Bambaragala Purana Rajamaha Viharaya image

Bambaragala Purana Rajamaha Viharaya

Buddhist temple

One of the Best Places To Visits in Henagahawela


Address

Victoria Golf Club Road, Sri Lanka

Contact

+94 77 880 3348

Rating on Google Maps

4.80 (223 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Tuesday: 6:30 am to 5 pm
  • Wednesday: 6 am to 6 pm
  • Thursday: 6:30 am to 5:30 pm
  • Friday: 6:30 am to 7 pm
  • Saturday: 4 am to 7:30 pm
  • Sunday: 5 am to 6 pm
  • Monday: 5 am to 6:30 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: temple (27) cave (9) caves (8) view (8) Bambaragala (7) ancient (6) Victoria (6) rock (6) historical (6)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Muditha H. 3 years ago on Google
    Bambaragala Temple (Purana Rajamaha Viharaya) is considered as a buddhist temple, which has a history of more than 2000 years. People believe that there are many stories related to Lord Buddha as well. There are ancient Brahmi letters in many places which tells about many stories. Temple has many caves in it. Also if you can go beyond the forest patch which is located behind the temple, you can reach upto the scenic peak called "Pettigala". This peak has an unbelievable 360° view. The most eye-catching view is the wider view of Victoria reservoir and neighboring mountains. The path up to the peak may be unclear sometimes. But if you search carefully you can find it out. There is about 1.5 kilometers up to the top
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Junius R. 1 year ago on Google
    Bambaragala is one of the most picturesque site with a panoramic view of Dumbara Mountain range.The site consist rock caves that was dedicated to practice Vidarshana Bhavana from ancient times. The site dates back 2000 years and it consist 59 rock caves. As per the Brahmi Script assigned to early Anuradhapura period (2-1 BC) According to the copper plate grants (Sannas) King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe (1747-1782) has attended during the construction of the Vihara complex. Further more during the late Kandayan Era Rajadhi Rajasinghe (1782-1798) had renovated and patronized both as a a place of worship and historical significance.
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Binod K. 5 years ago on Google
    Over 50 caves can be found around this temple which are considered to be sacred places where Buddhist monks lived. "Sal" trees around the temple have flowers bloomed all the year.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Tharindu R. 2 years ago on Google
    It is a buddhist temple with historical values. Some people believes Siddhartha Gouthama was born at this place (but according to the written and most believed history it was in Lumbini-Napal). No body disturbs here to do religious activities. But there are monks who meditate. So better not shout and disturb them.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Bharatha De S. 5 years ago on Google
    Very historical, calm and quiet, 360 veiw from the peak level of the temple, having a very old Sal 🌲 tree about which we heard flowers getting blossom in very wesak reason, having caves around 30 in number said to be donated to "Gothama nam sramana" by a queen according to the evidence found in temple itself.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Lahiru G. 2 years ago on Google
    An ancient temple located in a peaceful environment and with a breathtaking view. This temple is the access point for 'Pettigala Summit'.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 princy r. 1 year ago on Google
    IMPORTANT- keep this sacred place tidy , don't leave any plastic bags bottles etc, as the environment has kept so clean. Lets help to keep that Maintenance without Breaking. The temple was a meditational centre earlier but was converted to a temple in Kandyan era. The road to this temple was from old teldeniya village but was submerged due to the Victoria dam where you will able to see some traces of roads comming towards this temple. As to the myths it is believed that Siddhartha was born on this temple( yes its bit ironic to think that, but thats a legend, it might also be true even.)At the bottom of the temple youll see an old Sal tree, the painting cave is situated at the top of the staircase above Àvàsageya. The shrine is divided into two parts . Main cave contains the paintings of sùvisivivarana and sath sathiya along with decorative paintings. Second cave contains paintings of solosmasthàna and deva àràdanaya. The specialality of the layer (badàmaya) is that the whole ceiling is covered by a sort of cloth and then a thin layer of wood apple gum , clay and makulu mati is applied, you can see the a part of that cloth in the second cave ceiling. One special rear painting which contain the painting of Thrisingha which you can see in the main cave left side of you when you stand at the entrance of the cave facing the seated buddha (beside the door) why i mentioned it specifically is that you won't able to see such kind of painting every where on other temples this is so unique.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Nish P. 4 years ago on Google
    Historical temple.very beautiful viwe point have in this place.nice place.save environment .
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kalindu M. 2 years ago on Google
    Bambarangala Rajamaha Viharaya is a place of worship of great historical value... #muchlovesrilanka
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Akalanka K. 3 years ago on Google
    Ancient place with having a historical value. Calm and quite environment. There is a mountain behind the temple. Breathtaking views from the top.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 itravel 4 years ago on Google
    Wonderful temple with caves. Top of the “pettigla” Rock there is an amazing view. You can see Victoria reservoir with 360 degrees view 😃

