Galmaduwa Viharaya (Hingurana)

Not to be confused with Galmaduwa Viharaya (Kandy)

Galmaduwa Raja Maha Viharaya

Galmaduwa Viharaya (Sinhala: අම්පාර ගල්මඩුව විහාරය) is a Buddhist temple situated in Galmaduwa village in Ampara District, Sri Lanka. The site can be reached by travelling along the Galmadu-Muwangala-Hinguarana road about 6.5 km from Hingurana town.

History

A circular artifact containing a cobra figure

It is believed that the history of the Galmaduwa temple goes back to the early part of the Anuradhapura Period (Withanachchi, 2013). A large number of ruins including Sandakada Pahana (moonstones), Korawak Gal (wingstones), stone pillars of ruined structures, Chatra stones, flower altars, and remnants of rampart walls have been found from the temple premises. Of them, there is a circular stone artefact containing a rock-cut figure similar to a cobra.

A Protected Site

All archaeological evidence including stone pillars and places of ancient buildings at the premises of Galmaduwa Rajamaha Vihara situated in Grama No. 05, Galmaduwa in Grama Niladhari Division No. W/27/H, Galmaduwa in the Divisional Secretary’s Division, Damana are archaeological protected monuments, declared by a government gazette notification published on 26 December 2014.

A Chatra stone, Galmaduwa temple, Ampara Hidden ruins, probably a flight of steps, Galmaduwa temple, Ampara A vandalized mound of earth, probably a Stupa mound, Galmaduwa temple, Ampara The Bodhi tree and its wall, Galmaduwa temple, Ampara The stone pillars are surrounding an earth mound, probable Stupa, Galmaduwa temple, Ampara

References

1) Withanachchi, C. R., 2013. Pauranika Sthana Saha Smaraka: Ampara Distrikkaya (In Sinhala). Department of Archaeology (Sri Lanka). ISBN: 955-9159-44-5. p.31.
2) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. No: 1895. 26 December 2014. p. 1148.

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This page was last updated on 14 January 2023
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