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Hidden in Mirigama, the ancient Raddalgoda Sri Jinendrarama Purana Viharaya stands as a rare Kandyan-era treasure. Its Tampita Viharaya, built on stone pillars and adorned with fading frescoes, echoes centuries of artistry and devotion from the Kingdom of Sitawaka to the Kandyan age.
Raddalgoda Sri Jinendrarama Purana Viharaya, an ancient temple tucked away in Mirigama in the Gampaha District, is believed to date back to the Kingdom of Sitawaka (1521–1594). Its most distinctive feature is the Tampita Viharaya—a temple on pillars—constructed during the Kandyan period.
A Tampita Viharaya is typically built on a wooden platform supported by stone stumps about 60–120 centimeters (2–4 feet) tall. The timber framework supports a tiled roof, while the wattle-and-daub walls are adorned with frescoes, often painted in the Kandyan style.
The Tampita Viharaya at Raddalgoda stands on nine granite pillars, each about 90 centimeters (3 feet) high. The structure measures approximately 2.6 meters (8 feet 6 inches) in length and 2 meters (6 feet 8 inches) in width, surrounded by a 45-centimeter (1 foot 6 inch) wide circumambulatory path with a wooden handrail carved in the Beralu design. The roof is tiled with flat clay tiles characteristic of the Kandyan era. A short wooden stairway leads to the entrance, which is flanked by two painted guardian figures. Inside the modest shrine is a seated Buddha statue.
The murals display a Kandyan Sittara style with local influences, and the attire and ornaments of the human figures reveal traces of European influence. Sadly, most of the murals have now faded. Traces of hell scenes remain on the outer walls, though these later additions lack the finesse typical of the Sittara tradition.
Raddalgoda Sri Jinendrarama Purana Viharaya can be reached via the Pasyala–Mirigama Road. From Pasyala, travel 5.3 kilometers along this road, turn left onto Gaspe Road, proceed another 300 meters, and take the narrow concrete Pansala Para road on the left. The temple lies about 700 meters further along this route.
References
- Dissanayake, S. B. (2023). 2015 වර්ෂය සඳහා පුරාවිද්යා අධ්යක්ෂක ජනරාල්ගේ පාලන වාර්තාව. Department of Archaeology, Sri Lanka.
Also See
- Tampita Vihara of Sri Lanka Index
- Ancient Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka
- Other Places of Interest Within Close Proximity
Map of Raddalgoda Sri Jinendrarama Purana Viharaya
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Travelling directions to Raddalgoda Sri Jinendrarama Purana Viharaya
| Travel directions from Pasyala to Raddalgoda Sri Jinendrarama Purana Viharaya |
| Distance : 6 km Travel time : 15 mins Time to spend : 30 mins Driving directions : see on Google map |
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