Wattarama Sri Arahant Maliyadewa Raja Maha Viharaya

Wattarama Sri Arahant Maliyadewa Raja Maha Viharaya is located between Kegalle and Polgahawela in the Kegalle - Polgahawela road. This temple has a great historical, cultural and religious value of its own. 

This Buddhist temple is considered as the monastry where the last monk who attained Arahanthood in Srilanka and he is non other than Venarable Arahant Maliyadewa Thero.

According to the historical reports, there were 6 Arahant monks named Maliyadewa but among them the last one who attained Arahanthood lived and attained Nibbana in this temple premises. Therefore to pay him honour, the temple has named as Wattarama Sri Arahant Maliyadewa Raja Maha Viharaya.

The history of Wattarama temple runs far beyond the kingdom of Anuradhapura which can be proved by following. 

● The emergence of Dethis Pala Bodhi.

● The emergence of Ananda Bodhi

● Arahant Mihindu Thero once had stated before his Parinibbana that the last monk who attains Arahanthood will be emerged in the land Mandalarama in Kalalagrama village towards the south of Anuradhapura and he also requested to deposit and secure his relics in the same premises.

It is believed that the kings of that era, never refused the requests of monks so, the relics of Maliyadewa Thero must be secured in dagaba in this temple.  According to the Bell report of H.C.P.Bell, there was a huge lump of soil in this premises and later on the chaithya has built on it. 

This land has called by many names such as Kalalagrama, Mandalarama, Thalawathupitiya, Dematamalvehera and so on. Later it was named as Wattarama as this land was covered by 16 monastries. 

This temple consists of many prominent places and things. Maliyamahapaya, The old iron foot print of Lord Buddha, The old library (poth gula), The old iron lamp, The sanitary Facilities of that era, ancient Art culture based on Kandy tradition, Iron carvings, book stone inscriptions etc.