Travel Back in Time
to an Era of Grandeur
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Travel Back in Time
to an Era of Grandeur
Situated in close proximity to Benthara River, the Galapatha Raja Maha Viharaya holds the key to a number of historical mysteries.
Situated near a river crossing, which was said to be haunted by a man-eating demon, the Galapatha Raja Maha Viharaya holds many archaeological and historical mysteries
Identified as the Bhimathitta Viharaya, mentioned in the chronicles of Sri Lanka, Mahavamsa and Culavamsa, the stupa at the temple is believed to house the sacred tooth relic of Arhat Maha Kassapa Thera, a chief disciple of the Lord Buddha.
Although the temple is believed to belong to an earlier period, most of the structures found on site today belong to the Kandyan Period. The stone pathway leading to the temple and the stone archway decorated with Narilatha motifs are textbook examples of Kandyan craftsmanship.
Yet, the stone inscriptions by the entrance belonging to the 13th-century detail the renovations and new constructions done at the temple by King Parakramabahu with the assistance of a Dravidian chieftain, while excavations at the site have revealed that the temple had been in existence since the 3rd century BC.
Standing as a mute witness to its rich history is a stone water filter that had been in use at the temple since the time immemorial. Built with a porous stone and shaped like a basin, the filter known as ‘Galperanaya’ or the stone filter carries no incisions, but filters the water through the pores, to the amazement of the visitors to the temple.