Ampitiya Dalukgolla Raja Maha Viharaya

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Ampitiya Dalukgolla Raja Maha Viharaya in Kandy (අංපිටිය දළුක්ගොල්ල රජමහා විහාරය)

Dalukgolla Rajamaha Viharaya is situated in the Village of Ampitiya of the Gangawata Korale of Pahatha Hewaheta or Kandy District. Legend has it that the area where Daluk bushes were planted was named Dalukgolla. It is said that Dalukgolla Raja Maha Viharaya was built in the centre of the Daluk field.

According to another folklore, when Weliwita Sri Saranankara Thero was observing ‘vas’ (retreat) at this temple, there was a bear who used to wander around his kuti and Daluk bushes had been planted around the kuti to prevent the bear from wondering about. Due to these bushes, this area had got its name Dalukgolla.

This viharaya had been constructed on the orders of King Kirti Sri Rajasinha (1747 – 1781) in the year 1765 mainly for the benefit of the monks visiting Senkadagala from Hewaheta and Nuwara Eliya. The King had donated the vihara to Venerable Werasara Rambukwelle Dhammarakkhita Anunayaka Thera.

One of the most important events of this temple was the funeral of Weliwita Sri Saranankara Thero in 1778. The remains of the thero have been enshrined in a small stupa which still can be found in this temple.

The first Sanghawasa of this temple can be found built using wattle and daub. The Sanghawasa has been built with an inner central courtyard and the rooms for bhikkus (kuti) have been built around the courtyard.

Dutch architectural influence can be observed in the old image house. This is 21 feet wide and 25 feet long. The entrance is through an elaborate Makara Torana (dragon arch). Mural paintings on the image house are from the Kandyan period. It has been enriched with 56 Buddha images and 18 disciple images below it.

The Image house and Sangawasaya (Dwelling house) in the Dalukgolla Raja Maha Vihara premises in the Dalukgolla village in the No. 270 Ampitiya Udagama Grama Niladhari Division in the Gangawata Korale Divisional Secretary’s Division, Kandy District, Central Province was declared as an archaeological monument by the Gazette number 1612 in 2009.

References

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.
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.
Abeywardana, M.Y. (2009) “The Antiquities Ordinance (Chapter 188) ,” The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, 1612, p. 1021.
Pilawala, B. (2012) දළුක්ගොල්ල රජ මහා විහාරය, බුදුසරණ අන්තර්ජාල කලාපය. සීමාසහිත එක්සත් ප‍්‍රවෘත්ති පත්‍ර සමාගම. Available at: https://www.budusarana.lk/budusarana /2012/07/11/tmp.asp?ID=temp02 (Accessed: December 7, 2022).

Also See

Kandy – The Last Kingdom of Sinhale

Map of Dalukgolla Raja Maha Viharaya

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Traveling Directions to Dalukgolla Raja Maha Viharaya (Kandy)

Kandy can be reached from Colombo on the old Colombo – Kandy road (option 1) which is scenic but heavy in traffic, especially on Fridays and Sundays. However, the new Central Expressway (option 2) has opened up a new route which is longer but less cumbersome.

Route 1 from Colombo to Kandy	Route 2 from Colombo to Kandy
Through : Katunayake Expressway – Central Expressway – Kurunegala Distance :150 km Travel time: 3.20 hours Driving Directions : see on Google map	Through : Katunayake Expressway – Central Expressway – Kurunegala Distance :150 km Travel Time: 3.20 hours Driving Directions : see on Google map
Route From Nuwara Eliya to Kandy
Through : Walapane – Raja Mawatha Distance :100 km Travel Time : 3.0 hours Driving Directions : see on Google map