Lankathilaka Raja Maha Vihara Temple, Kandy

Lankatilaka Vihara that once was Four storied, built on an uneven Rock Bed

Traveling to Lankatilaka Temple

Lankatilaka Temple, located in the village of Udunuwara Hiyarapitiya in Kandy, is a renowned historical site. The temple is built on a massive rock known as Panhangala Rock, which adds to its impressive stature. As one of the three famous ancient temples near Peradeniya, Lankatilaka can be easily accessed via the Kandy-Colombo Main Road. Visitors should turn left from Pilimatalawa, near the 104 km marker, and follow the Daulagala road leading to Hiyarapitiya village of the Udunuwara electoral. The temple is approximately four kilometers from this turn-off at Pilimatalawa.

Lankatilaka temple approach from the western direction

The Lankatilaka Temple can be approached from two directions. One route begins at the Sanghawasa, located at the base of the rock. Here, you will find rice storage bins known as 'Atuwa' within the temple premises. The steps leading up to the temple start from this point. Ascending the Rock-Cut Steps

Another approach to the temple comes from the western direction, which is also popular among visitors to Lankatilaka Temple. This route features rock-cut steps that guide you upward toward the temple, providing a scenic and engaging experience as you ascend.

The legend of Lankatilaka Temple

According to the legend, there was a monastery at the foot of the Panhalgala mountain on which the temple was built since ancient times. A monk who lived there, having a quarrel with his teacher, climbed to the top of the mountain and picked fruits from a Jambu (Wax apple) tree there and came to the pond on the top of the rock. Looking at the pond, the monk saw a golden pot floating there and went down to the pond to pick it up. When he stretched out his hand to pick up the pot, it sank and emerged from another place. This was a supernatural incident, so the monk, frightened, quickly went to the temple and informed his teacher. The elder monk investigated the matter and, seeing the truth of it, informed the village heads to King Buwanekabahu IV, who was the ruler of Lanka at that time. The king informed Senarath, who was his chief minister, about this.

He ordered an investigation. The Chief Minister, upon reaching the summit of Panhalgala, verified the monk’s account and deemed the site worthy of royal significance. Initially, he recommended the construction of a palace at this location. However, the king ultimately decided to build a temple instead, paving the way for the establishment of the Lankathilaka Rajamaha Viharaya in Udunuwara.

Lankatilaka Vihara construction

Two staircases have been built to climb to the top of Panhalgala. One of these two staircases, which lead from the monastery to the temple grounds, was built during the Gampola period. Since it has been demolished, it is said that the other staircase was built by the Venerable Swamindrayana Thero, known as the Great Venerable Gamipahe, around 1513.

Although the top of the rock is not level, it has a large area of flat land. It is surrounded by a wall of clouds. This is a traditional design of the Gampola-Kandy period, as the temple and other buildings are located on the top of the rock, creating a sense of wonder in the mind of someone who sees it from a distance.

The main building on the top of the mountain is the Maha Viharaya. It is said that it was originally built with many floors. But later it was limited to four floors. It too has crumbled over time and the number of floors has decreased to the state it is in today. Currently, there are only two floors. The construction of this temple was carried out on the instructions of a South Indian architect named Sathapatharaya. It is said that the original building was about eighty (80) feet high. A Makara Torana was built in front of the temple facing the east. A moonstone has been carved in the stone in front of the entrance. There are several steps with koravak stones on both sides. There are also Gajasinghe images, Gandharva images and Thivanka Doratupala images. These can be considered as rare creations of high quality. A small pavilion is attached to the front and the entrance to the temple is decorated with paintings.

Temple Premises

Lankatilaka temple

On the vihara premises, visitors will find the Temple Building, the Dagoba (Chetiya), and the sacred Bo tree. Near the Bodhigharaya, a large stone image known as the Buddha Siripatula, which represents the footprint of the Lord Buddha, can also be seen.

Deities and Worship

Lankatilaka Temple features dedicated sections for various deities, including Vishnu, Saman, Vibhishana, Ganapathi, Skandhakumara, and Kumara Bandara. The latter is particularly significant, as he is considered the god to whom the temple was entrusted. The western approach to the temple leads into the Vishnu temple, reflecting the prevalent worship of both deities and the Buddha during the Gampola and Kandyan Kingdom eras.

The Stupa

The stupa of the Lankatilaka temple

Lankatilaka Temple Stupa

The stupa of the temple is constructed on the rock surface, situated close to the main temple structure.

Rock Inscriptions

Rock inscriptions found throughout the temple are carved into solid rock and cover a large area. Both Sinhala and Tamil inscriptions describe the facilities provided to the temple and the land gifted by various kings.

Architectural Features

Lankatilaka temple architecture

The construction of this temple was carried out on the instructions of a South Indian architect named Sathapatharaya. The vihara is entirely located on the rock surface, and according to the Lankatilaka Copper plaque, the temple was originally built as a four-story structure reaching a height of eighty feet. The stone foundation was constructed on the uneven rock surface, with bricks used to form the building. The thick outer walls are well-designed, featuring arches and sculptures that highlight Lankatilaka's unique architectural characteristics, which reflect the design concepts of the fourteenth century, including Gandharva and Gaja Lakshmi art styles.

Lankatilaka Vihara

Lankatilaka Vihara Architecture

Lankatilaka Vihara

Lankatilaka Vihara Rock Foundation

Lankatilaka temple

The approach to the Buddha Image House is from the vihara, facing the eastern side, via a flight of stone steps. At the base of these steps is a Moonstone, or Sandakadapahana. Two balustrades, or Korawakgalas, designed in the Gajasinha style, flank the sides of the steps leading to the arched doorway. The outer dragon arch, known as the Makara Torana, features unique elements that make it particularly special. Inside the arched doorway, visitors can see paintings of two lion figures, while the guardian figures exhibit the Tivanka characteristics.

Lankatilaka temple

Entrance to the temple is through a gate and since it is a very large gate, it is difficult to open the door to enter the temple frequently. Therefore, there is a small door like a kurabili at the main gate.

Inside the Image House Inside the image house, a seated Buddha statue is prominently displayed, with a Makara Torana (Dragon Arch) above the image. The concept of Bodhi is beautifully illustrated through the arrangement of tree and flower designs. Surrounding the walls of the image house are paintings from the Suvisi Vivarana, depicting the lives of the twenty-four previous Buddhas. The gold-plated Buddha statue is seen to embody a divinity that expresses respect and dignity rather than showing serenity. There are two statues standing on either side of the statue. These can be appreciated as a fine example of Pallava art. The walls of the temple are adorned with intricate carvings and the ceiling is adorned with murals.