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The Wedaungala Purana Viharaya, an ancient temple featuring a Kandyan-era Tampita Viharaya, is located just 11 km from Panduwasnuwara, the third capital of ancient Sri Lanka. The route from Panduwasnuwara involves traveling 7.5 km on the Wariyapola road before turning left onto the Madige Midiyala road. After 2.7 km on this road, turn right at the four-way junction towards the ancient Hindagaha Wewa Reservoir. Immediately after passing the reservoir, turn right and travel 500 meters along the water’s edge to reach the temple.
A Tampita Viharaya is a temple structure built on a wooden platform supported by several (typically 3-4 feet tall) stone stumps. The roof is supported by a timber framework, and the walls are usually constructed from wattle and daub. The interior walls are almost always adorned with paintings, primarily in the Kandyan style.
Local tradition holds that a local chieftain named Hirugal Bandara funded the construction of the Tampita Viharaya during the reign of King Kirti Sri Rajasingha (1747–1781). This particular Tampita Viharaya is built on eight short stone boulders situated on a shallow rock outcrop. It is fully enclosed, encompassing the ambulatory within the image house. Eight small windows, two on each side, provide light and ventilation to the ambulatory (Chandrasekara & Silva, 2021).
The entrance to the Wedaungala Tampita Viharaya features a dragon arch (makara thorana) above the door. Inside the image house, a seated Buddha statue is visible, surrounded by another dragon arch (makara thorana). Regrettably, poorly managed restorations have resulted in the loss of much of the structure’s archaeological value. The original wooden or stone steps at the entrance have been replaced with concrete, and the roof has been restored using modern Calicut tiles. The murals have also been repainted with synthetic paint, further compromising their historical value (Anuradha & Kumari, 2015).
South of the Tampita Viharaya, a drip-ledged cave and steps carved into a living rock can be found. Additionally, a moonstone carved from white quartz is located near the monks’ living quarters. These features suggest a much deeper, possibly hidden, history for the temple, potentially reaching back to the Anuradhapura era (Anuradha & Kumari, 2015).
References
- Anuradha, R. K. S., & Kumari, A. S. (2015). පෞරාණික ස්ථාන හා ස්මාරක – කුරුනෑගල දිස්ත්රික්කය. Department of Archaeology.
- Chandrasekara, D. P., & Silva, K. D. (2021). The Ṭämpiṭavihāras of Sri Lanka: Elevated Image- Houses in Buddhist Architecture. Anthem Press.
Also See
- Tampita Vihara of Sri Lanka Index
- Ancient Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka
- Other Places of Interest Within Close Proximity
Map of the Hindagahawewa Wedaungala Purana Tampita Viharaya
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Driving Directions to Hindagahawewa Wedaungala Purana Tampita Viharaya
| Route from Panduwasnuwara to Hindagahawewa Wedaungala Purana Tampita Viharaya |
| Through : Madige Midiyala road distance : 11.5 km Travel time :20 mins Time to spend : 20-30 mins Driving directions : see on google map |
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