Pathahawatta Raja Maha Viharaya in Bandaragama, Sri Lanka, stands on the site of the 16th-century Raigam Kingdom palace.
Pathahawatta Viharaya (Bandaragama) P athahawatta Raja Maha Viharaya (Sinhala: බණ්ඩාරගම පතහවත්ත විහාරය) is a Buddhist temple situated in Bandaragama in Kalutara District, Sri Lanka. History The land where the Pathahawatta Viharaya stands today is believed to be the site of the palace complex of the Raigam Kingdom [(16th century) De Silva & Chandrasekara, 2009]. After the incident known as Vijayaba Kollaya, Prince Raigam Bandara is said to have resided here. It is said that the treasures of this palace were removed to Sitawaka by the brother of Raigam Bandara after his death in 1539 (Abeyawardana, 2002). The modern temple at the site, according to some, has been built by a monk named Kothalawala Swarnajothi Thera in 1817 (De Silva & Chandrasekara, 2009). However, according to another source, it was built in 1889 by Narangaspitiya Sudassa Thera (Abeyawardana, 2002). The Temple This monastic site extends in an area of about 4.5 acres and the remains of an ancient rampart made of Kabok (laterite) of about 8 ft. wide are f…
