Devagiri Raja Maha Vihara in Galgamuwa is an ancient cave temple with Brahmi inscriptions and Kandyan murals, dating to early Anuradhapura Period.
Galgamuwa Devagiri Viharaya D evagiri Raja Maha Vihara (Sinhala: ගල්ගමුව ශ්රී දේවගිරි රජමහා විහාරය), also known as Sithavana Vihara in ancient inscriptions (Nicholas, 1963), is a Buddhist temple situated approximately 1.5 km west from Galgamuwa Wewa in the Kurunegala District, Sri Lanka. The site is noted for its drip-ledged cave temples, Brahmi Inscriptions , and murals belonging to the Kandyan Period . History According to local folklore, the temple's origins date back to the 3rd century BC during the reign of King Devanampiyatissa (247-207 BC) of Anuradhapura . It is also traditionally associated with King Valagamba (103, 89-77 BC), who is said to have used the site as a military stronghold while mobilizing forces against foreign invaders, although this "Valagamba connection" is a common folk narrative for many temples in the area. However, archaeological evidence, including the plain Sandakada Pahana , Sri Pathul Gal and the Brahmi inscriptions, confirms that the site was an active monastic complex d…
