Yahangala Rajamaha Vihara

This Vihara is located at the top of a rock, 14 km from Hambantota along the Hambantota-Badagiriya road. The temple dates from the Anuradhapura period (3rd century BC to 11th Century AD). Two inscriptions found at this site written in the early Brahmi script of the 2nd century BC, donations made to the monastery, which helps to date the monastery's construction.

At the top of this rock, there are ruins of three small stupas. The Archaeology Department has conserved one of them, while the others have yet to be conserved. These stupas are pretty small, similar to the small stupas built for the remains of monks.

A flight of steps helps to make one's way up to the top where the pools were constructed and many people of the area, including the monks who live below the rock today, use these pools for some of their daily needs, especially during the dry season. There are also a few clusters of pillars indicating that there were solid structures during ancient times. This ancient temple was probably an important monastery in Ruhuna during its heyday. The extent of the monastery was quite large, as indicated by the brick debris and other evidence that could still be found around the rock. Like most of the temples in this region, Yahangala Monastery also rapidly declined with the moving of the capital city to the wet zone of Sri Lanka. It was discovered during the colonisation schemes of the 20th century.

(Heritage of Ruhuna by Dr. H.A.P. Abeyawardana P116)

Unique Sri Lanka

Yahangala Archealogocal Ruins at Hambantota

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