Piyangala Forest Hermitage
| Piyangala Forest Hermitage පියංගල ආරණ්ය සේනාසනය | |
|---|---|
 A drip ledged cave with Brahmi inscription | |
| Basic information | |
| Location | Piyangala, Ampara, Sri Lanka |
| Geographic coordinates | 07°29′46.0″N 81°37′53.6″E / 7.496111°N 81.631556°ECoordinates: 07°29′46.0″N 81°37′53.6″E / 7.496111°N 81.631556°E |
| Affiliation | Buddhism |
| District | Ampara |
| Province | Eastern Province, Sri Lanka |
| Heritage designation | Archaeological protected monument[1] (26 December 2014) |
| Architectural description | |
| Architectural type | Buddhist Temple |
| Architectural style | Cave temple |
Piyangala Forest Hermitage (Sinhalaː පියංගල ආරණ්ය සේනාසනය) is an ancient Buddhist temple in Ampara, Sri Lanka. The temple lies on the Ampara – Mahaoya main road, approximately 27 km (17 mi) away from the town of Ampara. The temple has been formally recognised by the Government as an archaeological site in Sri Lanka.[1]
History
It is believed that this temple was constructed first century BC by the Queen Rajitha who was a wife of King Dutugamunu.[2] The temple consists of number of drip ledged caves with Brahmi inscriptions and ruins in its premises. Two of the inscriptions detail the donation of caves by Rajithaa, and a daughter of King Dutugamunu who was married to Parumaka Duta. According to the former Archaeological Commissioner, Professor Senarath Paranavithana, these two inscriptions possess great importance as they contain rare information about the queens and children of King Dutugamunu.[3]
Gallery
References
- 1 2 Gazette 1895 26 December 2014, p. 1150.
- ↑ "Piyangala Forest Hermitage, Ampara". easternsrilanka. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
- ↑ "Piyangala Forest Hermitage at Ampara – අම්පාර පුරාණ පියන්ගල ආරන්ය සේනාසනය". amazinglanka. Retrieved 18 August 2016. zero width joiner character in
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Notes
- "Part I : Section (I) — General Government Notifications" (PDF). The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. 1895. 26 December 2014.