GAMANA This historical ancient temple located in Anuradhapura District is nearly 28 km from Anuradhapura. When proceeding about 14km along Anuradhapura Wilachchiya main road, the junction to Thanthirimale is met and has to proceed fourteen more kilometers along the cart road that leads from Thanthirimale junction to this temple. It was used to be introduced as Theewanka Bamunugama in the past. One reason for being sacred is that this temple was one-stop while Sri maha bodhi was brought to Anuradhapura from Dambakolapatuna. The stone inscription near the bodhi shows that the history of this temple dates back as far back as the 3rd century.
Among the salient features, one of the eight offshoots of Jayasri maha bodhi, very picturesque dagaba, and partly sculptured reclining stance statue, and some sitting stance statues can be mentioned. The elevation of the plot of land where the bo tree is placed is 282 feet and that land is a stone stretch. Beneath the bo tree to the right of it in a cave on a rock is a sitting stance Buddha statue. This statue with a length of forty-five feet is a very remarkable creation. Some caves believed to belong to the prehistoric era can be seen in the jungle behind the temple. Some paintings of the prehistoric era can also be witnessed in these caves. All these facts and evidence reveal that prehistoric humans are believed to have lived here. As far as this temple and its surrounding are considered, it is a very good place for university students and other academics who carry out research and studies on history and archeology. As a place of worship, this temple has been famous from time immemorial.
