Rambukkana Deliwala Kotawehera is located in Deliwala village in a 3 km distance from Kurunegala road across Dombemada from Rambukkana town in Rambukkana Divional Secretariat.
This place of worship which is located rather higher from ground level can be sighted even from distant. It is mentioned that the sanctuary, which belongs to 1st B.C. century, was erected in the reign of King Dewanampiyathissa (250-210 B.C.). It has been set up concurrently with “Mihinthalaya Mihindu Maha Seya” that is considered to be the most ancient stupa in Sri Lanka. The gigantic stupa named “Deliwala Kotawehera” would measure 335 cubits around and 80 cubits high. Even after decaying, it stands tall and thick resembling the genera of the biggest stupa in Sri Lanka.
The thupa called “Kotawehera” in Sri Kunthi Chaythyaramaya was erected in a highland. The letters “h” (Ya) and “v” (Da) immerged through ramshackle bricks and the size of the bricks are taken into consideration by archaeologists to bring out the idea that the thupa was a creation of a King Dutugemunu.
Also in reference to another viewpoint, it is said to be done by King Parakumba I, who became the King of Maya Rata after the King Manabharana, with the aspiration of augmenting religious evocation in his kingdom. First he has built a stupa in the village he was born and then has erected a palace in Dambulu Mountain. At that time prince Parakumba who was erecting the Kunthi stupa locally called Kotawehera went to the battle even before finishing the constructions. Thus, on the ground that it was half constructed the stupa has been denominated as “Deliwala Kotawehera”.
Whoever the King among Dewana Pethis, Dutugemunu, and Parakumba, who erected this marvelous thupa, it was created by shaping a natural mountain orbiculately. Normally, most of the stupas have three base terraces (Pesa Walalu), Deliwala Kotawehera contains only one terraced circle. The gold reliquary and 168 crystal reliquaries found through the first excavation done in this terrain in 1957, also consist only one terraced ring.
According to information uncovered through the discovery of these reliquaries it is clear that though the stupa is mentioned as “Kotawehera”, it contained thupa in which the square entirely made of wood, a parasol and four banderoles.
Deliwala vihara is the only sanctuary in Sri Lanka that owns golden reliquaries, exquisitely erected in the track of “Sanchi” forma. Lot of historical sanctuaries is there in the vicinity of Deliwala temple. A sign in purlieu reveals that there must have been a reservoir dedicated for the useof Buddhist monks though it has been accumulated with lapse of time and become a field of paddy unto now.
The signs of sun, moon, sword, dog, kettle drum, double drum and “Kaduppuwa” inscribed in a rock at the weir of the field at the right side of Deliwala Vihara embodies as a sing of honor offered to this place of worship.