Ancient Deegawapiya
Built in the second century BC by King Saddatissa enshrining the relics of Lord Buddha, Deegawapiya is one of the sixteen most sacred pilgrim locations of Lanka.Believed to have received sanctity by Lord Buddha himself when he visited Sri Lanka for the third time accompanied with 500 arhants, Deegawapiya had been first made in to a temple by the father of King Saddatissa, King Kwantissa nearly fifty years before the stupa was built.
The stupa had received royal sponsorship until the country was colonized by the Portuguese and nearly 400 years of colonization saw the ruin of the stupa and the monastery. The stupa was rediscovered in 1916 yet the war and the activities of the villagers around had destroyed the stupa and the ancient constructions around. However the site is being renovated and excavated by the Archeological Department at the moment.
Things to Do: Archeology, pilgrimage, sightseeing and photography
The stupa had received royal sponsorship until the country was colonized by the Portuguese and nearly 400 years of colonization saw the ruin of the stupa and the monastery. The stupa was rediscovered in 1916 yet the war and the activities of the villagers around had destroyed the stupa and the ancient constructions around. However the site is being renovated and excavated by the Archeological Department at the moment.
Things to Do: Archeology, pilgrimage, sightseeing and photography
