Metikotamulla Sadharma Thilakarama Purana Viharaya (මැටිකොටමුල්ල සද්ධර්ම තිලකාරාම පුරාණ විහාරය)

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Tampita Viharaya of Metikotamulla Sadharma Thilakarama Purana Viharaya
photo by : Mokshara Wathsaranga Thilakasiri

King Weera Parakramabahu VIII of Kotte Kingdom (1477 – 1489) had two wives who were sisters. He had five sons; Dharma Parakamabahu, Sri Rajasinghe and Vijayabahu by one wife and Sakalakala Vallabha and Thaniya Wallabha by the other wife.

When the sons grew up, the king divided his kingdom into five regions and allowed the five sons to rule the area as regional kings. Dharma Parakamabahu (1489-1513) ruled the capital Kotte, Sri Rajasinghe from Manikkadawara, Vijayabahu from Raigama, Sakalakala Vallabha from Udugampola and Thaniya Wallabha from Madampe. For years these 5 regional rulers worked as one helping each other bring stability to the whole region.

Sakalakala Vallabha is said to have made an immense effort to develop agriculture in the Udugampola region and when he planned to build a new irrigation reservoir in the Hissella area he found the ground too sandy. Therefore picked a nearby area to mix clay with sand to build the reservoir. The area which he used to mix clay became known as Mati-ketu-mulla which became Mati-kota-mulla (Maetikotamulla).

Metikotamulla Sadharma Thilakarama Purana Viharaya today does not show any history going back to this era but the Tampita Viharaya built during the Kandyan era is one of the important structures of the Temple.

The Buddha image inside the Tampita Viharaya at Metikotamulla Sadharma Thilakarama Purana Viharaya
Photo : Berty Lional Udugampala

Tampita Viharaya (Temple on Pillars) is a structure built on a wooden platform which rests on a number of stone stumps usually 3-4 feet tall. The roof is held by a structure built of timber and the walls are generally made of wattle and daub and the inner walls are generally covered with frescoes drawn mainly in Kandyan style.

This Tampita Viharaya is built on nine granite stumps of about 2 feet in height. The inner chamber of the structure is 14 feet 6 inches long and 10 feet 4 inches wide. A 4-foot 6-inch wide verandah goes around the inner chamber. The roof is tiled with flat clay tiles and Sinhala Ulu ( tapered semi-cylindrical clay tiles). The year 1899 can be seen carved onto the timber used on the roof indicating that the roof was restored in 1899.

Metikotamulla Sadharmathilakarama Purana Viharaya lies between Veyangoda and Minuwangoda Road. Travelling from Veyangoda, travel 5.8 km up to the Wadumulla Junction and take the road to the right towards Metikotamulla. The temple lies 2.5 down the road.

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මැටිකොටමුල්ල සද්ධර්මතිලකාරාම පුරාණ විහාරය

Map of Metikotamulla Sadharma Thilakarama Purana Viharaya

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Travelling directions to Metikotamulla Sadharma Thilakarama Purana Viharaya

Travel directions from Anuradhapura to Metikotamulla Sadharma Thilakarama Purana Viharaya

Distance : 54 km
Travel time : 1 hour mins
Time to spend : 20 mins
Driving directions : see on google map

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Established by King Mahinda IV (956-972) Dambegoda Pillar Inscription in Maligawila narrates the religious acts of the king and lays down rules for the administration of certain religious establishments. […]
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Also See

Map of Metikotamulla Sadharma Thilakarama Purana Viharaya

Travelling directions to Metikotamulla Sadharma Thilakarama Purana Viharaya

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