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Passing Suriyagoda Viharaya in Yati Nuwara you come across two more historical locations, Dodanwela Devalaya and Danthure Rajamaha Viharaya. These can also be reached by the main road from Alakolange.
Famous battle between Wimaladharmasuriya I (1592 – 1604) and the Portuguese was fought at Danthure. In 1591, the Portuguese installed a puppet king Yamasinghe Bandara who was baptised as Don Phillip. Although he ascended the throne, he could not hold it as he died of old age shortly after, paving the way for his twelve-year-old son Don João to claim the throne. Konappu Bandara immediately overthrew him and proclaimed himself the king of Kandy with the name of Wimaladharmasuriya. Then he fought the Portuguese and freed Kandy form the grips of the invaders.
The planting of the Bo tree brought from Anuradhapura by king Wimaladharmasuriya on succeeding to the throne marked the establishment of the first shrine at Danthure Viharaya.
The Danthure Rajamaha Viharaya is a Tampita Viharaya ( A temple built on pillars). The ground floor of the viharaya is used as the “Bana Maduwa” or a preaching hall. On four pillars at the centre of the hall are sculptured musicians and dancers. The upper floor is a image house with a seated image of Buddha under a Makara Torana . The timber ceiling and the walls carry painting form the Kandyan Period.
This Tampita Viharaya has been built by Giragama Nilame who was the Basnayake Nilame of the Dalada Maligawa (Temple of Tooth Relic) between 1882 to 1897.
References
- Seneviratna, A., 1983. Kandy: an Illustrated Survey of Ancient Monuments With Historical, Archaeological and Literary Descriptions Including Maps of the City and Its Suburbs. Colombo: Central Cultural Fund, Ministry of Cultural Affairs.
- Abeyawardhana, H. A. P. (2004) Heritage of Kandurata: Major Natural, Cultural, and Historic Sites. Kandy: Kandurata Development Bank, in association with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
Also See
- Tampita Vihara of Sri Lanka Index
- Ancient Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka
- Other Places of Interest Within Close Proximity
- Kandy – The Last Kingdom of Sinhale
Map of the Danthure Rajamaha Viharaya
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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Driving Directions to Danture Rajamaha Viharaya
Route from Colombo to Danture Viharaya | Route from Kandy to Danture Viharaya |
| Though : Kandy Road – Henawala – Danthure Road distance : 105 km Travel time : 3 hours Driving directions : see on google map | Though : Pilimatalawa distance : 15 km Travel time : 30 minutes Driving directions : see on google map |
