Pilikuththuwa Raja Maha Vihara
Pilikuththuwa Raja Maha Vihara | |
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පිළිකුත්තුව රජ මහා විහාරය | |
Buddhist Temple | |
Style | Cave temple |
Pilikuththuwa Raja Maha Vihara (
History
From the archaeological evidence, it is believed that this area has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Caves with drip ledges prove that the temple may have been used during the 2-3 century BC by the Sangha as their abodes.[2] According to the legends connected with this temple, king Valagamba (89-77 BC) used to stay in this historical place from time to time during the invasion from South India.
The temple
The Pilikuththuwa temple is considered one of the Buddhist temples in the country with the highest number of drip-ledged rock caves. It is said that this temple has 99 rock caves with drip ledges, spreading about 200 acres of total area. As of today, 78 caves have been identified.[2]
Beside the rock caves, inscription with pre-
References
- ^ "Protercted Monument List 2012-12-12" (PDF). Department of Archaeology. 12 December 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
- ^ a b "Many sites of Gampaha: Pilikuththuwa Cave Temple". The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). Wijeya Newspapers. 22 May 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
- ^ "Pilikuththuwa Raja Maha Viharaya (Gampaha)". Lankapradeepa. 27 January 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
- The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. 948. 1 November 1996.
- The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. 1264. 22 November 2002.
- ^ Gazette 1963 & 15 April 2016, p. 17.
Works cited
- "PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Government Notifications" (PDF). The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. 1963. 15 April 2016.