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image source : ‘The Upcountry Repository of Buddhist Art – The Tampita Vihara of Sri Lanka’ By Ganga Rajinee Dissanayaka
Pamunuwa Purana Viharaya is a Buddhist temple in Walawela with an ancient Tampita Viharaya built during the Kandyan Kingdom. The temple lies off 8 km off Matale town.
To reach the temple from Matale, travel on Dambulla road and passing the ancient Alu Viharaya take the first turn (Atipola Road) to the left. Travel 4.5 km on this road, passing Atipola and continuing towards Walawela to reach the temple.
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.
The Tampita Viharaya at the Pamunuwa Purana Viharaya is comparatively small and is built on 9 short granite stumps. There is a narrow ledge with no protective rail around the image house not wide enough to be a circumambulating path. A simple door frame to the image house of the Tampita Viharaya built in the form of Suryawanka is flanked by two guardian deities carrying swards.
A Samadhi Buddha statue is built at the center of the image house. Two paintings of a king can be seen beside the Buddha statue. Next to these paintings and on the sidewalls, statues of 2 deities are seen. Vishnu (Upuluvan) is seen on the left side. Two standing Buddha statues are seen next to these 2 deities.
The inner walls of the image house is covered with various murals drawn during the Kanyan era and the whole image house resembles a mini art gallery of Kandyan artists.
Also See
- Tampita Vihara of Sri Lanka Index
- Ancient Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka
- Other Places of Interest Within Close Proximity
Map of the Walawela Pamunuwa Purana Tampita Viharaya
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Driving Directions to Walawela Pamunuwa Purana Tampita Viharaya
Route from Matale to Gurubebila Purana Tampita Viharaya |
| Though : Aluvihare – Atipola distance : 9 km Travel time :25 mins Time to spend : 20 – 30 mins Driving directions : see on google map |
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