Kongahagedara Sri Bodhidrumaramaya Purana Tampita Viharaya (කෝන්ගහගෙදර ශ්‍රී බෝධිදෘමාරාම පුරාණ ටැම්පිට විහාරය)

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Kongahagedara Sri Bodhidrumaramaya Purana Viharaya is an ancient Buddhist temple which is believed to be having a history going back to the Anuradhapura Era with a Tampita Viharaya belonging to the Kandyan era. The temple lies less than 2 kilometres away from Kuliyapitiya Junction, 19 km off Dambadeniya and 22 km from Narammala. From Kuliyapitiya junction travel about 800 meters toward Hettipola and take the Kirindawa Road which lies right after the Kuliyapitiya Market. Travelling 900 meters on this road will bring you to the entrance of the Kongahagedara ancient temple.

A Tampita Viharaya is a building constructed on a wooden platform supported by several stone pillars, usually 3-4 feet high. Its roof is supported by a timber structure, and the walls are typically made of wattle and daub. Inside, the chamber walls are often adorned with paintings, primarily in the Kandyan style.

The Tampita  Viharaya at Kongahagedara Sri Bodhidrumaramaya Purana Viharaya is built on 16 granite pillars laid in 4 rows. Although there is no circumambulating path per se, an open space lies around the image house on the platform. The roof rests on 14 wooden pillars lying on the edges of the platform and the wall of the image house. Unlike most other Tampita Viharayas, these pillars are exquisitely carved with various designs popular during the Kandyan Era. The pillars are decorated with pillar heads, also carved with various designs.  Even cross beams at the top are carved.

The massive door frame to the image house too has been similarly caved with designs and is built in Suriyawanka design. On the sides of the door are two statues of guardian deities.  At the top lies a Makara Thorana (Dragons Arch).

A Samadhi Buddha statue lies at the centre of the image house. pictures of Sariyuth and Mugalan Maha Theros can be seen worshipping Buddha on the sides.  Four large standing Buddha statues about 7 feet tall, are built on the side walls facing each other. The walls and roof of the image house are covered in murals of the Kandyan style. The outer walls of the image house are too covered in murals. Although this Tampita Viharaya seems to have been gone through a restoration, the murals are fading with age.

The Tampita Viharaya at the Kongahagedara Sri Bodhidrumaramaya was declared a protected archaeological monument by the gazette 1612 dated 24 July 2009.

References

  • Abeywardana, M.Y. (2009) “The Antiquities Ordinance (Chapter 188) ,” The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, 1612, p. 1024.

Also See

Map of the Kongahagedara Sri Bodhidrumaramaya Purana Tampita 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 Kongahagedara Sri Bodhidrumaramaya Purana Tampita Viharaya

Route from Rambukkana to Kongahagedara Sri Bodhidrumaramaya Purana Tampita Viharaya

Though : Kuriyampola Road
distance : 2.   km
Travel time :5 mins
Time to spend : 30 – 45  mins
Driving directions : see on google map

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