Balapokuna Raja Maha Vihara ( si, බලපොකුණ රජ මහා විහාරය) is a historic Buddhist temple situated in

Pamankada Pamankada is a suburb in Colombo, Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Demo ...

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, Sri Lanka. It is located near to the 6th mile post junction on

Colombo Colombo ( ; si, කොළඹ, translit=Koḷam̆ba, ; ta, கொழும்பு, translit=Koḻumpu, ) is the executive and judicial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka by population. According to the Brookings Institution, Colombo m ...

- Batticaloa main road. The temple has been formally recognised by the

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as an archaeological site in Sri Lanka. The designation was declared on 6 June 2008 under the government

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number 1553.

Balapokuna

Balapokuna Vihara has got its name because of the Balapokuna, a natural pond located on a rock surface in the Vihara premises. In the early periods the pond was called as "Batapokuna" and the name had been derived from the

Sinhalese Sinhala may refer to: * Something of or related to the Sinhalese people of Sri Lanka * Sinhalese people * Sinhala language, one of the three official languages used in Sri Lanka * Sinhala script, a writing system for the Sinhala language ** Sinha ...

word "Bata" which meaning soldiers. During the reign of King

Parakramabahu VI Parâkramabâhu VI (1410/1412/1415–1467) was a king in the Sri Lankan kingdom of Kotte. He is the last great king in Sri Lanka who managed to unite the island under one flag. His rule is famous for the political stability which he maintained i ...

the water of the pond had been used by his soldiers and later the name Batapokuna was gradually evolved to its present name Balapokuna. According to popular legend, Balapokuna is an exit point to the ancient tunnel which runs from Kotte, the others being at the Kotte Ananda Shastralaya and the Pita Kotte Gal Ambalama.

References

Sources

External links

*
Balapokuna Purana Viharaya at Kirulapone – බලපොකුණ විහාරය
{{Refend Buddhist temples in Colombo District Archaeological protected monuments in Colombo District