Lenagala Raja Maha Viharaya is a Rock temple situated near Godagama in the western Province. A place reputed to have been used by King Valagamba during his exile.
Lenagala Raja Maha Viharaya (Godagama)
Category: Province
Ran Masu Uyana
Ran Masu Uyana, is a ancient pleasure garden adjoining Isurumuniya. This is often missed by people visiting Isrumuniya Rock as it is not very well known and the path to it is not clear marked. One must cross the car park to the right of Mihintale main entrance to cross a small stream to enter the garden. This has some very intricate carvings of elephants at play and pools in ancient times would have been equivalent to the luxurious Spas of today. Its a good example of Sri Lankan garden architecture. According to a carving at Vessagiriya, the water for the Ran Masu Uyana was supplied from the Tissa Wewa.
Incidently, this park is also home to the “Stargate” Carving. It is found carved into the rare of a boulder in the garden. Hence its not easy to find, ask one of the workers there and they would be happy to show it to you.
Muhudu Maha Viharaya
Muhudhu Maha Viharaya is reputed to be the temple built to mark the spot where Viharamaha Devi made land fall. Please see the post on Magul Maha Viharaya for further details.
Reaching the places can be a bit confusing if following Google maps. On Panama Road heading towards Arugambay the turn off to Muhudu Maha Viharaya Mawatha if just before the Pottuvil Post office. The sign board is obscured by another sign board for Samuel ur Rashath Arabic College.
Magul Maha Viharaya
Magul Maha viharaya is reputed to a temple built to mark the place where King Kavan Tissa of Ruhuna wed Vihara Maha Devi. Devi was the daughter of King Kelani Tissa who was set her a drift in a boat to appease the gods when a pious priest was wrongly killed and the land of Kelaniya was flooded by a natural disaster. She is supposed to have made land fall in Pottuvil where the spot is now marked by a temple, the Muhudu Maha Viharaya.
She went to become the Queen consort of Kavan Tissa and mother to the warrior King Duttu Gamunu and King Saddhatissa.
According to archeology, several Kings have renovated and supported this temple over the centuries. The four entrances to the temple is exactly aligned to the four cardinal directions. The moon stones seen here is different from those in other parts of the country. This has horses with riders on them.
Vessagiriya Cave Complex
Vessagiriya is thought to be one of the oldest Cave complexes in the country. By some accounts dating back to Ravana’s father. It is believed that King Vallagamba, fleeing anuradhapura initially had in this complex according to the Mahavamda.The current name of Vessagiriya comes from the fact that this cave complex was handed over to a group of traders turned monks. The Cave complex was expanded to include building for monks, the ruins of which still can be seen. The placement of the stones causes one to wonder whether this is a natural phenomenon. Most rocks are balanced in a manner which seems to defy gravity. The lettering on the drip ledges tells of who donated the caves to the monks. The apparent panels on the face of the rock is called a “Len Dora” of Cave Door. The thinking is that these are magical doors sealed enclosing treasures.
Ridee Viharaya
Ridee Viharaya means Silver Temple. After the waging war with King Elara, King Dutugemunu’s treasury was depleted. Hence funding for the building of Ruwanweli Seya was a immense burden on the treasury. The story is that a trader travelling in a caravan stopped close by to this cave for their meals. The trader in need of wood for whips went up the Mountain when he came across bread fruit tree bearing one fruit as large as a water pitcher. The trader thought he will give the first part of the fruit as alms. With faith he announced the meal time and 4 arahats came hither. He tore out the bottom part of the fruit and poured the juice into their arms bowl. Yet again he announced the meal time and another 4 arahats came hither. To them he tore out the kernels and placed in their alms bowls. 3 of them went on their way, but one stay behind and went a bit further and sat down to have his meal. This spot is today marked by a stone structure. Once he has taken his meal, the thera pointed out the cave with a rich vein of Silver to the trader. After all the silver was mined, the cave was converted into a temple.
Today the temple has been very aesthetically renovated retaining its ancient splendour. It is easily accessible by car. The
Kaludiya Pokuna – Kandalama
Kalu Diya Pokuna in Kandalama is not to be confused with a place with a similar name in Mihintale, Anuradhapura. The name of the place, again is derived from the the shadow of the forest and hills falling on the lake rendering the water to appear black. This place is an amazing example of cave architecture. The use of the boulders to build cave dewellings with multiple floors. The finishing used in the ancient structure are still visible in places. The whole area is reputed to contain more that 90 caves. The forest is inhabited by leopards and wild elephants who frequent the site and leave their mark on the trees.
Kaludiya Pokuna – Mihintale
This well planned cave dewelling complex lies in the slopes of Mihintale. Kalu Diya literally means ‘black water’ a name derived from the shadow cast by the surrounding trees and boulders on the water making it appear black. The caves are well structured as living quarters with sleeping areas and sitting areas along with stone seats. The stone seats atop of rocks could have been used to preach to large gathering of monks or simply to meditate in the soothing breeze blowing across the pond.
Pidurangala
Pidurangala is a rock out crop next to the famed 8th wonder of the ancient world, Sigiriya Rock Fotress. It is said that the Sigirya rock was inhabited by Monks, when King Kashyapa discovered it and wanted to convert it to his citadel. Hence he made arrangements for the monks to be moved to Pidurangala rock. The caves bear evidence of separate units for monks which even now is fantastically cool. The giant sleeping buddha statue further points to the religious inhabitants and royal patronage. The Climb to the top is not difficult but not a cake walk either. The best part is creeping under a giant boulder to reach the top.
The entrance is through the Pidurangala viharaya. Tickets needs to be obtained prior to the climb. The Cave temple with its ancient script etched into the rock is worth a visit. The best time to climb is before dawn to witness the sunrise. Ensure you carry a torch with you, if its wearable its better since at certain place you need both hands to navigate over boulders. There is no paved path, but judiciously placed arrows are tricky places helps. Better not to climb alone, however at most times there are others who are climbing, one can go along with them.
People come to witness in the awesomeness of the sunrise in solitude, hence please dont make noice.
Pilikutuwa Raja Maha Viharaya
Pilikutuwa Raja Maha Viharaya is home to numerous caves. These caves are thought to have been at one time occupied by King Watagamini Abhaya also know as Valagamba. The surrounding cave temples are thought to have been his hideouts during the 14 years he was in exile till he regained the throne. Once he regained the throne, as mark of respect to those that helped him during his exile, he converted each cave that he stayed at into temple. This temple paintings is the rare instance where the guardians at the door are foreigners showing foreign patronage during the Dutch / Portuguese eras.
The climb to the top is very pleasant and easy. It can be easily handled by the young children as well. From the top one has a nice view of the Colombo Skyline and also the near by Maligatenne Raja Maha Viharaya, another cave complex occupied by Vallagamba
Urban Gypsy Sri Lanka 