Sri Lankan Temples

  Athkanda Raja Maha Viharaya also known as Ethkanda Viharaya is a Buddhist temple placed in Kurunegala city in Kurunegala District, Sri Lanka. It is believed that this temple was built in the Dambadeniya era during the 14-15 centuries. The history of the establishment of Athkanda Viharaya is obscure. However, a name similar to this temple has been recorded in several country chronicles, including Mahavamsa, Sahassavattuppakaranaya, Saddharmalankaraya, Rasavahini, and Vamsattappakasini. According to the information given in Mahavamsa, it’s assumed that this temple may have been established during the reign of King Suratissa. This temple is believed to have received the royal patronage of prince Buvanekabahu and Bosath Vijayabahu at some stage in the Dambadeniya period. The Asgiri Thalpatha is famous because the Buddhist monks who had been touring Kandy in the arrangements made by King Parakramabahu IV (c.1305-1326 A.D.) had been accommodated at Athkanda Vihara in Kurunegala till th...

  Dambulla cave temple, also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla, is a World Heritage Site (1991) in Sri Lanka, situated in the central part of the country. This site is situated 148 kilometres (92 mi) east of Colombo, 72 kilometres (45 mi) north of Kandy and 43 km (27 mi) north of Matale Dambulla is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. The rock towers 160 m over the surrounding plains. There are more than 80 documented caves in the surrounding area. Major attractions are spread over five caves, which contain statues and paintings. These paintings and statues are related to Gautama Buddha and his life. There are a total of 153 Buddha statues, three statues of Sri Lankan kings and four statues of gods and goddesses. The latter include Vishnu and the Ganesha. The murals cover an area of 2,100 square metres (23,000 sq ft). Depictions on the walls of the caves include the temptation by the demon Mara, and Buddha's first sermon. Prehistoric Sri Lankans wou...

  The Gal Vihara also known as Gal Viharaya and originally as the Uttararama, is a rock temple of the Buddha situated in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa in North Central Province, Sri Lanka. It was fashioned in the 12th century by Parakramabahu I. The central feature of the temple is four rock relief statues of the Buddha, which have been carved into the face of a large granitic (granite gneiss) rock. The images consist of a large seated figure, another smaller seated figure inside an artificial cavern, a standing figure, and a reclining figure. These are considered to be some of the best examples of ancient Sinhalese sculpting and carving arts and have made the Gal Vihara the most visited monument at Polonnaruwa. The images of Uttararama follow a different style from the images of the previous Anuradhapura period and show some significant differences. The identity of the standing image is subject to a certain amount of dispute among historians and archaeologists, some of whom argu...

Ruwanweliseya is one of the most significant, hemispherical structures in Sri Lanka. It was built by King Dutugemunu, one of the greatest kings in Sri Lankan history. There are many relics of Lord Buddha kept inside the dageba which is considered to as the most imposing collection of relics of Gautama Buddha than was ever enshrined in any other dagaba on the island. It is a very important and sacred place for Buddhists. Around this stupa, you will also see statues made out of the granite of King Dutugamunu, Queen Vihara Mahadevi (Mother of king Dutugamunu), and King Bhathika Tissa (140-164). The original stupa has been about 180 feet (55 meters) in height and had been expanded and renovated by many kings thereafter. The stupa is 350 feet (107 meters) in height and 300 feet (92 meters) in diameter today. The location of the stupa was already selected by the great Mahinda Thero and king Devanampiyatissa had planted a huge stone pillar at the location. The king removed this pillar and s...