Kalundawa Sri Sudharmarama Tampita Rajamaha Viharaya (කළුන්දාව ශ්‍රී සුධර්මාරාම ටැම්පිට රජමහා විහාරය)

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Kalundawa Sri Sudharmarama Rajamaha Viharaya
photo by : Harshana Leelarathna

The quiet village of Kalundawa gained recent fame through the popular film Siri Parakum, which portrays the life of King Parakramabahu II (1236 -1270 CE) of the Dambadeniya Kingdom. Rich in legend and history, Kalundawa is believed to be the ancient village of Nambara, where the young prince spent his early years.

The Legend of Kalundawa

According to legend, Prince Parakramabahu spent his early years in a village called Nambara, believed to be the present-day Kalundawa. Although he was the rightful heir to the throne after his father, King Vijayabahu III (1232-1236 CE), the king had promised the throne to the son of a Muslim woman from his harem. Fearing for Prince Parakramabahu’s safety, he was secretly handed over to a palace laundry woman, who later entrusted him to a wealthy farmer in Kalundawa. There, he was raised as a farm helper, known by the name Appuwa.

As Appuwa grew up, the younger daughter of his foster family, Hirimal Ethana, fell in love with him, while the elder daughter, Kalu Ethana, kept her distance, looking down on him because he was believed to be the son of a woman from the laundry caste.

After King Vijayabahu III passed away, the son of the Muslim woman, who had been brought up with Islamic teachings, ascended the throne. However, he was unpopular and was soon overthrown. The royal ministers then came to Kalundawa to find the rightful heir. As Appuwa left the village on the royal elephant, he saw Kalu Ethana and remarked, “Manda Kalu Pin Nokale” (“Alas, Kalu Ethana missed her chance”). Over time, this phrase evolved into the name Kalundawa Pinnapole, and even today, the neighboring village is called Pinnapola.

The village temple, Sri Sudharmarama Rajamaha Viharaya, houses an ancient Tampita Viharaya that dates back to the Kandyan period.

Tampita Viharaya of Sri Sudharmarama Rajamaha Viharaya

A Tampita Viharaya is a shrine room built on a wooden platform resting on stone pillars, typically 3–4 feet high. The roof structure is made of timber, and the walls are often constructed using wattle and daub. The interiors are usually adorned with paintings in the traditional Kandyan style.

Kalundawa Sri Sudharmarama Rajamaha Viharaya is located about 4 km from Narammala Junction and 13 km from Dambadeniya. If you are coming from Dambadeniya on the Dambadeniya-Narammala road, the turn-off to the temple is 10 km from Dambadeniya and 1 km before reaching Narammala town. The temple is situated approximately 3.2 km down this road.

The Tampita Viharaya at Kalundawa Sri Sudharmarama Rajamaha Viharaya was declared a Protected Archaeological Monument by the Department of Archaeology under Gazette No. 1612 on 24 July 2009. The temple underwent renovation in 2014.

Entrance to the Tampita Viharaya building at Kalundawa Sri Sudharmarama Rajamaha Viharaya

Tampita Viharaya at Kalundawa Sri Sudharmarama Rajamaha Viharaya

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Map of the Kalundawa Sri Sudharmarama Rajamaha Viharaya

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Driving Directions to Kalundawa Sri Sudharmarama Rajamaha Viharaya

Route from Narammala to Kalundawa Sri Sudharmarama Rajamaha Viharaya

Though : Rarammala – Dambadeniya Road
distance : 4 km
Travel time :15 mins
Time to spend : 20-30 mins
Driving directions : see on google map

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