Niththawela Raja Maha Viharaya

Niththawela Raja Maha Viharaya in Kandy – නිත්තවෙල රජමහා විහාරය

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The king had decreed to establish four temples for the convenience of monks who visit headquaters of Malwathu and Asgiri chapters. It was rajakaruna Wijewardena Wasala Mudiyansew who was entrusted in establishing these 4 temples. The four viharas were at Suduhumpola, Nittawela, Gangaramaya and Daulagala (in Ampitiya). Of these the first two served the monks of the Asgiri chapter.

Niththawela Raja Maha Viharaya also accommodated venerable Velivita Sri Sarankara in his educational activities during the reign of King Narendrasinghe (1707 – 1739).

According to Seneviratna, it must have been existed from much earlier times. In 1771, king Kirti Sri Rajasinghe, after renovating the viharaya granted land to the occupying monks in the viharaya.

It is also interesting to note that this viharaya was destroyed during the rebellion of 1817 – 1818 by the British soldiers and taken from the monks residing there for joining of the rebellion of 1817 – 1818 and given over to another monk of the Asgiriya Viharaya.

A large extent of land in the Nittawela village is owned by this vihra. This place has gained recognition more as a residential quarters of monks than as an established viharaya.

References

Seneviratna, A., 1983. Kandy: an Illustrated Survey of Ancient Monuments With Historical, Archaeological and Literary Descriptions Including Maps of the City and Its Suburbs. Colombo: Central Cultural Fund, Ministry of Cultural Affairs.
Abeyawardhana, H. A. P. (2004) Heritage of Kandurata: Major Natural, Cultural, and Historic Sites. Kandy: Kandurata Development Bank, in association with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

Also See

Kandy – The Last Kingdom of Sinhale

Map of Nittawela Raja Maha Viharaya

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Traveling Directions to Nittawela Raja Maha Viharaya (Kandy)

Kandy can be reached from Colombo on the old Colombo – Kandy road (option 1) which is scenic but heavy in traffic specially on Fridays and Sundays. However the new Central Expressway (option 2) has opened up a new route which is longer but less cumbersome.

Route 1 from Colombo to Kandy	Route 2 from Colombo to Kandy
Though : kadawata – Warakapola – Ambepussa – Mawanella Distance :120 km Travel time : 3.45 hours Driving directions : see on google map	Though : Katunayake Expressway – Central Expressway – Kurunegala Distance :150 km Travel time : 3.20 hours Driving directions : see on google map
Route From Nuwara Eliya to Kandy
Though : Walapane – Raja Mawatha Distance :100 km Travel time : 3.0 hours Driving directions : see on google map