Piyangala Hermitage
It is an ancient buddist temple in Ampara the temple lies on Mahaoya approximately 27 km away from town of Ampara this complex has been a forest Hermitage in the past with over 50 caves with drip ledges. The ledges indicate that these caves were home to forest dwelling meditating Buddhist priests in the ancient past.
This Hermitage situated on a peak of the monastery is quite little compared to the other nearby monasteries. A stone path that reaches the entrance of the monastery which has a 100 feet long walking path that is more suitable for meditation.
It is believed that this temple was constructed in the first century BC by the queen Rajitha who was a wife of king Dutugemunu. The piyangala heritage came in to limelight in 2009, when a massive rock hurry was put of on one side of the rock and began blasting the rock away for the construction of the oluvil harbour, the ancient cave with paintings at piyangala known as Chithra Lena was also Said to been imparted by this hurry Hermitage was the victim of civil war rock quarry as well as a series of damning forest fires yet it stands even today.
