Kanugala Sri Pushparama Purana Tampita Viharaya – කණුගල ශ්‍රී පුෂ්පාරාම පුරාණ ටැම්පිට විහාරය

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Kanugala Sri Pushparama Purana Tampita Viharaya is an ancient Buddhist temple in Kurunegala district with a rather high Tampita Viharaya (temple on pillars) built during the ancient times.

It is said that the stable for elephants for the kings of Dambadeniya was in this area. Since the Kanu (pillars) which the elephants were tied were in this area, this was known as Kanugala. According to folklore an army commander called Weerabahu, a new nephew of the king Parakramabahu II (1244 -1279) ruled this area and it is said that he built this temple.

The Tampita Viharaya is built on a wooden platform on six large granite stumps. A wooden ladder with 5 steps leads to the circumambulating path is built around the image house protected by a balustrade. The path is narrow except at the front. Wooden pillars around the path are caved with various designs popular among Kandyan artists and holds the roof tiled with flat clay tiles typical of roofs built during the Kandyan kingdom.

The entrance to the image house is built in the form of Sooryawanka. Two statues of guardian deities carrying pots of plenty stand beside the entrance. A dragons arch (makara thorana) lies at the top with 3 deities each on two sites.

the walls of the inner chamber is adorned with clay figures of deities by the entrance. A seated Samadhi Buddha lies at the center pedestal inside the image house. Two standing Buddha statues stand facing each other on the side walls. Inner and outer walls of the image house is covered in murals from the Kandyan era.

To reach the temple, take the Bihalpola Road from Muthugala Junction after passing Dambadeniya if traveling from Colombo. After 2km, turn right at Galgammulla Mummana Muthugala road and travel a further 2.7 km up to the Wagolla Junction bus stop. Take the left turn from this junction at the direction board to the Tampita Viharaya. This part of the road is not on Google Maps.

Entrance to the inner chamber of the Kanugala Sri Pushparama Tampita Viharaya

painings inside the Kanugala Sri Pushpapainings inside the Kanugala Sri Pushparama Tampita Viharayarama Tampita Viharaya

Carvings on the wooden pillars of Kanugala Sri Pushparama Tampita Viharaya

Kanugala Sri Pushparama Tampita Viharaya

painings inside the Kanugala Sri Pushparama Tampita Viharaya

Inside the Kanugala Sri Pushparama Tampita Viharaya

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Map of Kanugala Sri Pushparama Purana Tampita Viharaya

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Travel Directions to Kanugala Sri Pushparama Purana Tampita Viharaya

Route from Colombo to Kanugala Sri Pushparama Purana Tampita Viharaya	Route from Kurunegala to Kanugala Sri Pushparama Purana Tampita Viharaya
Though : Katunayake Highway – Minuwangoda – Divulapitiya – Giriulla – Dambadeniya Distance : 85 km Travel time : 2-2.5 hours Driving directions : see on google map	Though : Narammala Distance : 33 km Travel time :1 hour Driving directions : see on google map

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