This historical terrain is located in Bolthumbe village that is an a distance of 14.5 km from Balangoda – Pinnawala route, which belongs to Imbulpe Regional Secretarial Division.
The winsome location that inherits a legacy of 500 years is situated at the feet of Dethanagala Mountain and stands in a plateau in Mahawalathenna mesa.Folklore reveals that the war between Rama and Rawana has happened at DEthanagala Muntain.A small devale has been erected here in memorial of that particular conflict.This devale which is inaugurated as Bolthumbe Saman Devale by King Rajasingha I is considerded as one of the four devales erected in the four directions encompassing Saman Devale at Sri Pada.
There is a viewpoint that this devale was constructed with the intention of protecting antiques and God’s ornaments belonging to Rathnapura Maha Saman Devale from the incursions of portuguese.All the res divini have been moved and securely bestowed in Bolthumbe devale before portuguese has destroyed Saman stupa and Saman devale. In bygone days, this devale was referred as the mountain sacristy of Rathnapura Maha Saman devale.
Folk tradition mentions that the torso of Rawana has been thrown away striking an arrow shoot by Rama to glebe of Bolthumbe devale.
Head was thrown away to the area called by the name “Oluganthota” adjacent Walave River. Villages have earthed the torso of Rawana in a colossal mound. Thus this folklore evidences that people of this area have deified Rawana.
The area name “Bolthumbe” was created by eventually shortening the word phrase meaning colossal mound. The conception of folklore is that the area of Bolthumbe devale was mentioned as Olugampura denoting of a secret city.165 paddy embankment have been cultivated using water of ancient reservoir located below devale by King Maddegama and people who came to transport goods from Sabaragamuwa.
The harvesting ceremony of Bolthumbe devale is currently held at Hunuwala stretch of fields which belong to Sabaragamuwa Maha Saman devale. This is a precice evidence to convince the continuous bound that has been kept on since the day one between Maha Saman devale and Bolthumbe saman devale.
Officials in Hunuwala village must supply shelter and provisions to the officials come from Bolthumbe Saman devale. The content of 145th page of “Sabaragamuwa Ancient Writings” written by Ven. Kirielle Gnanavimala thero mentions that 1000 coconuts must be annually procured to this devale. After visiting this temple dedicated to Saman deity on 10th February, 1886 Mr. H. Wase has noted: “The entrance to the long hall of devale is magnificent and attractive. Surface line of the door-post made of ebony has been battened with chiseled ivory belts. Outwardly thin brass cleats have been fixed in every direction.
A report written by Mr. W.H. Codrinton on 8th January, 1922 documents that devale was not in a good condition at that time and there was a deep wooden chest that would measure 4 ft. long and 2.5 ft. wide. He evaluates the bronze chariot of deity as the most precious entity in the entire terrain. An annual Esala procession has been held relating this place of God.