Purana Ruwangiri Raja Maha Viharaya is a Buddhist temple situated near Medawachchiya town. According to locals, it was built by King Devanampiyatissa.
Isinbessagala Viharaya P urana Ruwangiri Raja Maha Viharaya , popularly known as Isinbessagala Viharaya (Sinhala: ඉසින්බැස්සගල රුවන්ගිරි විහාරය) is a Buddhist temple situated near Medawachchiya town in Anuradhapura District, Sri Lanka. History According to local belief, this temple was built by King Devanampiyatissa (247-207 B.C.) of Anuradhapura , after the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka by Arhat Mahinda Thera (Wikramagamage, 2004). It is said that Arhat Mahinda Thera who arrived in the country with other monks visited this site before going to Mihintale at Anuradhapura. The name " Isinbessagala " can be roughly translated as "the rock on which the sages descended" (Wikramagamage, 2004). The site was in the wild for centuries and was inhabited since 1782 due to the Buddhist monk Madagalle Sumangala's efforts (Wikramagamage, 2004). The Ruins at the Site Some of the ancient monuments found at the location include the old Stupa at the foot of the rock, the Siri Pathul Gala (the Buddha'…
