. The clay Buddha statues of the temple belonging to the Kandyan era were also broken by treasure hunters but these statues has been restored by the Department of Archaeology to its original state.
It is not often that we hear of the 13th. century kingdom of Dambadeniya. Recently traveling the excellent road that links Negombo to Kurunegala we decided to drop in at the Dambadeniya Wijayasundararamaya.
