Menikdena Archeological Reserve and Arboretum | මැණික්දෙන පුරාවිද්‍යා රක්ෂිතය සහ වෘක්ෂෝද්‍යානය

(Quoted from Amazing Lanka web site)....
Menikdena Archeological reserve lies on the Dambulla - Kandy road few kilometres away from the Dambulla town. The reserve lies between the beautiful Menikdena tank and the Nikula or Menikdena Hill range reaching a 875m height. Menikdena archaeological reserve covers a area of 2 hectares (5 acres) and the Arboretum covers about 14 hectares (35 acres) of forest land.
The history of Menikdena Monastery dates back to the time of King Kithsiri Megha (555-573 AD) but some archeologists believe this monastery dates back as far as 3rd to 4th century AD. From the beginning, it served as a home to recluse arahants from this time and was known as Budugama.
(Quoted from Amazing Lanka web site)....