  • 5/5 Diehard T. 4 years ago on Google
    The Dumbara Valley in the distant past was the seat of ancient temples, Raja Maha Viharas and rock cave hermitages (Aranne) where Buddha statues were housed. Dr. John Davy, surgeon to British Governor Sir Robert Brownrigg in his palanquin tours in 1817 had stumbled on some of these cave hermitages close to Teldeniya, a few miles from Kandy. In his voluminous book “An Account of Ceylon”, Davy gives a graphic description of the rock shelters he had come across, among them. Bambaragala Monastery – licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 by Hasindu2008 “….in the evening before sunset, we walked about half a mile to the Bambaragala Vihara, romantically situated on the side of a steep hill, amongst masses of rock……The cavity of the rock, very prettily and gaily painted was divided into two compartments in the largest of which there was a recumbent figure of a Buddha statue about five feet long.” The old roadway to the temple via Henagahuwela was submerged by the waters of the Victoria reservoir and now access to the temple is through Tennekumbura, on the main Mahiyangane road leading to the Victoria dam site.

  • 5/5 Achara A. 1 year ago on Google
    Best place around Kandy for a mini hike,Exceptional views of victoria reservoir 😍😍😍

  • 5/5 Deepanie P. 1 year ago on Google
    Prince Gothama (who later became Buddha) was born at this place known as Bambaragala Puraana Rajamaha Vihara, in Theldeniya, Kandy, Sri Lanka. This is a beautiful ancient location with breathtaking views. A large number of caves where Arhants and Bhikkus resided could be found here, along with stone inscriptions validating and verifying its' authenticity and historic value. There are 'vedhu lena' (birth cave), a small pond which never goes dry, a small dagoba and beautiful wall paintings reprensenting Buddha's life.

  • 5/5 PRISCILLA G. 6 months ago on Google
    A place to visit . Lot of historical value n so much to learn about history . A must visit Temple .

  • 4/5 DILAN S. 7 months ago on Google
    Beautiful temple near to the kandy(theldeniya) Around 6km from digana town. This is one of oldest temple in kandy area and it has a great history. And there is very old wall arts to show Buddhist history. This temple have multiple ‘len vihara’ and other traditional places as well. We can take a mountain hike from here to pettigala. Around 3 hour return hike. We can see Victoria reservation area from here.

  • 5/5 Sajith A. 2 years ago on Google
    Bambaragala Rajamaha Viharaya is an ancient temple that owns a unique and calm surrounding. If you are planning to hike Pettigala hill you should start the route through the temple premises. By the way, The view of “udamaluwa” is more attract full. Don’t forget to visit Cave painting in the jungle. Finding those caves isn’t hard. You have to continue in the direction of the signboards in the wood. In a summary, this place contains a unique beauty that cannot be able to express by word but by sight. The pinned location is corrected. You are able to reach the temple premises by any kind of vehicle ( Eg. Bike, Car, Van, and even Bus), and don’t worry your vehicle can be parked at the temple premises without any cost. Details of The Cave inscription Name: Bambaragala Rajamaha Vihara Cave Inscription Period: 2nd-1st Early Scripts: Early Brhahmana Language: Old Sinhala Text: Pochani Raksha Nagayaha Jayaha Bamana Kojhara Jhitaya Upeshika, Dataya Contents: Cave of upashika (female devotee ) Datta wife of Pocani Raja Naga and daughter of Brahman Kojhara) When you take home with memories of this place, take back the polythene you brought with you. Stay safe! Stay Green 🖤🌳


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