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The gateway to history-by Mahil Wijesinghe Source:Sundayobserver According to chronicles, the Bihalpola Raja Maha Vihara is believed to have been constructed during the reign of King Devanampiyatissa and later renovated by King Walagambahu (89-77 BC). Among the ruins at the site are a stone pillar inscription, several stone pillars and a stone carved flight of steps possibly belonging to the Anuradhapura period During the Kandyan period, there was a unique type of Vihara called the ‘Tampita Vihara’. Tampita Vihara is a temple on pillars. Its most prominent feature is that it is mounted on monolithic pillars or dwarfed rock pillars. This type of Vihara that stood on raised platforms of wood standing on stone pillars on huge rock boulders was constructed to prevent white ants or other vermin from entering and damaging it. ...