Monday, 24 December 2018

Samanabedda Purana Gallen Viharaya, Ampara

The cave temple at Samanabedda, Ampara
Samanabedda Purana Gallen Viharaya (lit: Samanabedda ancient cave temple) or Samanabedda Len Viharaya is an ancient Buddhist temple located in the Grama-Niladari Division of Uhana-Galahitiyagoda in Ampara District, Sri Lanka (Withanachchi, 2013). The site can be reached by traveling along the Ampara - Uhana road about 7 km distance from Ampara town.

Archaeological ruins
The site is not seemed to be completely excavated and many of the ruins are still hidden in the surrounding forest. The cave shrine is at the entrance of the site, housing two Buddha statues: a seated Buddha and a reclining Buddha. A torso of Buddha statue which had been discovered from the site can also be seen in the cave shrine. Near to the cave shrine is a small rock plain on which a dilapidated Stupa mound is identified (Withanachchi, 2013). Stone pillars, base stones, and the debris of old buildings and structures are largely found on the rock plateau located west of the Stupa.

The head-less Buddha statue, Samanabedda Viharaya The Stupa, Samanabedda Viharaya Ruins of an ancient building, Samanabedda Viharaya Debris of old buildings and structures, Samanabedda Viharaya .
References
1) Withanachchi, C. R., 2013. Pauranika Sthana Saha Smaraka: Ampara Distrikkaya (In Sinhala). Department of Archaeology (Sri Lanka). ISBN: 955-9159-44-5. pp.18-19.

Location Map
This page was last updated on 5 March 2022
For a complete tourist map follow this link: Lankapradeepa Tourist Map

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