Namalpura Sri Vishuddharama Tampita Viharaya / Madawala Tampita Viharaya (නාමල්පුර ශ්‍රී විශුද්ධාරාම ටැම්පිට විහාරය / මඩවල ටැම්පිට විහාරය)

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Namalpura Sri Vishuddharama Tampita Viharaya (Madawala Tampita Viharaya)
Namalpura Sri Vishuddharama Tampita Viharaya (Madawala Tampita Viharaya)

Madawala Namalpura (Namalpuragama) is a remote village lying 11 km away from the Habarana – Ritigala on a route rarely travelled by any outsider. Hidden inside this village lies an ancient viharaya, Sri Vishuddharamaya with a Tampita Viharaya belonging to the Kandyan Era.

A Tampita Viharaya (Temple on Pillars) is a structure built on a wooden platform which 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 and the inner walls are generally covered with frescoes drawn mainly in Kandyan style.

This is a small rectangular Tampita Viharaya built on 16 granite pillars and well maintained. The pillar stumps are about 3 feet high and uneven as though they were scavenged from various ruined buildings. A cement flight of steps leads to the raised platform.

The image house is built leaving a narrow ledge around the structure. Two guardian deities with a 3 hooded cobra head lies beside the entrance to the image house. These have been painted in white after restoration. Inside the viharaya lies an elegant seated Buddha statue belonging to the Kandyan Era. Images of Vishnu and Saman deities are painted on the same wall beside the Buddha statue. Next to the paintings but on the opposite walls, two statues of the same deities have been built. As usual, Vishnu is made with 4 hands. Next to these statues lies two standing Buddha statues. The “Sheersha Patha” (the headdress) of these two statues have been re-created during conservation. A smaller seated Buddha statue can be seen on the left side of the hall next to the standing Buddha statue.

Fortunately, the walls too retain the original paintings of the Kandyan Era. Suwisiviwaranaya and various scenes from the Buddha’s life have been painted around the walls. A fading colourful seated Buddha painting can be seen on the wooden roof of the image house.

Behind the temple lies the picturesque Madawala Wewa, famed for being filled with Manel and Nelum flowers during the season.

This Tampita Viharaya was declared a protected archaeological monument through the gazette published on  23 February 2007 and describes the site as follows ;

“Tampita Vihara and Inscriptions with cave in Madawala Namalpura Sri Vishuddharama Vihara premises in Madawala Grama Niladhari Division bearing No. 598 in Palugaswewa Divisional Secretariat Division, Anuradhapura District, North Central Province”

To reach the temple from Habarana, take the Maradankadawala road for 6.5 km and take the Palugaswewa Road. You will also see a typical board installed by the archaeology department at the top of this road. Travel 11 km down this road, until you reach a cement block, paved road to the right. You can see the entrance to the temple at the end of this short lane.

Alternate Names : Namalpura Tampita Viharaya,  Namalpuragama Tampita Viharaya, Madawala Tampita Viharaya, Sri Vishuddharama Tampita Viharaya

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Map of Namalpura Sri Vishuddharama Tampita Viharaya (Madawala Tampita Viharaya)

Please click on the button below to load the Dynamic Google Map (ගූගල් සිතියම් පහලින්)
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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.

Travelling directions to Namalpura Sri Vishuddharama Tampita Viharaya (Madawala Tampita Viharaya)

Route from Habarana to Namalpura Sri Vishuddharama Tampita Viharaya (Madawala Tampita Viharaya)

Distance : 17.5  km
Travel time : 35 mins
Time to spend : 30 mins
Driving directions : see on google map

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