From a religious perspective, these temple grounds were the site to two great incidents. The first was the act of sacrifice by King Sangabo, a Bodhisattva (a future Buddha) that fulfilled his Dana Paramita (one of the ten perfections to be completed by a Bodhisattva to become a Buddha, or an Awakened One). The second is that this was the temple where, during the reign of King Upatissa (365-406 A.D
.), one of the monks attained enlightenment. And so, during ancient times, both Kings and the common man would make pilgrimages to this temple. It continues to be an extremely popular temple and can be filled to capacity on Buddhist religious days. It is also a place for the local community to gather, and community events and cultural functions are often held at the community hall and in the open garden spaces. So plan your visit on a quieter day and you can explore some of the beautiful temple buildings at your leisure. The 26 acres of land, and the historical buildings contained within, were declared a sacred city in 1994. There are two roadways to reach the main temple compound, one with a long staircase, the other through a gravel path. Walk under sun dappled trees among the sounds of the chirping birds and the serenity of the place will enthrall you. A few of the temple buildings were constructed during ancient times but they were badly damaged during the reign of King Seethawaka Rajasinghe in the 17th Century. Almost all the buildings you see in the temple compound today were rebuilt or newly constructed during the Kandyan period. Most notable among the ancient buildings is the Vatadage, believed to have been built by King Gotabhaya in the third century, on the ground where he found King Sangabo's headless body. Another ancient building on the site is the Dambadeniya Chaithya which was built by King Parakramabahu II (who ruled during 1236 - 1270) in memory of his father. At the entrance steps to this Chaithya, you will find two guard stones which are said to be from the Anuradhapura period. Keep an eye out for the ruins of the five-storey monastery building that once stood here. Standing like silent sentinels to another era, several stone columns and carved stones are all that remain of the grand building which was built as a donation by King Upatissa II in the Fourth Century. You can immerse yourself in the story of King Sangabo (see text box) as you walk by the statue located prominently in the centre of the temple compound, by a small stone pond (look for the footprints in the rock, thought to be those of King Sangabo and his Queen, who found him after his death). Visit the caves where he is once thought to have lived, the larger ponds and the tree-covered pathways which he may have walked through (albeit when it was covered in thick jungle). There are many myths and folklore about this place, chief among them the stories of the many priceless treasures that are said to be hidden within the ancient buildings by King Gotabhaya as an act of seeking forgiveness for all his wrongdoing. Another popular tale is that of the cries of King Sangabo's wife who searched for him in these jungles for nine days. These sounds are called the "widow's wails" and people still say they can be heard through the trees when you walk deep into the jungle. Walk through the cool temple buildings, where the story of King Sangabo and other Jataka stories (stories of the Buddha) are found in colourful wall murals. This temple is also home to many ancient ola-leaf manuscripts and ancient books, which can be seen on request. Several giant stone statues, recently gifted by temples in China and Taiwan are also found at one end of the compound. A visit to the Attanagalla Raja Maha Viharaya is one which will give you more than a glimpse into the ancient history of Sri Lanka, taking you back to a time of ancient Kingdoms, Palace intrigue and a pious King.
