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photo by : Harshana Leelarathna
Kalundawa in an ancient remote village which has come in to limelight during the recent past due the movie “Siri Parakum” which dramatize the life story king Parakramabahu II of Dambadeniya kingdom.
According to legend prince Parakramabahu spent his younger life in the village called Nambara which is believed to be the current Kalundawa. Although prince Parakramabahu was the rightful successor to the throne after his father, king Vijayabahu III had been enchanted by the beauty of a Muslim woman in his Harem and promised her that the throne will be given to her son. Fearing the life of the prince Parakramabahu, he was handed over to the laundry woman of the castle and through her given to the a wealthy farmer in Kalundawa who was raised as a farm helper. When this orphaned boy named Appuwa grew up, the elder daughter Kalu Ethana distanced herself from him due to being a son of a laundry woman, a much lower caste. But the younger daughter Hirimal Ethana fell in love with him.
When the king Vijayabahu III passed away, the throne was given to the son of the Muslim woman who was brought up under Islamist teachings. Being very unpopular, soon he was killed and the ministers went to fetch the rightful owner to the throne to Kalundawa. When Appuwa, now the king to be was leaving the village on the royal elephant saw Kaluethana and said “මන්ද කළු පින් නොකළේ” (Manda Kalu Pin Nokale) meaning Kalu Ethana missed her chance of being the queen. This statement was converted to “Kalundawa Pinnapole” with time and stuck as the name of the area. Even todat next to Kalundawa is a village called Pinnapola.
The temple at Kalundawa is called Sri Sudharmarama Rajamaha Viharaya and today you will also find a Tampita Viharaya belonging to the era of Kandyan kingdom.
A Tampita Viharaya is a structure built on a wooden platform which rests on 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. Walls inside the chamber is more or less always covered in paintings drawn mainly in Kandyan style.
Kalundawa Sri Sudharmarama Rajamaha Viharaya lies 4 kms from Narammala Junction and 13 km off Dambadeniya. The turn off to the temple on the Dambadeniya – Narammala road lies 10 km off Dambadeniya and 1 km before Narammala. The temple lies 3.2 km down this road.
The Tampita Viharaya at Kalundawa has been renovated in 2014. No further information is available on this structure.
Also See
- Tampita Vihara of Sri Lanka Index
- Ancient Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka
- Other Places of Interest Within Close Proximity
Map of the Kalundawa Sri Sudharmarama 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 Kalundawa Sri Sudharmarama Rajamaha Viharaya
| Route from Narammala to Kalundawa Sri Sudharmarama Rajamaha Viharaya |
| Though : Rarammala – Dambadeniya Road distance : 4 km Travel time :15 mins Time to spend : 20-30 mins Driving directions : see on google map |
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