Heritage

Wendaruwa Kirivehera Rajamaha Viharaya (වෙඬරුව කිරිවෙහෙර රජමහා විහාරය)

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Wendaruwa Kirivehera Rajamaha Viharaya is a small temple hidden in the middle of a lush paddy field in the Udagammedda Grama Niladari Division in Medadumbara Divisional Secretary’s Division of Kandy District.

Hidden from outside pilgrims, this temple features a beautiful image house. The image house is a rectangular Kandyan-style building with a verandah supported by 16 evenly spaced wooden pillars—six on each side and two at each end. The pillars are carved with alternating square and cylindrical sections, though these sections are plain and lack any decorative design. The pillars rest on a wooden frame constructed with large wooden beams placed atop the half-height outer wall of the image house (Lewis, 1921).

Both the base and top beams are carved with “Gonas” designs. The Viharaya contains a sedent Buddha and two standing Buddhas. The Vessantara Jatakaya is painted on the walls of the image house. (Lewis, 1921)

This ancient shrine and other archeological evidences within the premises of Wendaruwa Kiri Vihara belonging to Udagammedda village was decalated as protected archaeological monument by the department of Archaeology in two gazettes published in 2016 (Kariyawasam, 2016a, 2016b).

References

Lewis, J.P. (1921) “Kandyan Notes,” The Ceylon Antiquary Literary Register Volume VII 1921-1922, VII(Part II), p. 110.
Kariyawasam, A. V. (2016a). Government Notifications -the Antiquities Ordinance (Chapter 188). The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, No. 1974/16 (Thursday, July 07, 2016), 1A-5A.
Kariyawasam, A. V. (2016b). Government Notifications -the Antiquities Ordinance (Chapter 188). The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, No. 1,963 (Tuesday, April 12, 2016), 14–18.

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Map of Wendaruwa Kirivehera Rajamaha Viharaya

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Travel Directions to Wendaruwa Kirivehera Rajamaha Viharaya

From Kandy to Wendaruwa Kirivehera Rajamaha Viharaya

Via : Medamahanuwara
Distance : 45 km
Travel time : 1.30 hours
Time to Spend : about 30 minutes
Driving directions : see on Googl e Map

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Tissamaharama Tissa Wewa: The First Oblique Dam in the World (තිස්සමහාරාම තිස්ස වැව)
The Tissa Wewa is one of the largest ancient irrigation tanks constructed the 3rd Century is considered the first Oblique Dam in the world […]

References

Also See

Map of Wendaruwa Kirivehera Rajamaha Viharaya

Travel Directions to Wendaruwa Kirivehera Rajamaha Viharaya

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