Uchchavalika Viharaya

Uchchavalika Viharaya
Uchchavalika Viharaya (Sinhala: උච්චවාලික විහාරය) is a Buddhist temple in Bolana in Hambantota District, Sri Lanka. It is situated about 2.5 miles away from Ambalantota on Ridiyagama road beside the left bank of the Walawe Ganga River . History There was a Buddhist temple named Uccavalika or Uccatalanka Viharaya probably in the Mahagama area (present Hambantota area) in the 1st century B.C. (Nicholas, 1963). The present Viharaya at the site is believed by many as that ancient temple mentioned in the chronicles. Presently the site consists of a conserved image house and two old Stupas and a dilapidated image house with the remains of a broken Buddha statue in the Samadhi posture. The two Stupas have been built on raised terraces. The conserved image house consists of two sections; the sanctum and the verandah. A standing Buddha statue unearthed from this place is said to have been brought to Colombo National Museum . A protected site The old Stupa, image house, ruins of buildings and Stupa mo…