DEEGHAWAPI VIHARAYA

This temple is the sixth place in the Solosmasthana (the sixteen places visited by Buddha in Sri Lanka). Buddha is said to have visited here during his third visit to the island, accompanied by five hundred arahat (devotees). This large dagoba with an impressive canopy was built by King Saddhatissa (137-119 BC). With the fall of the kingdoms of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, and the relocation of the capital of Sri Lanka to the central and southern parts, the area was abandoned and Deegawapi was covered by jungle