TEMPLE MALIGATENNA - GAMPAHA, SRI LANKA

There is a great Bo tree surrounded by a ram on the top part of the rock. The holes to be seen on the surface of those rocks are drilled for the installation of pillars. There may have been a building there during ancient times. While there are several caves carved into the rock, which are in use since BC in their midst. There are also caves where there dripping rock ledges. In one of the caves carved into the rock there is also a carved stone door frame.

Professor Paranavithana is of the opinion that it belongs to the period of the eighth century on the grounds that can be traced to the period BC via early Anuradhapura period. According to the cave inscription in Brahamic characters found in the such temples as warana and Pilikoththuwa located in close proximity it can be assumed that this place must have been on abode of the Buddhist monk since the said period of time, legend has it that this place had become hide-out for the king Walagamba and the refuge was provided to the kings and the ministers during enemy invasions while the country was under the Portuguese rule.

In addition, legend has it that in this place where the Lord Buddha tooth relic was kept by Hiripitiya Rala who held the office of Diyawadana Nilam Dalada Maligawa at the time of the safety of that when riots broke out during the Portuguese after Christianitybeen embraced by King Don Juan Dharmapala of Kotte kingdom.