Asgiriya Raja Maha Viharaya (අස්ගිරිය රජ මහා විහාරය) Gampaha. — Attraction in Western Province

Gampaha Asgiriya Raja Maha Viharaya is an ancient cave temple lying on top of a hillock on the Gampaha Minuwangoda Road. According to legends the history of the temple goes back as far as King Walagamba ( 89-77 BC) who is said to have used the caves to hide during his exile after 104 BC. The king is said to have built hundreds of cave temples all over the country at each place where he used to hide during the recruitment of a new army to defeat the invaders.

The main ancient temple lies at the top of the Asgiriya hill.  This has been used as a forest hermitage in the ancient times.  At a later date, this temple received patronage from a regional king called Sakala Wallabha during the time of  Parakramabahu the 6th of Kotte Kingdom in the 16th century.  The cave with drip ledges has been converted into an image house which is covered with paintings belonging to the Kandyan Era. There is a bolder near the Bodhi Tree with inscriptions which has been protected by the Department of Archeology. This bolder also has a carving of the head of a horse. A carving of a Sri Pathula (footprint of Buddha) can be seen on one of the rocks. An ancient pond now abandoned lies at the top. None of which has been dated. It is believed that the name Asgiri was coined due to a horse of Prince Uttiya, the brother of King Kelanitissa being mysteriously lost on these hills.

About 100 years ago the priests had built an Alms Hall at the bottom of the hill since the benefactors offering alms were finding it difficult to climb to the top of the hill every day. Later a Buddha Image Hall and a Stupa were also built near this hall. A Bo Tree has also been planted here creating another complete temple at the bottom of the hill.

The temple is also known for a secret tunnel on the hill. This tunnel can be reached by stepping to the upper temple and turning right halfway. The access is through the jungle with thorny bushes. This path will lead you to a wide rock cave with a drip ledge. The cave becomes narrower as you walk into the cave. At the end of the cave lies the entrance to the tunnel. To reach the tunnel you would need to crawl between the rock and the floor. The cave entrance is now carved in cannot be accessed.

It is believed that there is a vast treasure hidden inside the tunnel and some believe that this tunnel was a secret route to pilikuththuwa rajamaha viharaya which lies about 8 km away.

There is also a deep hole on the rock next to the Stupa at the top. People believe that a treasure had been hidden inside this rock and covered with another stone and treasure hunters have destroyed the cover and plundered the valuables. Today only a hole covered by...

Asgiriya Raja Maha Viharaya is an ancient cave temple situated in Asgitiya area, on top of a hillock on the Gampaha - Minuwangoda road and approximately 2 km from the Gampaha town. It is said that the name of Asgiri was formed after the lost of horse of Prince Uttiya, the brother of King Kelanitissa, in this area

It is believed that the history of this temple goes to the reign of King Valagamba (89-77 BC). According to the legends King Valagamba, who fled from Anuradhapura kingdom, after invasions from South India in 104 BC, stayed in this historical places from time to time.

This cave temple with drip ledges has been constructed with wattle and daub. To the right of the cave temple a Devalaya can be seen. The image house of the cave temple has been built little high from floor ground. A wooden flight of stairs had been made for enter it. Inside the image house there is a Samadhi Buddha statue with features of art in the Kandyan period. On the either side, images of Buddha in Abaya mudhra can be seen. The canopy of the cave is decorated with lotus flowers and with various other flower designs.

In the upper ground surface of the rock a Sannasa (Deed of grant) with the picture of a horse is found. Also there is a pond made on the rock and the Stupa is situated adjacent to it. In the top portion of the rock surface there is a stone with foot print of Buddha. On the other side of the rock surface, a big cave with drip ledges...

Asgiriya Raja Maha Vihara is an ancient cave temple situated in Gampaha District, Sri Lanka. The temple is located on top of a hillock on the Gampaha - Minuwangoda road and approximately 2 km away from Gampaha town. The temple has been formally recognised by the Government as an archaeological site in Sri Lanka.

The temple is said to have been founded by King Walagamba in the 2nd century BC. It is one of the two main seats of the Siyam Nikaya, the largest Buddhist sect in Sri Lanka. The other main seat is the Malwatta Maha Vihara in Kandy.

The temple complex is home to a number of important Buddhist relics, including a tooth of the Buddha. There are also a number of caves and shrines within the complex, some of which date back to the Anuradhapura period.

Asgiriya Raja Maha Vihara is a popular tourist destination, and is especially crowded during the Esala Perahera, a major Buddhist festival held in July or...