Seethawakapura alias Avissawella

Seethawaka Buddhist temple

Barandiya Kovil near Seethawakapura

Seethawakapura, also known under its former name Avissawella, is crossed by tourists travelling from Colombo to Ratnapura or from the southwestern beaches to adventure holiday destination Kitulgala. Not many travellers take a break at Seethawakapura. To be honest, the town is not a must-see. But apart from typical Buddhist temples with modern buildings and paintings, there is one ancient site in the suburbs of Seethawakapura. The Berendi Kovil, also known as Barandiya Kovil, was the main temple of the former Sinhalese capital Seethawaka (Sitavaka). It’s one of the rare archaeologival sites of the 16th century in Sri Lanka. Modern Hindu pilgrims from India consider this temple to be a place visited by Lord Rama.