Kitulpe Rajamaha Viharaya: A Sanctuary of the Tooth Relic

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කිතුල්පේ රජමහා විහාරය (Kithulpe Raja Maha Viharaya) — Kithulpe Raja Maha Viharaya

Located about 28 kilometers from Kandy, several ancient Rajamaha Viharayas are scattered around Hanguranketha in the Nuwara Eliya District. Among them, Kitulpe Rajamaha Viharaya holds great significance due to its association with the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha, which was once enshrined here, elevating the temple to a site of deep veneration.

This relatively obscure temple can be accessed from Hanguranketha via two routes. One route travels 15 kilometers through Rillagaskada and Poramadulla, while the other is a shorter 9-kilometer path through Unantanna. Both routes wind through mountainous terrain, offering picturesque views of paddy fields and forest patches. The roads are rugged, yet the scenic beauty, with terraced fields and ancient-style houses, creates a breathtaking landscape.

Kitulpe is situated on a mid-mountain plateau approximately 1,500 feet above sea level, surrounded by hills rising over 3,000 feet, such as Pannagala, Malhathagoda, and Hapugasdeniya. Though the forests covering these hills have mostly vanished, remnants still remain atop the peaks.

Refuge of the Sacred Tooth Relic During the 1803 British Invasion

From 1796 onwards, when the British took control of Sri Lanka’s coastal areas, multiple attempts were made to protect the Sacred Tooth Relic from their reach. One such instance occurred during the reign of the last king, Sri Wickrama Rajasingha, when the relic was secretly housed at Kitulpe. This is recorded in the ancient palm-leaf manuscript Dalada Vittiya, which mentions:

“Secretly taken from Sri Wardhanapura (Kandy) to a remote, secure palace at Kitulpe, located in the fortified region of Hewahata, surrounded by hills and water barriers. There, the relic was kept safely, and day and night, religious observances including the recitation of sacred texts such as the Ratana Sutta and Satipatthana Sutta were performed without interruption, benefitting all beings of the three realms.”
(Dalada Vittiya, transcribed by Punchi Bandara Sannasgala)

According to this manuscript, the Sacred Tooth Relic was moved in 1802 (Saka Year 1724). In 1803, the British invaded Kandy and crowned Muttusami as king. After occupying the city, they pursued King Sri Wickrama Rajasingha to Hanguranketha. Shortly afterward, the Sinhalese army retaliated, defeating a large number of British troops and forcing them to retreat to Colombo.

Once word spread that the British were approaching Hanguranketha, the Sacred Tooth Relic was secretly moved from Kitulpe to Wegama Rajamaha Viharaya for safekeeping. Three days later, when the threat had passed, it was brought back to Kitulpe and venerated as usual. Later, it was moved again to Arattana Rajamaha Viharaya and then to a newly built chamber in Walliwela village. From Walliwela, it was returned to Kitulpe, and once peace had returned, it was taken in grand procession to Kundasale Viharaya, and from there to the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy in the month of Poson, 1803 (Dalada Vittiya).

The Ranpathge Viharaya of Kitulpe is built on a raised piece of land beside a paddy field. Upon entering the temple grounds, visitors are greeted by an ancient Bo tree and an adjacent image house (pratima mandiraya). In front of it is a small bell-shaped dagoba, and to the south lies the Sima House (for Poya rituals), believed to have been built in the early 20th century, now in ruins. Nearby stands an old dharma hall. Scattered around the premises are remnants of ancient stone pillars.

There is no definitive evidence pinpointing where the Sacred Tooth Relic was kept within the temple. Some believe it was within the current image house, while others suggest it was hidden in a forest cave about a quarter kilometer away. However, the Dalada Vittiya indicates that, unlike the extreme secrecy at Delgamuwa Viharaya, the relic was stored here in a secure but ritualistically proper setting, likely within the main temple grounds.

Ancient Image House

An inscription above the temple’s door states that the old image house was restored in Saka Year 1831 (1909 CE). During that renovation, many original features may have been lost. The current image house measures approximately 35 feet in length and 18 feet in width. The front section serves as a Hevisi Mandapaya (drummers’ hall).

Round stone pillars support the roof, connecting the inner sanctum and the Hevisi hall. The porch is tiled with traditional peti ulu (flat clay tiles). The wooden pillars in the hall are plain but mounted on ornately carved bases. The entrance features an elegant makara thorana (dragon arch), flanked by two guardian figures wielding swords. Above the arch are deity figures, and the Archaeology Department confirmed the authenticity of this makara thorana in the 1990s.

The Buddha statues inside are similar to those of Arattana Rajamaha Viharaya, likely influenced by it as Arattana served as the royal temple of Hanguranketha. Inside, a 1.5-meter-tall seated Buddha is flanked by two 1.6-meter-tall standing Buddhas. Above them are sun and moon symbols, and below are images of Sāriputta and Moggallāna, the two chief disciples. These murals and statues, though not artistically exceptional, are archaeologically significant and appear to remain in their 1909-restored state.

The surrounding walls feature typical Kandyan-era paintings of lotus-bearing devotees. Scenes from the Buddha’s life and the Seven Weeks after enlightenment are also depicted. Near the door are images of the Kataragama and Vishnu deities. The ceilings of both the image house and the drummers’ hall are adorned with lotus patterns, zodiac wheels, and other designs. A new temple structure has been recently added, but it seems to disrupt the harmony of the original complex.

References

Wijayawardhana, K. (2008, August 8). දළදා වහන්සේට සෙවණ සැළසූ කිතුල්පේ රජමහා විහාරය. Budusarana.

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