Alawathugoda Sri Sumana Saman Devalaya – අලවතුගොඩ පුරාණ සමන් දේවාලය

The Sri Sumana Saman Devalaya at Alawathugoda jn Kandy District is considered the 3rd most important Saman Devalaya in the country.

The Devalaya is said to be built during the period of King Walagamba (89-77 BC)  but was burnt down by the invading Portuguese armies. The Saman Devalaya has been built at this site as Sri Pada could be seen in a distance at this location. The devalaya was rebuilt again in 1814.  A temple lying next to the devale is said to have been burnt down by the British like many other buddhist temples in the country.

The shrine itself is small and windowless. Within are two wooden presses one containing a figure of Saman and the other Visnu. The devale stands on a mass of bare granite which rises a few feet above the surrounding land. This building has been declared as a protected monument as the department of archaeology.

Alawatugoda Devale during the Kadyan period  was a place of sanity whither litigants went to swear an oath or to undergo ordeals. The devalaya conducts an annual Esala Perahera.

References

1. 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.
2. 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, p. 158.

Also See

• Ancient Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka
• Other Places of Interest Within Close Proximity

• සහන් සුවය දෙන පින්බිම අලවතුගොඩ ශ්‍රී සුමන සමන් දේවාලය

Map of Alawathugoda Sri Sumana Saman Devalaya

Travel Directions to Alawathugoda Sri Sumana Saman Devalaya

Route from Kandy up to Alawathugoda Sri Sumana Saman Devalaya

Distance : 16   km Travel time : 30-45 mins Driving directions : see on google map