Daulagala Arattana Tampita Viharaya (දවුලුගල අරත්තන ටැම්පිට විහාරය)

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Daulagala ArattanaTampita Viharaya is a tiny shrine built on pillars in the middle of the Daulagala town in close proximity to Embekke Devalaya and Lankathilaka Raja Maha Viharaya. This Tampita Viharaya is also called Bogahakotuwa Tampita Viharaya or Minimarupitiya Tampita Viharaya (Abeyawardhana,2004). You would also find the popular Daulagala Ambalama in the town itself.

A Tampita Viharaya 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. These buildings were a popular religious architectural design during the Kandyan period.

This Tampita Viharaya was established at the initiative of the villagers in Arattana. It was renovated later in 1815 by a priest named Venerable Dumpola Thera who was also responsible for the planting of a Bo-tree.

The Tampita Viharaya at Daulagala is erected on six stone pillar stumps measuring 0.62 meters and built on an approximately 2 1/2 feet high platform filled with gravel. The roof extends up to the edge of the platform and the weight of the roof is borne by six pillars rising from the edge of the platform.

The uniqueness of this structure is that there are no temples in the vicinity. Thus this Tampita viharaya might have been a private temple of a noble family of the Kandyan kingdom similar to the Lewke Tampita Viharaya or the Makehelwala Keppetipola Tampita Viharaya.

Access to this small tampita temple is through an insignificant alleyway between 2 shops on the Araththana road which starts at the Daulagala Ambalama structure. After travelling about 700 meters down this road, you will come across the archaeology department board as seen below. Travel down this alleyway which opens to a small land planted with tea and black pepper. This path directly ends at a small house and you will still not see this structure.

There is a footpath to the right just before this house but it’s barely visible due to non-use. Turning on this footpath you will see the outline of this small building through the trees.

Daulagala Tampita Viharaya hidden inside a black peper orchard.

The massive Bo tree behind the Daulagala Araththana Tampita Viharaya

Inside the Daulagala Araththana Tampita Viharaya

References

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.

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Map of the Daulagala Araththana Tampita Viharaya

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Driving Directions to Daulagala Araththana Tampita Viharaya

Route from Daulagala to Araththana Tampita Viharaya

Though :
distance : 700 m
Travel time :15 minutes
Time to spend : 15 mins
Driving directions : see on google map

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References

Also See

Map of the Daulagala Araththana Tampita Viharaya

Driving Directions to Daulagala Araththana Tampita Viharaya

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