Mirisawetiya Temple

"The Mirisaweti Stupa/Temple is a memorial building built by Great King Dutugamunu (161 BC to 137 BC) after defeating King Elara of India who was ruling after evading until such time bringing the country under one rule of law once again. The King had placed relics of Buddha in his sceptre and it had got stuck to the ground without been able to move when he came back after a bath from Thisa Wewa/lake. The stupa was built in the place where the sceptre stood. It is also said that he remembered that he partook in a chilly curry without offering it to the Sangha. In order to punish himself he built the Mirisavetiya (Chilly in Singhala language) Dagaba. The unparallel artistic value of the “Vahalkada” is said to be the main reason that so much notice was taken of Mirisawetiya. "