Rajagala illustration

This sacred place is in the Rajagalatenna village in Uhana District Secretariat Division of the Ampara District in the Eastern Province. In the past Rajagala known as Rassahela was one of the premier monastic complexes in Sri Lanka that emerged since the advent of Arahant Mahinda.

The earliest inscription found at Rajagala names the place as “Dhana Tisa Pavata”. However an inscription scribed later, refers to it as “Ariya Araka Girikubilapi Tisa Pavata Maha Vahara” which when translated reads as the Ariyakara Girikumbhilavapi Tissa Pabbata Vihara. In another inscription of King Mahinda II found in the sacred area identifies the temple as Arittara Vehera. In the great chronicle Mahavamsa it is said that when Prince Lajjatissa was the ruler at Dighavapi, a temple by the name Girikumbhila had been built.