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Kundasale is located along the Kandy-Teldeniya road, approximately six miles from Kandy, near the Warapitiya junction. The site is about 1 km from Warapitiya junction, which itself is around 2 km from Teldeniya.
The Sri Narendrasinghe Rajamaha Viharaya was constructed by King Kirti Sri Rajasinghe (1747–1781). Today, only the image house (Pilimage) and the Viharaya remain of this historic temple. The living quarters within the temple grounds feature a decorative dragon arch.
The Awasa (monk’s residence) was designed in the traditional Kandyan architectural style, featuring a verandah with glazed doors and windows, a meda midula (central courtyard), and a wooden staircase leading upstairs. Behind the main rooms, a few stone pillars remain, hinting at the original structure. The upper floor houses a collection of royal memorabilia from King Kirti Sri Rajasinghe’s reign.
A copper plate grant issued by King Kirti Sri Rajasinghe in 1754 is preserved by the temple trustee. According to this document, after visiting the royal garden at Kundasale, the king decided to build a pratimagrha (image house) measuring 11 cubits long and 5 cubits wide, with a mandapa (hall) in front of it. He also donated a Buddha image carved from red sandalwood, gilded in gold, along with a white sandalwood relic casket and other ritual objects. The Viharaya was completed in 1754 and dedicated to Rambukwelle Anunayake Thero and his successors, with land grants for its upkeep.
The temple still houses a gold-plated sandalwood Buddha statue, along with priceless artefacts gifted by Kings Kirti Sri Rajasinghe and Narendrasinghe. These treasures, displayed in the upstairs museum, include a Handungala (grinding stone), Pallekkiya (mini-palanquin), and an intricately carved wooden bed. The most valuable relic is a jacket worn by King Narendrasinghe.
Other antiques preserved in the temple include textiles, flags, curtains, swords, and daggers—all once donated by the king, adding to the temple’s historical and cultural significance.
References
- Wajiragnana Thero, G. (1961). විහාර වගවිත්ති. M. D. Gunasena & Co Ltd.
Also See
Map of the Kundasale Sri Narendrasinghe Rajamaha Viharaya
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Driving Directions to Kundasale Sri Narendrasinghe Rajamaha Viharaya
| Route from Colombo to Kundasale Sri Narendrasinghe Rajamaha Viharaya | Route from Kandy to Kundasale Sri Narendrasinghe Rajamaha Viharaya |
| Though : Kandy Road – Pilimatalawa Distance : 108 km Travel time : 3.5 hours Driving directions : see on google map | Though : Peradeniya Distance : 11 km Travel time : 30 minutes Driving directions : see on google map |
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