Bem Vehera Viharaya Bem Vehera Raja Maha Viharaya , also known as Gane Purana Raja Maha Viharaya (Sinhala: බෙම් වෙහෙර රජමහා විහාරය, ගණේ පුරාණ රජමහා විහාරය), is a Buddhist temple situated in Dope village near Bentota town in Galle District, Sri Lanka. History According to locals, the history of this temple runs back to the early Anuradhapura Period probably to the time of King Devanampiyatissa [(247-207 B.C.) Ayrton, 1920; Ranchagoda, 2015]. It is believed that the present Bem Vehera Viharaya stands on the site where the Stupa of ancient Bemtota Maha Viharaya was once located (Ranchagoda, 2015). Although presently function as separate temples, the four Viharas; Galapatha , Bodhimaluwa , Wanawasa and Udakotuwa Bodhi Sameepa which are situated in the vicinity of Bem Vehera Viharaya are said to have formed one major Buddhist monastery named Bemtota Maha Viharaya during the ancient period. Bem Vehera Viharaya is said to have been developed during the reign of King Parakramabahu II (1236-1270 A.D.) of Dambadeniya an…
