Girisiri Darshanarama Purana Tampita Viharaya / Batuwita Viharaya (ගිරිසිරි දර්ශනාරාම පුරාණ ටැම්පිට විහාරය / බටුවිට විහාරය)

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Girisiri Darshanarama Purana Tampita Viharaya (Batuwita Viharaya)
Photo by : Viraj Chathu

Batuwita is a small village between Urapola and Amirthigala in Kirindiwela in the Gampaha District. Hidden away in Batuwita lies an ancient Tampita Viharaya in Girisiri Darshanarama Purana Tampita Viharaya also known as Batuwita Viharaya.

Tampita Viharaya (Temple on Pillars) is a structure built on a wooden platform which rests on a 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 and the inner walls are generally covered with frescoes drawn mainly in Kandyan style.

This Tampita Viharaya was built by Deva Pathiraja Senivi during the reign of King Parakramabahu II (1244 -1279) of the Dambadeniya kingdom. Deva Pathiraja was a trusted and powerful minister of King Parakramabahu II who had contributed immensely to developing Buddhist temples in the western and the southern regions.

The Tampita Viharaya is considerably small and is built on 8 stone stumps. A half-height wall around the structure creates a narrow verandah surrounding the image house. A simple painting of two god figures at the temple decorates the entrance to the inner chamber. The inner chamber is decorated with paintings belonging to the Kandyan era.

In addition, the tampita pilima-ge, the preaching hall of this temple is over 100 years old. Even the living quarters of the priests is also quite old. The Bo Tree is also many hundreds of years old and some of the horizontal trunks are supported by pseudo trunks created by massive aerial roots.

This temple is under the protection of the Archaeology department. During the restoration and preservation of the site, archaeologists have also discovered an ancient ditch filled with water probably built to protect the temple from wild animals.

Ancient Dharma Shalawa (preaching hall) of the Girisiri Darshanarama Purana Tampita Viharaya (Batuwita Viharaya)

Ancient Tamputa Viharaya of the the Girisiri Darshanarama Purana Tampita Viharaya (Batuwita Viharaya)

The Bodhi Tree with arial roots at the Girisiri Darshanarama Purana Tampita Viharaya (Batuwita Viharaya)

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Map of Girisiri Darshanarama Purana Tampita Viharaya (Batuwita Viharaya)

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Travelling directions to Girisiri Darshanarama Purana Tampita Viharaya (Batuwita Viharaya)

Travel directions from Colombo to Girisiri Darshanarama Purana Tampita Viharaya (Batuwita Viharaya)

Distance : 54 km
Travel time : 1 hour 45 mins
Time to spend : 30-45 mins
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