Kumarakanda Kumara Purana Viharaya

RATE THIS LOCATION : 1 Star

(8 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)

Dodanduwa Kumarakanda Kumara Purana Viharaya

Located on a modest hill in Dodanduwa, the Kumarakanda Kumara Maha Viharaya is a strikingly beautiful temple that can be seen from the Colombo–Galle main road, just passing the 102-kilometer post. It is located on the land side of Dodanduwa town, close to a bend in the road.

Historical Background

The temple’s architectural elements bear several inscriptions that trace its long history. The pandol at the main entrance is inscribed with the year 1703 Buddhist Era (BE), corresponding to 1761 CE, marking an important early phase of the temple’s existence. A wall of the image house carries the date 2328 BE (1784 CE), which is likely the year the image house was constructed. Additionally, the same wall notes that new murals were painted in the year 2483 BE (1939 CE).

However, according to local folklore, the temple’s origins go back much earlier. It is believed to have been destroyed during the Portuguese colonial era and later reconstructed during the Dutch period. The current image house reflects this layered history, with design elements and materials suggesting several stages of rebuilding over time.

The Image House

The Image House within the temple complex consists of three chambers connected by blue-painted wooden doors in the Dutch architectural style, featuring double panels and intricately designed latches. A bridge links the shrine to the stupa, connecting the two structures.

The Image House also includes another arched entrance adorned with symbolic carvings—a horse and a lion beneath a finely carved English crown, reflecting British influence. A two-leaf door serves as the main entrance, above which lies an astrological chart.

Inside the shrine, a reclining Buddha statue is positioned in the left corner, accompanied by other statues. Unfortunately, many of the original murals were painted over during renovations. However, a preserved one-square-foot section of the oldest mural remains at the base of the wall, allowing visitors to glimpse the original artwork beneath the newer layers.

The central chamber houses two marble Buddha statues, said to have been gifted by a Burmese king, and the walls are adorned with paintings depicting the 80 arahants (enlightened monks) from the Buddha’s time.

Further into the temple is an open courtyard, which includes another arched entryway, a bell tower, and a dagoba, all showcasing Dutch-style architecture. Behind this area lies the Bodhi Tree terrace, where ancient stone pillars still stand. The bell tower itself has a distinctive design, setting it apart from others found in Sri Lankan temples.

The Preaching Hall

The Dharma Shalawa, or preaching hall, is a highlight of the temple’s architecture. It features three round wooden pillars extending from the center of the wall to the roof, carved with circular motifs and painted a warm orange hue.

A Center of Revival

It was at this temple that Migettuwatte Gunananda Thera entered the monastic order. Arriving here as a layman named Miguel, he immersed himself in religious study, spending much of his time with the texts preserved in the temple’s library. In 1945, he transcribed the Tripitaka onto palm-leaf manuscripts.

The temple also became a center of engagement for several other key figures in Sri Lanka’s religious and cultural revival. Anagarika Dharmapala, Colonel Henry Steel Olcott, and Martin Wickramasinghe are known to have frequently visited and stayed at the temple.

The Temple Library and Archives

Adjacent to the image house is the temple’s renowned library, which contains a valuable collection of historical documents. These include writings and records from prominent figures such as Anagarika Dharmapala, Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Thero, and Colonel Olcott, along with various documents dating back to the Dutch colonial period.

Restoration

Recently, the Department of Archaeology uncovered a small section of the original mural beneath layers of newer paint. This fragment revealed much superior color quality, technique, and artistic detail compared to the modern paintings. In one of the smaller back chambers, a painting of a procession features men holding a British flag, clearly reflecting the colonial influences that shaped parts of the temple’s history.

The Bell Tower of Dodanduwa Kumarakanda Kumara Purana Viharaya

Murals in the Image House of Dodanduwa Kumarakanda Kumara Purana Viharaya

Granite Ruins of Dodanduwa Kumarakanda Kumara Purana Viharaya

Preaching Hall of Dodanduwa Kumarakanda Kumara Purana Viharaya

References

Abeyawardana, H. A. P. (2001). Heritage of Ruhuna: Major Natural, Cultural, and Historic Sites. Ruhuna Development Bank.
Kanaheraarachchi, J., Subasinghe, I., & Senarathne, W. (2011, August 13). ගල් මල් හිනැහෙන හික්කඩුව. රට වටා. Retrieved June 25, 2025, from https://ratawata.blogspot.com/2011/08/13.html

Also See

Map of Kumarakanda Kumara Purana Viharaya and Other Places of Interest

Click on the button below to load the Dynamic Google Map

Show Location on Google Maps

The map above also shows other places of interest within a approximately 20 km radius of the current site. Click on any of the markers and the info box to take you to information of these sites

Zoom out the map to see more surrounding locations using the mouse scroll wheel or map controls.

Travel Directions to Kumarakanda Kumara Purana Viharaya

Route from Hikkaduwa to Kumarakanda Kumara Purana Viharaya	Route from Colombo to Kumarakanda Kumara Purana Viharaya
Distance : 5 km Travel time : 10 mins Driving directions : see on Google Maps	Though : Southern Highway Distance :121 km Travel time : 2.15 hours Driving directions : see on Google Maps