Koskandawala Raja Maha Viharaya, also known as Koskandawala Sri Sunandarama Piriven Raja Maha Viharaya (Sinhala: කොස්කඳවල ශ්රී සුනන්දාරාම පිරිවෙන් රජමහා විහාරය), is a Buddhist temple located in the village of Koskandawala in Gampaha District, Sri Lanka. The site can be reached by travelling along the Yakkala - Radawana road about 2.8 km distance from the Yakkala Junction.
History
The history of this temple goes back to the period of the Anuradhapura Kingdom. The rock cave that houses the image house today is a drip-ledged one and therefore, it can be assumed that the cave was an abode of Buddhist monks in ancient times. The cave temples at Uruwala, Maligathenna, Varana, Miriswatta, and Pilikuththuwa which are situated in the vicinity of Koskandawala temple are said to have formed one major cave site during the early part of the Anuradhapura period.
A Protected Site
The ancient image house and the Dharmasala (preaching hall) within the premises of Koskandawala Rajamaha Vihara situated in Grama Niladhari Division No. 308, Koskandawala in the Divisional Secretary’s Division, Aththanagalla are archaeological protected monuments, declared by the government Gazette notifications published on 1 November 1996 and 7 July 2016.
References
1) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. No: 948. 1 November 1996.
2) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka: Extraordinary. No: 1974/16. 7 July 2016. p.5A.