Minigamuwa Purana Tampita Viharaya (මිනිගමුව පුරාණ ටැම්පිට විහාරය)

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Minigamuwa Purana Tampita Viharaya
image source : ‘The Upcountry Repository of Buddhist Art – The Tampita Vihara of Sri Lanka’ By Ganga Rajinee Dissanayaka

Located in the Minigomuva Raja Maha Vihara, this Tampita Viharaya was constructed at the end of the nineteenth century under the guidance of Valpola Sumangala Thero. The murals were created by Hirihagama Gurunnanse (Chandrasekara & Silva, 2021).

A Tampita Viharaya is a structure built on a wooden platform that rests on a number of stone stumps usually 3-4 feet tall. The roof is held by a structure built of timber and the walls are generally made of wattle and daub. The walls inside the chamber are more or less always covered in paintings drawn mainly in Kandyan style.

With the Buddhist renaissance brought by Weliwita Saranankara Thero (19 June 1698 – 18 July 1778), village temples were provided with preaching halls and Tampita Viharas. Several of them were built in Tumpane. Some of them have been modernized. Following are the places where such Tampita Viharas are found in Tumpane;

(Abeyawardhana, 2004)

During renovations of this viharaya in the early 20th century, the pillars were partially covered with a cement base, and a large preaching hall was constructed around the old mandapa, altering and destroying the original appearance of the Tampita Viharaya (Chandrasekara & Silva, 2021).

To reach the temple, take to Aladeniya road from Peradeniya and travel up to Galagedara. Take the road towards Rambukkana for 2.7 km and turn to Minugamauwa Road at the Kajugaswanguwa. Travel 6 km on this road to reach the Minigamuwa Purana Tampita Viharaya.

References

Abeyawardhana, H. A. P. (2004). Heritage of Kandurata: Major Natural, Cultural, and Historic Sites. Kandurata Development Bank, in association with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
Chandrasekara, D. P., & Silva, K. D. (2021). The Ṭämpiṭavihāras of Sri Lanka: Elevated Image- Houses in Buddhist Architecture. Anthem Press.

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Map of the Minigamuwa Purana Tampita Viharaya

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Driving Directions to Minigamuwa Purana Tampita Viharaya

Route from Kandy to Minigamuwa Purana Tampita Viharaya

Though : Aladeniya – Galagedara
distance : 27 km
Travel time : 1 hour
Driving directions : see on Google map

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References

Also See

Map of the Minigamuwa Purana Tampita Viharaya

Driving Directions to Minigamuwa Purana Tampita Viharaya

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