Arankele Viharaya - Kurunegala
This fascinating 6th Century Buddhist forest hermitage is where the saintly hermit of Maliyadeva and other hermits and sages lived. This impressive hermitage consist of moats, waterways, stone walls, a complete ancient hospital with stone herbal bath, herb-grinder, sick rooms, meditating and preaching halls.
A Large and beautifully designed bath, a handsome circular shrine, and a faultless drainage and a sanitary system and the ancient "sakman maluwa", the remarkable "meditation walk" paved with dressed stone, shaded by hoary forest trees.The Dolukande rock an ancient herb forest still thrives; it’s quite sylvan glades have made the ancient hermitage into a beautiful natural bird sanctuary. West of the ancient complex, a hermit community of about 50 monks live in solitude and deep meditation in bare cells and caves in the forest.
Devotees visit the monastery daily to bring the offerings of food, drink and other necessities to the monks, a visit to Arankele will give an interesting insight to Buddhist contemplative life.
Yapahuwa
YAPAHUWA An ancient fortress and capital built in the year 1301. Yapahuwa is a rock rising to a height of 90 metres. Many traces of ancient battle defences can still be seen, while an ornamental stairway, remains its biggest showpiece.
"Yapahuva" the the 13 th Century capital in Sri Lanka, was made King Buvanekabahu I. Here the chief object is the rock which rises about 300 ft above the surrounding land. The land at the base to the south is fortified with two moats and ramparts . In this enclosure there are the remains of a number of buildings.
The tooth Relic too was brought from Dambadeniya kept in the special built for the purpose.
Padeniya Raja Maha Vihara - Kurunegala
Has a wealth of fascinating antiquities. Twenty eight magnificent carved pillars and an elaborately decorated door adorns the main shrine. An ancient clay image house and library, a traditional sand state for teaching letters to children ‘Weli pilla" and a preaching hall with an unusual carved wooden pulpit are some of it’s treasures.
Panapitiya Ambalama - Kurunegala
Panduwas Nuwara
Kurunegala
Panduwasnuwara
This is the oldest of royal capitals in Wayamba the north western province. The Legend claims that this is the capital of King Panduwasdeva (5th Century B.C) successor of King Vijaya, founder of the Indo-Aryan dynasty of Sri Lanka. However the archaeological remains date from 12th Century A.D. as this was one of the interim capitals of King Parakramabahu.
Ridi Viharaya - Kurunegalale
The Silver Temple of Kurunegala contains Kandian style 14th & 18th Century wall paintings, and exquisite medieval doorway with intricate carvings of ivory inlay, a curious pavement inside the main sanctuary, of Delft tiles of Biblical themes. The Gift of 18th century Dutch Consult and a beautifully curved moonstone of the pre-8th century period.
Wellagala Viharaya Wellagala Wall Paintings
