Srilankan architecture, history and travel

Degaldoruwa

Degaldoruwa Cave Temple,Kandy -Architecture,History and Wall Paintings

The Degaldoruwa Temple was built in 1771 AD by King Rajadi Rajasinha and was initiated during the rein of his elder brother King Kirti Sri Rajasinha [1747-1782 AD].This is considered as a Cave Temple with Kandyan era Paintings and Architecture.

Called locally as Degaldoruwa Raja Maha Viharaya, this temple is situated at Amunugama, a village near Kandy Town.The easiest way It can be reached from Kandy is via the roadway over Lewella Bridge or by proceeding along Kundasale road and turning left at Nattarampota.

The temple had been built at a place where two rocks were touching each other from above and below.The rock mass has a height of about 40 feet. A Cave had been made by breaking the rocks large enough to accomodate the Shrine Room of the Buddha and an area leading to the Shrine Room.

The paintings at the temple were the work of four painters. These paintings are recognized as some of the best examples of the Kandyan era paintings. Four " Jathaka Stories " are drawn at this cave temple of which one is the famous Vessantara Jathaka story.

In the Shrine Room ceiling, which is a rock surface, is also painted the scene of the Lord Buddha and the Mara and his forces. There is also a painting of Mahi Kantawa or the Earth Godess on the ceiling.

There is a Bo tree and a Stupa at a terrace above the summit of Rock Temple and a path with carved steps on the rock from the lower terrace and then an ascend of a pathway leading to Bo Tree and Stupa area.

The Degaldoruwa Tamba Sannasa or the Copper Plate Grant of King Rajadi Rajasinha describes the construction details of the temple

Cave Temple Premises ......... ......... ........... ............ .............. .................. .............. .............. ............... ................. ................ .......... .............

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The Rock formation and the Cave made for the Temple......... ......... ........... ............ .............. .................. .............. .............. ............... ................. ................ .......... .............

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Entrance area [ Mandapaya] to Shrine Room

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The Door Way, Moonstones , Makara Torana [Dragon Arch], Monolithic pillars with cusion capitals ......... ......... ........... ............ .............. .................. .............. .............. ............... ................. ................ .......... .............

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Wall Paintings at the Entrance area [Mandapaya] to Shrine Room

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Wall paintings of Jataka Stories.......... ......... ........... ............ .............. .................. .............. .............. ............... ................. ................ .......... .............

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Shrine Room and the Buddha Statues

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The large recumbent Buddha image and other Buddha images inside the Shrine Room.......... ......... ........... ............ .............. .................. .............. .............. ............... ................. ................ .......... .............

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Paintings at the Shrine Room Rock Ceiling ......... ......... ........... ............ .............. .................. .............. .............. ............... ................. ................ .......... .............

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Paintings on the Rock ceiling ......... ......... ........... ............ .............. .................. .............. .............. ............... ................. ................ .......... .............

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Stupa and Bo Tree at Upper Terrace ......... ......... ........... ............ .............. .................. .............. .............. ............... ................. ................ .......... .............

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On the summit above the rock is a Bo Tree and a Stupa. ......... ......... ........... ............ .............. .................. .............. .............. ............... ................. ................ .......... .............

Reference

Anuradha Seneviratna "Kandy"

J.B.Disanayaka " Degaldoruwa" [ Sinhala edition]