A historic Buddhist temple situated in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, Western province, Sri Lanka. It is located near to the historic building Pita Kotte Gal Ambalama at the Pita Kotte junction on Kotte road. The temple has been... Read More formally recognised by the Government as an archaeological site in Sri Lanka. The designation was declared on 17 May 2013 under the government Gazette number 1811. ☺️☺️😊😊

The history of Kotte Raja Maha Vihara dates back to the Kingdom of Kotte. During the reign of King Parakumbha VI (1415-1467) the construction of the temple was begun and... Read More completed in all aspects with the royal patronage. King built the temple closer to his royal palace, to doing the necessary duties to the Sangha community. During the Dutch presence in the country Kotte temple was completely destroyed by them. The temple was re-established in 1818 after the destroyed temple was found out by Ven. Pilane Buddha Rakkitha thero. However most of the constructions and artifacts of the original temple had been destroyed and taken away by the foreigners leaving only a few ruins at the place. It is said that only some ruins of the present Stupa, parts of Katharagama Devalaya, and some stone pillars were remained in the Vihara premises.

Visited this Buddhist temple and wished I had come here sooner in life. Entering this serene place felt like years of stress simply melted away. #BuddhistTemple #SereneEscape #StressRelief #InnerPeace

A Buddhist temple which was constructed by King Sri Parakramabahu VI around 1415AD. A very calm and religious place. Most of the locals do their Buddhist rituals and considered... Read More as a sacred place which makes their wishes come true. One of the key attraction related to this temple is the annual Perahara which is colored with wonderful traditional dancing shoes and nicely dressed elephants.

The template has a separate worshiping area and an area for the monks to reside. The secret BO tree is in a separate location to the main template but with... Read More in walking distance. The main attraction is the centuries old Na tree and the Dadimunda Devalaya situated under the same. The place is well maintained. The template owns an elephant who is also kept in the back yard.

The former Capital city of srilanka . Ancient and famous Bubbies temple . Kotte rajamaha viharaya..

If you are interested in the history and fully fledged culture of Sri Lanka, you might want to visit the Kotte Rajamaha Vihara, a historic Buddhist temple situated in Sri... Read More Jayawardenepura Kotte, the administrative capital of the country. The temple is located near the Pita Kotte junction on Kotte road. The Kotte Rajamaha Vihara dates back to the 15th century, when it was built by King Parakramabahu VI, who ruled the Kingdom of Kotte from 1410 to 1467. The king constructed the temple near his royal palace, to offer his patronage and support to the Sangha community. Moreover, the temple also hosts an annual perahera (procession) in honour of the Sacred Tooth Relic, which is held in August or September. The perahera features elephants, dancers, drummers, and other performers, who parade along the streets of Kotte with colourful costumes and decorations. The Kotte Rajamaha Vihara is a place where you can experience the rich heritage and spirituality of Sri Lanka. It is open daily, and admission is free. You can also make donations or offerings to support the temple and its activities. If you visit the temple, make sure to dress modestly and respectfully, and remove your shoes before entering any building. You can also join the devotees in chanting, meditating, or offering flowers and incense to the Lord Buddha.

It is a historical temple located near Colombo. Its old inage house has a lot of Kandyan style mural paintings. The new chapter house also looks beautiful. However the temple... Read More is gradually getting crowded with new buildings.

Nice place. The big monk is sincere and friendly. We went to take photos with the Kotte Raja elephant.

I also performed sri dalada perahera kotte . Its very interesting .

Lovely yearly pageant. This is over 100 year s old

Sacred temple and holy place for Buddhists ☸️

There are few PET plastic collection bins. Devotees should practice to drop their PET waste into the correct bins. That will great help to the environment.

The Kotte Kingdom, a significant chapter in Sri Lanka's history, flourished during the 15th century. It was a period marked by both cultural brilliance and political intrigue, shaping the course... Read More of the island nation. The kingdom's rise began in the late 14th century when Minister Alakesvara established Kotte as a fortress to counter potential invasions from South India. However, it was under the reign of Parakramabahu VI (1412-1467) that Kotte truly blossomed. He moved the capital from Gampola to Kotte in 1415, recognizing its strategic location and natural defenses. Parakramabahu VI's reign was a golden era for Kotte. He successfully unified the island, conquering the Jaffna Kingdom in the north, bringing Sri Lanka under a single rule for the first time in over a century. This period witnessed significant cultural and artistic advancements, with Kotte becoming a center of learning and religious activity. The construction of the Kotte Dalada Maligawa, a temple housing the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha, further solidified the kingdom's religious importance. However, the Kotte Kingdom's prosperity was short-lived. Internal strife and external pressures began to erode its power. In 1521, a tragic event known as the "Wijayaba Kollaya" led to the division of the kingdom among the sons of King Vijayabahu VII. This weakened the kingdom and paved the way for further decline. The arrival of the Portuguese in 1505 marked a turning point. Seeking to exploit the region's resources and strategic location, the Portuguese established a foothold in Sri Lanka. They formed alliances with certain Kotte rulers, further destabilizing the kingdom. In 1597, with the death of King Don Juan Dharmapala, the Kotte Kingdom officially ended. The Portuguese, who had been steadily increasing their influence, took control of the kingdom, marking the beginning of a new era in Sri Lankan history. The legacy of the Kotte Kingdom, however, endures. Its capital city, now a suburb of Colombo, still bears witness to its glorious past. The ruins of the ancient city, including the Kotte Dalada Maligawa and the royal palace, offer a glimpse into the grandeur of this bygone era. The Kotte Kingdom's story serves as a reminder of Sri Lanka's rich history and the complex interplay of power, culture, and external influences that shaped its destiny.

Temple has been built during the kotte period with the royal patronage and venerated by the royal court. The temple completed in all aspects described in details in the poetic... Read More literature( Sandesha Kavya) of the era. Prince sapumal has made a vow to the "Na" (iron wood) tree, prior to his departure to capture jaffna peninsula. The temple has been completely destroyed by Dutch and subsequently ven.Pilane Buddha Rakkitha in the year 1818 has rebuilt to include new sections and the temple was re established. Among the new constructions temple and the entrance doors are considered to be particular interests.

One of the historic buddhist temple located in the capital of Sri Lanka, built during the ancient Kotte kingdom. Calm and quite place. Annual perahera is one of key attraction... Read More of this temple. There are so many flower shops in front of the temple. Usually get crowded on poya days. If you travel by your own vehicle, parking facility is there inside and outside the temple.

An ancient temple set in a vast area. Calm peaceful and holy place. People can perform their religious activities at leisure. If you are lucky you can see the Kotte... Read More Raja (elephant) bathing or having a snack.

Simple and calm place, I went with my kids, respected Harmudurus guides me very well, I love majestic elephants in my country and very aware about kotte Raja, I passed... Read More this temple many occasions and this is my first visit and it will continue