Attanagalla Raja Maha Viharava

Believed to have been built by King Gotabhaya (249-262 AD) to immortalise his senior brother King Sri Sangabo (247-249 A.D.) who is asserted to have donated his head to a passer by , who shared his lunch with him Attanagalla Raja Maha Viharaya had been the main monastery of a monastery complex spread around the area. 

The legend holds that King Sri Sangabodhi, the pious king of Sri Lanka was hiding at the location of the temple after having escaped the invading armies of his brother, prince Gotabaya . The king had left abandoned his kingdom and throne in favour of a monastic life not wanting to fight the prince and endanger the lives of the citizen, a move which left Prine Gotabya insecure and  unpopular among the populace.