Uda Aludeniya Raja Maha Viharaya – උඩ අළුදෙනිය රජමහා විහාරය

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The Uda Aludeniya Raja Maha Viharaya is located on the Kandy – Gampola road is said to be built by a person called Maayim Bandara during the reign of King Buvanekabahu IV (1341-1351) of Gampola Kingdom. According to records this temple has been constructed in the form of a Tampita Vihara ( temple built on a platform above ground) and in 1930 it has been reconstructed as a modern temple.

There is another tradition that, during the reign of the same King, Chandrajoti thero who was a member of the royal family who had become a Buddhist monk (rajawansayek mahanawa siti), went on along journey, and when he was returning he got benighted at this village, which was then inhabited by people of the chaliya caste. Owing to the inhospitality of the villagers he had to pass the night in a cave there.

On arriving at Gampola he reported this behaviour of theirs to the King. The King visited his displeasure on them by driving them out of the village to Selawa in Four Korales. Further he built the present Vihare, gave a gold image of Buddha to it, and dedicated the lands of the late inhabitants of the village to the upkeep of the temple.

Nothing of historical significance remains today in this temple except a wooden doorframe called “Ranbewa”. This beautifully carved white sandlewood doorframe with floral vegetal designs with friezes of dancers, musicians, images of couples and flying Gansharvas is placed as the main entrance to the Vishnu Devale ( Shrine for Deity Vishnu) of the temple. It is said that this door frame was brought here from the Royal Palace of king “Buwanekabahu IV. “ This doorframe can be regarded as the earliest example of wood carving which has so far come to light in Sri Lanka.

In 2004, excavators of the Archaeological Department who were carring out conservation work of a small stupa found 120 priceless bronze Buddha statues in two bronze caskets and an ancient “makara thorana” from a small dilapidated dagoba. After conservation, the chief prelate of the temple gifted these to the National Museum at Colombo.

According to an old document at Maninarama at Veligalla, a wooden door frame called ” Ranbewa” was sent as a gift from Kotte to Gampola and it was deposited at a two storied building in Aludeniya Viharaya.

To reach the temple travel along the Kandy-Gampola Road untill you come to Veligalla. Turn right (if you are comming from Kandy side) and travel about a mile to reach the Aludeniya

References

1. 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.
2. Lewis, J.P. (1921) “Kandyan Notes,” The Ceylon Antiquary Literary Register Volume VII 1921-1922, VII(Part II), p. 109.

Also See

• Ancient Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka
• Other Places of Interest Within Close Proximity

• Kandy – The Last Kingdom of Sinhale

Map of Uda Aludeniya Raja Maha Viharaya

Driving Directions to Uda Aludeniya Raja Maha Viharaya