Maunawa Purana Tampita Viharaya – මාඋනාව පුරාණ ටැම්පිට විහාරය

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Maunawa Purana Tampita Viharaya

Maunawa Purana Viharaya is an ancient temple with a Tampita Viharaya hidden just few hundred meters away from the Bingiriya – Wariyapola road.

Tampita Viharaya is a temple built on pillars, primarily carved out of stone even though few smaller structures built on wooden pillars are found. A frame of timber is laid on the pillars and a thick wooden planks are laid on this frame to create a platform. The temple is built on the platform using wattle and daub, mostly with a outer and a inner sanctum as in the Tampita Viharaya at Maunawa. Tampita Vihara were a popular architectural feature of temples during the Kandyan era.

Unfortunately this temple seems to have been gone through a major renovation in 2453 BE (1910) as printed on the newly painted Makara Thorana. A Mandpaya too has been built on in front of the viharaya probably during this renovation. A wooden stairway from the end of the Mandapaya leads to the entrance of the Tampita Viharaya.

Entrance to the inner chamber is through a new Makara Thorana decorated with flowers. Unfortunately all the statues inside the temple as well as paintings are new and freshly painted and lacks any antiquity.

The temple between Chilaw and Wariyapola, 21 km from Chilaw and 33 km from Wariyapola. From Chilaw, travel pass Bingiriya and Bowatta. One km from Bowatta junction turn right on to the Maunawa Vihara Mawatha at the board directing to Mahaveunawa Asapuwa which also lies on this road. Travel on this road for 750 meters to reach the temple.

Maunawa Purana Tampita Viharaya

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