Warana Rajasmaha Viharaya
Warana Raja Maha Viharaya, or the Varana Temple got its name because it's located in Warana village. This is one of the cave temple located in Western province of Sri Lanka, which can be reach less than 1.5 hours from Colombo. You will be amazed to see historical cave temples on the giant rocks with some ancient inscriptions(Brahmin script ).
Warana temple is located around 5 km away from the Colombo Kandy highway. If you are coming from Colombo, turn right from Yakkala Junction and go around 4 km. Then you will find "Nelli Gaha Mula" junction and turn left from there. You have to go around 1 km and then take a another side road, which leads you to Warana Temple.
History of Varana Temple:
History of Warana Rock temple flows up to king Devanampiyatissa time. According to some written information he constructed this temple between 2nd and 3rd centery BC. Later the King Walagamba did renovation in 1st century AD. King Walagamba is a famous for Rock ( cave) temple building in Sri Lanka, because he used to hide among most of those caves when kings from south India invades Sri Lanka. After he won the battle, He had build temples in most of these locations or renovate the existing ones. King Nissanka Malla and king Parakarmabahu VI also contributed to the development of this temple.
There are some inscriptions find in Warana temple. They says that "This is donated to Tissa Dhatta Thero, the brother of Majjhima Thero". The Tissa Dhatta Thero is considered as the student of Mahinda Thero.
History of Warana Rock temple flows up to king Devanampiyatissa time. According to some written information he constructed this temple between 2nd and 3rd centery BC. Later the King Walagamba did renovation in 1st century AD. King Walagamba is a famous for Rock ( cave) temple building in Sri Lanka, because he used to hide among most of those caves when kings from south India invades Sri Lanka. After he won the battle, He had build temples in most of these locations or renovate the existing ones. King Nissanka Malla and king Parakarmabahu VI also contributed to the development of this temple.
There are some inscriptions find in Warana temple. They says that "This is donated to Tissa Dhatta Thero, the brother of Majjhima Thero". The Tissa Dhatta Thero is considered as the student of Mahinda Thero.
Road Map Thihariya Junction (Yakkala) to Warana Temple
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