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Omalpe Purana Viharaya is an ancient temple with a Tampita Viharaya built during the era of the Kandyan kingdom. The temple lies between Urubokka and Panamure on the same route as Dapane Sri Jayasumanaramaya Tampita Viharaya.
While Omalpe lacks a reservoir today, remnants of an ancient one still exist. It’s believed that the village’s name originates from the abundance of Olu (water lily) flowers that once adorned this reservoir (Olu–Mal–Pe).
A Tampita Viharaya is a unique structure built on a wooden platform supported by stone pillars, typically 3-4 feet tall. The timber-framed roof covers walls usually made of wattle and daub. This architectural style was prevalent in Buddhist temples during the Kandyan period.
Although the exact date of this temple’s establishment is unknown, four lines are inscribed above the entrance of the Tampita Viharaya.
වසිණ එක්දහස් සත්සිය දෙසාලි ස
මසිණ පොසොන් පුර පසළොස් රිවිදව ස
නමිණ ගරු තෙන්නකෝන් අගමැති නොල ස
විසිණ නිම කෙරෙවු මුණි මැදුරය මෙව ස
From the above inscription, Omalpe Tampita Viharaya’s construction is attributed to Omalpe Thennokoon Mudali, completed on Poson Poya Day in 1742. However, two other beliefs exist. One suggests Alahakoon Mudiyanse, secretary to Ehelapola Adhikaram (and builder of the nearby Walalgoda Tampita Viharaya), built it.
This tradition explains the Omalpe Viharaya’s construction as a result of a disagreement after a villager inadvertently offended Alahakoon Mudiyanse‘s wife during the Walalgoda Viharaya‘s dedication ceremony.
A second tradition credits its construction to a chieftain named Campane Rala during the reign of King Kirthi Sri Rajasinghe (1747–1781).
Structurally similar to the Walalgoda Tampita Viharaya, the Omalpe Viharaya is built on nine 6-foot-6-inch granite pillars, creating a two-story building with a ground floor. The entire structure measures 65 feet 7 inches in length and 40 feet 8 inches in width.
A wooden staircase leads to the upper-floor image house, which features a narrow circumambulatory path. A central seated Samadhi Buddha statue is flanked by paintings of the chief disciples, Sariputta and Moggalana. The side walls are covered with frescoes, prominently featuring deities such as Eshwara, Kataragama, Vishnu, Saman, Ghana, Bhakma, and Sakra. A unique painting depicts a woman holding a lotus flower near the base of the seated Buddha.
The Omalpe Tampita Viharaya is accessible from Urubokka (12 km away), Kella Junction (12 km away), and Panamure Junction (10 km away).
Also See
- Tampita Vihara of Sri Lanka Index
- Ancient Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka
- Other Places of Interest Within Close Proximity
Map of Omalpe Purana Tampita Viharaya
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Driving Directions to Omalpe Purana Tampita Viharaya
| Route from Urubokka to Omalpe Purana Tampita Viharaya |
| Though : Ginnaliya distance : 12 km Travel time : 30 minutes Time to spend : 30 – 45 mins Driving directions : see on google map |
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