This ancient vihara near Anuradhapura is a complex on monastic buildings. It was built by King Vattagamini Abhya during the period of his second reign from 89 - 77 BC. During the kings first reign there was a tamil invasion and when they besieged the city and defeated the king he had to abandon the throne and flee to the hill country. While he was fleeing from his enemies a 'nigantha' - a jaina monk called Giri laughed and ridiculed him. Angered by this the king resolved to build a temple at the site of the nigathas monastery if he ever regained the throne. After being in exile for 14 years he marched back to Anuradhapura in 89 BC and regained the throne by defeating the reigning king Bhathiya. After this he fulfilled his promise by building the Abhayagiri Vihara at the site of the nigantha Giri’s monastery. Although it is not a hard fact, many believe the vihara was named by combining the king’s name Abhaya with that of the niganthas – Giri.

The religious importance of the Abhayagiri Vihara comes from the fact that it played an important role in creating a rift in the orthodox Buddhist practices. Up until 77 BC the country followed the orthodox Buddhist practices centered on the Mahavihara. During this time a monk called Dhammaruci arrived at Abhayagiri and introduced a new way of thinking different to that of the orthodox practices this eventually led to the creation of a new sect. it entertained different shades of Buddhism going beyond the orthodox Maha Vihara, and thus encouraged lively intellectual discussion. In the 3rd century AD King Mahasen ascended to the throne and he was a follower of the Abhayagiri teachings. Encouraged by his tutor monk he issued a decree forbidding giving alms to the Maha Vihara and destroyed its buildings and used the material to build new buildings at Abhayagiriya. During this time the temple reached its golden age.

By the 8th century AD Abhayagir Vihara was well developed and well established seat of learning and cultured the new practices. It was also important in establishing overseas links with countries such as China, Java and Kashmir. No matter how important it became as a seat of learning it still suffered attacks from south Indian invaders. After the desertion of Anuradhapura as the capitol, Abhayagiriya also fell into ruin. It was engulfed by the encroaching jungle and vegetation even grew on the dome and completely covered it. It remained hidden for eight centuries until it was rediscovered in 1880.

The whole vihara complex covers about 200 hectares and has all the essentials needed by a monastery. These include the stupa, image house, bodhi tree shrine, chapter house, living quarters, refectories, bath houses and etc. successive kings such as Gajabahu I, Kaniththatissa, Sena III and Parakramabahu I contributed to it’s development.