Ratnapura District

According to an ola leaf manuscript at the Kottimbulwala Rajamaha Viharaya, this temple had existed even before the time of King Wattagamini Abhaya (89-77 BCE) better known as King Walagamba. When he was defeated in 104 BCE, among the caves he was hiding and assembling an army, he was hiding in the surrounding caves of Lendora, Kanduwela as well as in this cave.

Located in the village of Pimbura in the Ratanpura District, Kukuluwa Rajamaha Viharaya is an ancient cave temple that had been lost to time. It was rediscovered in the jungles of Pimbura in 1892, where two caves nestled on the rocks had served as habitats for various wild animals.

At the entrance of the Devalaya building on the lower parapet wall lies a curious sculptured stone from the Portuguese era which portrays a Portuguese soldier with a brandished sword trampling a Sinhalese soldier. The defeated warrior is believed to be Ratnayake Muniyanse, the custodian of the gold stores of the Maha Saman Devalaya who demolished the church inside their fort and killed many Portuguese soldiers. However, some believe this to be warrior Kuruwita Rala.

Karandana Gal Lena Viharaya lying 3½ miles off Ratnapura-Ingiriya road was one of the remote sites which helped the priests hide from the brutality of King Sitawaka Rajasinghe. Karandana Gal Lena Viharaya was used by Rev. Karandana Devarakkhitha Thero who received from his mentor Guananda Thero. But when Devarakkhitha Thero received over 8000 acres of land in Kiriella by a royal decree from King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe (1798 – 1815), he built the Kirielle Nadun Rajamaha Viharaya, also known as the Kirielle Temple, and moved from the Karandana Gal Lena Viharaya temple leaving it to decay,

About 600 meters below the peak of Sri Pada, there is a place called Andiyamala Thenna where there is an Ambalama today. After killing his father, King Seethawaka Rajasinghe (1581-1591) became a Hindu and Sri Pada was handed over to Hindu priests called Andi (ආඬි) or Sannasi. They managed the site for approximately 155 years until Keerthi Sri Rajasinhe (1747 – 1781) took it back and handed it over to the Buddhist priests.

Pelmadulla Sri Sudarshana Dharmashalawaaya is an beautiful preaching hall built in mid 1800’s by the Iddamalgoda Basnayake Nilame to hold one of the last Dhamma Sangayana in Sri Lanka. This magnificent structure, designed by Iddamalgoda Kumarihami, showcases a remarkable blend of architectural elements inspired by churches.

Walking in to this forested area of Panamure Ambagaha Vehera Archaeological Site, you will find barely visible signs of a large stupa on a hill now destroyed. Completely covered by the forest, only the exposed bricks on some parts tell you that this is not just a overgrown mound of earth.