Magul maha viharaya is just one of the clusters of sites which travelers esteem about. In other names it is Ruhunu Maha Viharaya. The Magul maha vihara monastery complex is located to the southern part of Sithulpawwa. So that you can take the siyabalanduwa-pottuvil road and travel for about 22 km off from Siyambalandwa. Otherwise you can take 11 km off from Pottuvil. The viharaya is deemed as the place where King Kavantissa (2nd century) used to marry Princess Vihara Maha Devi.
People believe that the ruined Magul maduwa was the place where the wedding ceremony took place. Never the less it is said that the wedding ceremony of King kavantissa was celebrated in a place nearby Muhudu Maha Viharaya at Arugam Bay. Another version is that it was built by King Datusena (516 – 126A.D). Later it was revamped by Queen Viharamahadevi. Queen viharamahadevi is the wife of KingBuvaneka bahu 5 og Gampola Kingdom. In so far as it is difficult to elect which version of the history is correct. There is a stone scripture which dates back to 14th century.
Yet magul maha is situated in a part of the Yala national park, covers an area about 10000 acres. On the way to the temple you will meet a Lake with Lotus flowers. Ruins of a ancient Dagoba are still surviving. The vihara consist of a unique Moonstone (sanda kada pahana) which is a remarkable masterpiece of Sinhalese. Usually there were no mahouts in the moonstones designed within all kingdoms. But here the elephants with mahouts are carved in this half circle shaped moonstone. The dwarfs in Rock crafts have hindered the entrance of evil eye.
Two lions placed on each side of the Dagoba seemed to be guarding the temple. Ruined palace, stupa, bodhigara, moonstone, ponds and monastery are still remained. Late devotees believed that the remaining ruins of Bodhigara are a wedding platform but the archeologists discovered that it is a Bodhighara after excavations. By the way the temple has been well preserved from nature. These extensive ruins are worth a lot. Ancient Sri lankan traditions customs are beautifully elaborated by the architect. Lahugala is a part of late Ruhunu Kingdom. A national park and few tanks of the irrigation systems of Ruhuna can be explored in the area. The temple wasn’t worshipped by devotees where as there was a crucial war in Sri Lanka. But today it is becoming famous among the travelers.