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photo by : Mokshara Wathsaranga Thilakasiri
Anuragoda Sri Sumangalarama Purana Tampita Viharaya better known as Anuragoda Tampita Viharaya is an old temple lying between Mandawala and Pepiliyawala in Gampaha District. In addition to the Tampita Viharaya, there is a Sangawasa built during the British era a newer stupa and a preaching hall.
A Tampita Viharaya 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 stands on 9 granite stumps of 2 feet in height. The inner chamber is 20 feet long and 18 feet wide. There is a 3 feet wide circumambulating path built around the chamber. A full-height wall is built around this path with some windows for ventilation. This Tampita Viharaya is believed to have been built around 1775 by a priest named Pugoda Sumangala Thero living at this temple around this time.
The Tampita Viharaya was renovated around 1990 destroying most of its features. According to the chief prelate of the temple, heavy rains in 1989 destroyed most of the original image house due to a leaky roof. The two clay guardian figures have turned into a lump of clay and most paintings inside the Tampita Viharaya have been washed away. Even though the archaeology department was notified of the situation no action has been taken. Thereafter the head priest along with the devotees tried to preserve the building however they could.
A new building has been built surrounding the Tampita Viharaya. The original Sinhala Ulu has been removed and the roof has been redone with Calicut clay tiles. The wattle and daub walls have been demolished and they have been rebuilt with brick and cement. The wooden floor has been replaced with a concrete slab. There are no murals on this temple structure and the chamber consists of a single Buddha statue which is the only artifact from the original image house.
However the pillars and the cross beams on which the temple stood still remain even though a cement wall has been built around to hold the concrete floor.
One unique feature of this Tampita Viharaya is that this structure consists of a second floor. There is a small chamber at the top of the image house. Unfortunately, there is no access to this chamber. Probably there might have been a staircase in the past.
by Kusumsiri Wijewardhana
Also See
- Tampita Vihara of Sri Lanka Index
- Ancient Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka
- Other Places of Interest Within Close Proximity
Map of Anuragoda Sri Sumangalarama Purana Tampita Viharaya
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Traveling to Anuragoda Sri Sumangalarama Purana Tampita Viharaya
| Route from Colombo to Anuragoda Sri Sumangalarama Purana Tampita Viharaya |
| Distance : 45 km Travel time : 1.3o hours Time to spend : 20- 30 mins Driving directions : see on google map |
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