The Gatabaruwa Raja Maha Vihara is situated on the summit of the famous Gatabaru Kanda or Gatabaru Hill, resting at an elevation of 1500 ft above sea level. The Vihara is situated in a village called Katapola in the region of Galle-Deniyaya main road and within the confines of the Divisional Secretariat of historic Matota.
The mountain is a scenic beautiful mound surrounded by even more beautiful mountains and is flanked by the Rakwana Hills and the virgin Sinharaja Forest, including the Morawak Kanda Mountain and moves in extension to the thicker forest region.
The beauty that surrounds the vihara is extremely charming and soothing to the eye with its natural goods that is distributed around. The lush Greenland is the home for herbal plants and a variety of animal species of Sri Lanka. The apex is a unique creation of mother-nature. A cave of 30feet is home to the old rock temple and is situated in a natural cave. A sleeping statue of Lord Buddha is located inside this cave and alongside the Vihara is the Devale of God Ragguru Bandara and further there lies the Devales of God Vishnu and God Kataragama.
As indicated by Sri Lankan fables the during the era of King Walagamba, who had Anuradhapura as his kingdom and who accomplished significance through the development of Gal Viharaya, was a period that saw the development of a huge number of Buddhist sanctuaries in the nation. God Rajjuru Bandara, believed to dwell in places of worship, commands faith, respectful fear, and infinite respect for the people of Ruhuna, or the country’s southern region. It is well accepted that this temple was built as a tribute to the god Rajjuru Bandara by King Walagamba, the unique creator of Gal Viharaya.