Padiyadora Raja Maha Viharaya

Padiyadora Raja Maha Viharaya is an ancient Buddhist temple located in the village of Padiyathalawa in Ampara District, Sri Lanka. The temple can be reached by travelling through Sri Maha Bodhi road about 1.5 km distance from Padiyathalawa town.

History

The history of the Padiyadora temple is believed to belong to the reign of Kawantissa [(205–161 B.C.) Withanachchi, 2013]. According to local beliefs, the Bodhi tree of the Padiyadora temple is one of the early saplings of Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya in Anuradhapura.

Archaeological ruins

A number of archaeological ruins have been found on the temple premises. The Stupa which is in a dilapidated state can be identified as an early construction of the temple. A headless standing Buddha statue about 4 feet in height has been placed aside from the Stupa mound.

A protected site

The ancient Stupa, ruins of buildings, pond, wall and other archaeological evidence at the archaeological site at Padiyadora situated in Grama Niladhari Division No. 140/D, Thalapita Oya Left in the Divisional Secretary’s Division, Padiyathalawa are archaeological protected monuments, declared by a government gazette notification published on 10 October 2014. 

.

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.29.
2) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. No: 1884. 10 October 2014. p. 912.

Location Map

This page was last updated on 14 January 2023