Nawagamuwa Pattini Devalaya is a historic temple situated in Nawagamuwa, Colombo District, Sri Lanka. The Archaeological Department has declared the Devalaya as a protected monument due to its importance in historical, architectural, and anthropological facets. It is a Buddhist temple primarily dedicated to all the gods. According to legend, King Gajabahu I (114−136) brought the ‘Pattini anklet’ from India after a victorious return with 12,000 prisoners. He built the Devalaya at the spot where he rested during his return to Anuradhapura. Another version suggests that Goddess Pattini arrived from India with 12,000 devotees from 16 castes and settled in this area. Some attribute the temple's origin to Neelaperumal Pandaram, who came from Kerala. Verifiable historical evidence about the Devalaya emerged during the Kotte period. Excavations have revealed building materials, wells, Dutch coins, and iron implements from the Middle Ages. Notable events occurred during the Kotte Period, including the inauguration of Hewagam Korale by King Rajasinha I and King Mayadunne's vow before going to war with the Portuguese in Colombo Fort.
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In a extremely urbanized city of Sri Lanka, having an eye catching water reservoir is like a blessing in disguise. Diyawanna Oya Wetland or also known as the infamous Diyawanna Lake is a urban wetland housed in just away from Colombo main city at Sri Jayawardhanapura – Kotte, the administrative capital of Sri Lanka. In an urbanized city, the water retention and flood protection is extremely important while maintaining the scenic beauty the water reservoir offers in the land. Not only it supports the large amount of water reservoir, it also became a house for many islands, in which one of them holds the Parliament of Sri Lanka. Diyawanna reservoir holds a treasured value of ancient history, specially as the defensive barrier of ancient Kotte Kingdom of Sri Lanka. Even in the ancient literature the Diyawanna Reservoir became a topic of admiration, and apart from that the significance change to the reservoir happened in 1979 and 1980 when the Parliament Complex started to construct, and declaration of the Kotte and newly building land as the administrative capital in Sri Lanka respectively. Nature is also endowed the Diyawanna Lake and the surrounding a gift in a form of wetland, with vast marshlands, wooded area, swamps, islands and also as a protection from heavy rainfall and their consequences as well as temperature regulator of the area and its enriched bio-diversity housing several Flora and fauna , fish and birds of different caliber. As it is declared a wet land, the wildlife sanctuary and the immediate area, there are many activities offered in front of boat rides, recreational activities, exercising activities, sporting, bathing and even enjoying the tracks and park of the Diyawanna Reservoir.
A wayside rest located beside a natural pond overlooking a scenic paddy field, legend has it that King Walagamba who was travelling towards Pilikutthuwa, stopped here to break journey. The queen who bathed at the natural pond here had lost her hair extension (hawariya) at the particular location and the place was named Hawariyawala, and later, Averiyawala. Though declared as an archaeologically protected monument, Averiyawala Ambalama still serves as a wayside rest for those traveling to Adam’s Peak by foot.
