Kandy Temples
Gadaladeniya Raja Maha Viharaya, Kandy
Gadaladeniya Raja Maha Viharaya is situated in the village of Gadaladeniya, located on the border of Udunuwara and Yatinuwara in the Kandy District. The temple is built on a rock and is renowned for its metalwork ornaments produced in the village. The temple's history dates back to 1344 A.D., when it was constructed by King Bhuvenkabahu IV. The temple was originally named Dharmakirti Viharaya after the Buddhist monk Dharmakirti, who founded it. According to different Buddhist literary works, it has also been referred to as Saddharmatilaka and Gadaladeniya Viharaya.
The temple remained neglected until the time of King Narendrasinghe, who dedicated the shrine to Velivita Sangharaja, after which it came under the care of his papillary succession.
Main Shrine
The temple’s main shrine sits atop a rocky outcrop and has a South Indian architectural influence. Inside the shrine, there is a fine seated statue of the Buddha, framed by a Makara Torana (dragon arch), which is adorned with numerous images of gods, including Salerea, Brahma, Suyama, Santhusthika, Natha, and Maithri. On either side of the main Buddha statue are standing Buddha statues.
Secondary Shrine
In the middle of the temple compound is a secondary shrine in the shape of a cruciform, with small Buddha shrines in each wing. Each wing is topped with a small sikhara (spire) in proportion to the wings, and a larger sikhara crowns the center of the shrine.
Embekke Devale, Kandy
Embekke Devale is located in the village of Embekke, close to Daulgala in the Udunuwara division, around eight miles from Kandy. The temple is famous for its incredible wood carvings, which are considered some of the finest examples of medieval carpentry in Sri Lanka.
The Entrance (Vahalkada)
The entrance of the temple, called Vahalkada, is marked by 16 wooden pillars that bear some of the finest wood carvings, including a carving of a mother and child.
The Roof
The roof of the shrine is of particular significance. Remarkably, it does not have a central beam but instead uses 26 rafters, held together by a giant wooden pin called Madol Kurupuwa, an ingenious and fine example of medieval carpentry that resembles the spokes of a wheel.
Wood Carvings
Embekke Devale is a living example of the finest wooden architecture and art in Sri Lanka, with elaborate carvings decorating almost every inch of the wooden structure, including rafters, beams, columns, brackets, doorways, doors, and windows.
- Entwined swans (hansa puttuwa)
- Double-headed eagles
- Entwined rope designs
- A mother breast-feeding her child
- Soldiers on horseback
- Dancing female figures
- Wrestlers
- A bird with a human figure
Main Sanctum
The main sanctum of the temple has a high roof, which follows the traditional design of Devale shrines from the Kandyan period. The roof rafters slope downward towards the visitor and are joined by the Madol Kurupawa pin, making the design unique.
Digge (Dancing Hall)
The Digge is a dancing hall that spans 53 feet in length and 26 feet in width. It is supported by 32 intricately carved wooden pillars, some of which rest on stone bases. The Digge is decorated with a staggering number of designs—128 floral designs, 256 lotus designs, and other decorative motifs. The overall number of designs in the Digge totals 514.
Drummers’ Hall (Hewisi Mandapaya)
The Drummers’ Hall features ornate wooden pillars and a high-pitched roof, with carvings sourced from an abandoned Royal Audience Hall at Gampola.
Lankathilaka Viharya, Kandy
Lankathilaka Viharya is located in Handessa, about 12km from the Peradeniya Bridge in the Kandy district. The temple stands on the summit of a rock called Panhalgala and offers a magnificent panoramic view of the surrounding hills, paddy fields, and diverse vegetation. The temple is dedicated to Senalankadhikara, a minister of Bhuvanaikabahu IV of Gampola, who built it in 1344 CE. The temple's history also includes contributions from Parakramabahu VI of Kotte, who carried out stucco work during his reign (1412–1467 CE). Originally, the temple was four storeys high, but only the ground floor and part of the first floor remain today.
Art and Architecture
Lankathilaka Viharya is built using brick and granite on an uneven rock surface. It follows a cruciform ground plan with a square sanctuary, surrounded by an outer wall that provides a circumambulatory space on three sides. The architecture of Lankathilaka Viharya is considered to be an evolution of Polonnaruwa-period Sinhalese architecture with notable Dravidian and Indo-Chinese features.
Temple Layout
A flight of stairs carved into the rock leads to the temple entrance. The entrance is flanked by gajasimhas (elephant-lion sculptures). An arched passage with a Makara Torana (dragon arch) decorated with Gandharva and Gaja-Lakshmi carvings leads to a pavilion and into the inner chamber.
Murals and Statues
Inside, the walls and ceiling are painted with 24 Buddhas who preceded Gautama Buddha. A colossal seated Buddha statue is housed in the inner chamber beneath an exquisite dragon arch. The temple also features images of deities like Upulvan, Saman, and Vibhisana in niches around the temple, with Skanda placed north of the entrance.
Degaldoruwa Viharaya, Kandy
Degaldoruwa Viharaya is located in Amunugama, around 7km from Kandy. This cave temple is built into a rock outcrop and features a series of beautiful Kandyan-era murals.
Setting
The temple is set up on a terrace of a low rock mass, rising 40 feet. A path carved into the rock leads to the higher terrace, where the Bo tree and stupa are located.
Murals
The rock-cut chamber consists of two antechambers—a drumming hall and an intermediate vestibule. The murals at Degaldoruwa are considered among the best examples of Kandyan painting. They are divided into four panels, illustrating Jataka stories, which depict the previous lives of Buddha. These include the Sutasoma Jataka, Vessantara Jataka, and Silava Jataka, with the Vessantara Jataka being the most expressive.
A notable mural depicts the Mara Yuddha, or Buddha’s spiritual conquest over Mara. In this mural, the Buddha sits under the Bodhi tree in the bhumisparsa mudra (earth-touching gesture), calling the earth to testify against Mara. The demon Mara, mounted on an elephant, leads his army of demons in battle, but is ultimately defeated.
The uniformity in size of the human figures, animals, and trees in the murals is a distinctive feature. The trees are depicted with stylized branches and leaves, and the fish swimming in the water are drawn in uniform size as well. The figures are always presented in front or side views, with no rear views.
