Nupe Ancient Trade Center Building (නූපේ පැරණි වෙළඳ ගොඩනැගිල්ල)

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The historic market building at the Nupe Junction had been built by the Dutch in  1775 according to the notice board at the site but according to a Dutch Cultural Heritage site (Cultural Heritage Connections), this site was built by the British.

Either way, this building at the Nupe was used as a market during the British occupation in Matara. Built to be in the shape of the English letter ‘T’, this building has been constructed on pillars and tiled with round tiles. The supporting wooden frame of the clay-tiled roof is elaborate and edged with lavish latticework. It is 15m in height and is supported by massive white stone pillars. The roof is paved with typical Kandyan Era flat tiles (pethi ulu). A peculiar feature is the three small roofs above the main roof.

As the years grew on from the British times and till many years thereafter, this spacious Dutch Nupe edifice fell into disuse. It ultimately was in desolation and became the refuge of the roaming stray cattle. In the 1980s a portion of its building collapsed when the Department of Archaeology took over its functions of restoring the building. Still later its further restorations came under the Urban Development Authority which completed its restoration work in 1989, when it was handed over to the Hunupitiya Gangarama Temple which ran a cottage industry.

Today this building is used to house various exhibitions.

Also See

Map of  Nupe Market Building

Please click on the button below to load the Dynamic Google Map (ගූගල් සිතියම් පහලින්)
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The map above also shows other places of interest within a approximately 20 km radius of the current site. Click on any of the markers and the info box to take you to information of these sites

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Travel Directions to Nupe Market Building

Route from Colombo to Nupe Market Building
Through : Southern Expressway
Distance : 162 km
Travel time : 2.30-3 hours
Driving directions : see on Google map

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