Kelani Vihara
A suburban city in the western province of Sri Lanka situated in close proximity to the Kelani River, Kelaniya is famous for its Buddhist temple, Kelani Viharaya. According to the historical chronicles of Sri Lanka, the Lord Buddha visited Kelaniya on the invitation of the Naga King Maniakkhita in order to settle a dispute between two Naga leaders called Chulodara and Mahodara over a jewel studded throne. After the Buddha settled the dispute, the stupa was built and the disputed throne is said to have been enshrined in the stupa. Kelaniya was the capital of the King Kelanitissa. However, the royal family of Magama in the south was connected to the royalty of Kalyani by the marriage of the King Kavantissa of Magama to Viharamahadevi, daughter of the King Kelanitissa. This marriage resulted in the birth of Dutugemunu (2nd century BCE), the greatest ever Sinhalese king of Sri Lanka.
The temple is located on a large earth mound facing the Kelani River. The main terrace containing the sacred edifices, the image temple, the historic stupa and the Bo tree is approached by steep and wide stone steps and at the top are two beautifully constructed Toranas. Earlier there existed only one archway, but this has been doubled in recent times. The wide lawn leading to the main terrace contains the famed Devale of Vibishana (defector brother of Rawana), the presiding deity of Kelaniya. The historic stupa that still retains its original Dhanyakara (shape of a heap of paddy) shape occupies a large area of the terrace on the eastern sector
