Bentota, West Coast

Gangarama Maha Vihara

An 800-year-old riverside temple near Bentota, said to house a tooth relic of one of the Buddha’s chief disciples, destroyed by the Dutch and rebuilt by devotees.

🕑 Origins in the 12th century CE 👤 Linked to a minister of Parakramabahu the Great 🏠 Destroyed by the Dutch, later rebuilt 📍 ~3 to 4 km inland from Bentota

A short drive inland from Bentota’s beach hotels, on the quiet southern bank of the Bentota River, sits a temple whose history runs back some 800 years, well before the Portuguese, Dutch or British ever set foot on this coast. Local names for it vary, Galapatha, Gangarama, Bhimatittha, but the site’s importance has stayed constant across every version of its story.

Quick Facts

Location	About 3 to 4 km inland from Bentota, on the Bentota River
Also known as	Galapatha Raja Maha Vihara, Bhimatittha Vihara
Origins	12th century CE, during the reign of Parakramabahu the Great
Historic relic	Believed to hold a tooth relic of Maha Kassapa Thera, a chief disciple of the Buddha
Colonial history	Largely destroyed during the Dutch invasion, later rebuilt
Notable feature	Kandyan-era stone doorway carved with Nari Latha motifs

Commonly searched as: Galapatha Raja Maha Vihara · Gangarama Vihara Bentota · Bentota ancient temple · things to do near Bentota · Sri Lanka riverside temple

Roots in the Age of Parakramabahu

Local tradition and stone inscriptions at the site trace the temple’s founding to the 12th century CE, during the reign of King Parakramabahu the Great, whose ambitious building programme also produced much of the medieval city of Polonnaruwa. According to one commonly repeated account, a minister acting under the king’s authority, a Dravidian chieftain named Mahendra, oversaw the temple’s construction, with land and labour formally granted for the purpose. An inscription found on a rock outcrop near the temple’s stone gateway, protected today behind a metal fence installed by the Department of Archaeology, corroborates this royal-era origin.

The temple’s connection to the river it overlooks runs deep into its naming. The Bentota River is referred to in the ancient chronicle Culavamsa as “Bhimathitha,” combining the Pali words for “fearful” and “ferry crossing,” a reference to local legends of a demon believed to lurk in the river’s depths. Travellers crossing the water were said to invoke the guardian deities Kataragama and Vishnu for safe passage, and the temple itself came to be known by the alternate name Bhimathitha Vihara because of that association.

Destroyed, Then Rebuilt by the Faithful

Like so many of Sri Lanka’s coastal Buddhist sites, the temple suffered serious damage during the Dutch colonial period in the 16th century, when European powers frequently targeted Buddhist religious structures along the coast they controlled. Rather than disappearing, the temple was rebuilt by devoted local communities, a pattern of resilience seen at numerous ancient Sri Lankan temples that faced similar colonial-era destruction.

Among the temple’s most treasured claims is that it houses a tooth relic of Maha Kassapa Thera, one of the Buddha’s closest disciples, brought to Sri Lanka during the Anuradhapura era and eventually moved to this site for safekeeping amid enemy invasions elsewhere on the island. King Parakramabahu II is recorded as having held a three-day festival in honour of the relic after learning of its presence at the temple, later dispatching a minister to carry out repairs to the site.

The Stone Carvings

The temple’s entrance is one of its standout features: a stone doorway framed by two upright monolithic pillars, with two more set horizontally above and below, carved with elaborate Nari Latha motifs dating to the Kandyan period. These carvings depict a mythological climbing vine associated with Himalayan legend, said to blossom into the form of an enticing woman, a striking piece of decorative artistry for what is otherwise a fairly modest rural temple complex.

Visiting Tips

Look closely at the murals and Jataka tale paintings inside the main temple building, alongside its large reclining Buddha statue.
The stone inscriptions near the entrance gateway are protected; view them respectfully without touching the fencing.
Combine with a wider Bentota day covering the beach, water sports, and nearby attractions like the turtle hatchery.
Dress modestly and remove shoes before entering shrine areas, as at any active Buddhist temple.

Where It Sits on the Map

Galapatha Raja Maha Vihara, near Bentota River Open in Google Maps ↗

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is this temple?

Its origins date to the 12th century CE, during the reign of King Parakramabahu the Great, based on stone inscriptions found at the site.

Why does the temple have multiple names?

It’s known as Galapatha Raja Maha Vihara, Gangarama Vihara, and Bhimatittha Vihara, the last referencing the Bentota River’s ancient Pali name, tied to local river-crossing legends.

What relic is the temple associated with?

A tooth relic believed to belong to Maha Kassapa Thera, one of the Buddha’s chief disciples, moved here for safekeeping during the Anuradhapura era.

What happened to the temple under Dutch rule?

It was largely destroyed during the Dutch colonial invasion in the 16th century and was later rebuilt by local devotees.

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