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About 10 km away from the Anamaduwa town close the Mahamithawa Wewa (reservoir) lies Sri Sumittarama Viharaya, an ancient temple with new buildings but a Tampita Viharaya from an ancient era.
During the ancient Kandyan period, these unique type of vihara called the “Tampita Vihara” is a temple built on pillars. It’s most prominent feature is that it is mounted on monolithic wooden pillars or dwarfed rock pillars.
This type of vihara that stood on raised platforms of wood or stone pillars were constructed this way in order to prevent white ants or other vermin from entering it and damaging it.
The Sri Sumittaramaya temple Tampita Viharaya structure is laid on 20 massive granite pillars about 4 feet tall and the walls are pained on a layer of clay. Unfortunately it doesn’t have the original paintings of Kandyan era, murals in the structure seems to have been recently retouched by an amateur painter losing both its originality and beauty.
To reach this temple you need to travel about 5.5 km towards Nikaweratiya where you will come across a quite open juncton in Monnekulama called Palugas Handiya. Turn to this road and travel 4.8 km to reach this temple just before the Mahamithawa Wewa.
Also See
- Tampita Vihara of Sri Lanka Index
- Ancient Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka
- Other Places of Interest Within Close Proximity
Map of Mahamithawa Sri Sumittaramaya Purana Tampita Viharaya
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Travel Directions to Mahamithawa Sri Sumittaramaya Purana Tampita Viharaya
| Route from Colombo to Mahamithawa Sri Sumittaramaya Purana Tampita Viharaya |
| Though : Chilaw – Anamaduwa Distance : 141 km Travel time : 3.5 hours Driving directions : see on google map |
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