Pilikuththuwa Raja Maha Vihara

Pilikuththuwa Raja Maha Vihara
පිළිකුත්තුව රජ මහා විහාරය
Basic information
Location Pilikuththuwa, Sri Lanka
Geographic coordinates 07°03′50.2″N 80°03′01.1″E / 7.063944°N 80.050306°E / 7.063944; 80.050306Coordinates: 07°03′50.2″N 80°03′01.1″E / 7.063944°N 80.050306°E / 7.063944; 80.050306
Affiliation Buddhism
District Gampaha
Province Western Province
Heritage designation Archaeological protected monument[1] (22 November 2002)
Architectural description
Architectural type Buddhist Temple
Architectural style Cave temple

Pilikuththuwa Raja Maha Vihara (Sinhalaː පිළිකුත්තුව රජ මහා විහාරය ) is an ancient Cave temple situated in Mahara of Gampaha, Sri Lanka. It is located on Gampaha - Wathurugama road approximately 3.8 km (2.4 mi) away from Miriswatta junction and 1.6 km (0.99 mi) from the ancient Buddhist temple, Maligatenna Raja Maha Vihara. Currently this temple has been declared as one of archaeological site in Sri Lanka.[1]

Pilikuththuwa Raja Maha Vihara is considered as one of the Buddhist temple with highest number of drip ledged rock caves in Sri Lanka. It is said that this temple has 99 rock caves with drip ledges, spread about 200 acres of total area. As today 77 of caves have been identified and their numbers are marked on each cave.[2]

Beside the rock caves, numbers of water tanks with underground water channels, large number of Ola leaf manuscripts, paintings of Kandyan era and old wooden bridge with Dutch architectural features can be found in the vihara premises.[3]

History

As the archaeological evidences, it is believed that this area was inhabited since pre historic time periods.[2] Also three rock inscriptions with Brahmi characters, found in the caves in vihara premises prove that Pilikuththuwa temple is existed as a religious place since pre-Christian era. According to the legends connected with this temple describe King Valagamba (89-77 BC) used to stay in this historical place from time to time during the invasion from South India.[4]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Protercted Monument List 2012-12-12" (PDF). Department of Archaeology. 12 December 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Pilikuththuwa Raja Maha Viharaya – පිලිකුත්තුව රජමහා විහාරය". amazinglanka. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  3. ↑ "Pilikutthuwa Rajamaha Viharaya - Gampha". traveleye. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  4. ↑ "Pilikuththuwa Rajamaha Viharaya". srilankatravelnotes. December 2010. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
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