The ancient Magul Maha Viharaya, believed to be the venue of the wedding between King Kavantissa of the Magam Ruhunu Kingdom (205-161 BC) and Princess Viharamaha Devi, is situated in Lahugala. The princess who had been sacrificed to the ocean met King Kavantissa in the Eastern Coast of Pottuvil. As legend has it, the princess was carried by a golden boat. The temple lays claim to a distinctive moonstone that belongs to the Anuradhapura era.

Experience Overview

Witness the unique moonstone of the temple, which is adorned with intricate details including the tender leaves of the ironwood tree, lotus petals, flower motifs and animals. A dagoba is built upon an elevated platform about six feet tall, and its stairways are guarded by stone lions. To the west of the dagoba is the Bodhigara or Bo tree shrine, known amongst people as the Magul Poruwa (marriage podium) of the royal marriage. The image house situated towards the North End of the temple complex houses a limestone-standing Buddha statue. Many stone pillars and other remnants of varying sizes are scattered across the entire area.

Includes:

We provide a guide, water and vehicle.

Meeting time:

To be agreed with your guide.

Difficulty:

Easy

Suitable for children:

Little children may not follow the explanations of the guide.

What to wear or bring along:

Light, cool clothing. You will need to cover your knees and shoulders – and access the temple barefoot or with socks.

Private or not?

The visit is private, guided by your chauffeur guide, national guide or site guide. That said, there may be other people around at the site.

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A Visit to Magul Maha Viharaya - Experience - Sri Lanka In Style

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Managing Expectations

“ It is important to remember that, whilst they are experts in their field, the people who run or host our experiences are not necessarily used to working in the tourism industry and may not offer the level of service you would find at a five-star hotel. For example, instead of a formal lecture, you may get a relaxed conversation where open discussion is encouraged. All of our hosts are, however, extremely engaging, knowledgeable and passionate about educating visitors about their chosen subject and we have worked with them to ensure that they deliver worthwhile, fulfilling experiences. We welcome feedback, so please let us know what you thought and if you think any improvements could be made to the experiences we offer. ”

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A Visit to Magul Maha Viharaya