
Just above the Malwatu Maha Viharaya in Kandy and near the present Wales Park on the hills is found a small but beautiful old viharaya called Naga Vimanaya (also called Naga Viharaya). This temple has served as the residence of Weliwita Sri Saranankara Thero for some time. This is also knows as the Sangaraja Viharaya.
‘Naga Vimanaya‘ is apparently a monastery found in the early 17th century. Beautiful murals depicting Jataka stories drawn in Kandyan Sittara style paintings adorn the walls of the shrine and some of these are well preserved even today. These paintings are considered as some of the best examples of Kandyan art.
The buildings of the temple is relatively modern except the small ancient image house belonging to Kandyan Kingdom. This image house is built with brick and mortar and plastered with lime mortar. The murals on the walls are authentic Kandy/Gampola period and fairly well preserved. The murals on the outer walls had been conserved by the central cultural fund.
This building was declared as a protected archaeological monument in 21 October 2010.
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 the Nagavimana Kande Viharaya (Naga Vimanaya)
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Traveling Directions to Nagavimana Kande Viharaya (Naga Vimanaya)
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 – 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 |