Watagedara Sri Sudharmarama Purana Pothgul Viharaya is an ancient temple with a Tampita Viharaya built during the Kandyan era. This temple lie 4 km from Godagama exit on the Southern Expressway and 8 km from Matara.
To reach Watagedara Sri Sudharmarama Ancient Temple from Matara take the Godagama road for 5 kms traveling past past Southern expressway and take the Watagedara road which lies in front of Palatuwa Gunarathna Madya Maha Vidyalaya. Travel for 3 km on the Watagedara road 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 of Sri Sudharmaramaya Purana Pothgul Viharaya is built on comparatively tall granite pillars, tall enough to use this area as the lower level of a two storied building. The entrance to the image house on the pillars is flanked by 2 guardian deities and the top is decorated by a dragons arch. The door itself is painted in Narilatha designs. A Bodhisattva figure can be seen beside the guardian deities and beside it you will see two female figures both carrying a ‘Chamara’. A music band can be seen beside the females.
The outer and inner walls covered with murals. A large seated Buddha statue lies inside the the image house.
published by Department of Archaeology
Also See
- Tampita Vihara of Sri Lanka Index
- Ancient Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka
- Other Places of Interest Within Close Proximity
Map of the Watagedara Sri Sudharmarama Purana Pothgul Tampita 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
Zoom out the map to see more surrounding locations using the mouse scroll wheel or map controls.
Driving Directions to Watagedara Sri Sudharmarama Purana Pothgul Tampita Viharaya
Route from Matara to Watagedara Sri Sudharmarama Purana Pothgul Tampita Viharaya |
Though : Godagama exit distance : 8 km Travel time :20 mins Time to spend : 20 – 30 mins Driving directions : see on google map |