Danthure Rajamaha Viharaya (දන්තුරේ රජමහා විහාරය)

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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.

The 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 from 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 center of the hall are sculptured musicians and dancers. The upper floor is an image house with a seated image of Buddha under a Makara Torana. The timber ceiling and the walls carry paintings from the Kandyan Period.

This Tampita Viharaya was built by Giragama Nilame who was the Basnayake Nilame of the Dalada Maligawa (Temple of Tooth Relic) between 1882 to 1897. 

References

  1. 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.
  2. 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

  • Kandy – The Last Kingdom of Sinhale

Map of the Danthure Rajamaha Viharaya

Please click on the button below to load the Dynamic Google Map (ගූගල් සිතියම් පහලින්)
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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
Through : Kandy Road – Henawala – Danthure Road
distance : 105 km
Travel time : 3 hours
Driving directions : see on google map
Through : Pilimatalawa
distance : 15 km
Travel time : 30 minutes
Driving directions : see on google map

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