Pelmadulla Raja Maha Viharaya

What?
This is a historic Buddhist temple featuring a Tampita Viharaya built on stone pillars, believed to be over 400 years old.

Where?
It is located in the Ratnapura district and approximately 110 km from Colombo.

When?
It can be visited all year long, though February is ideal for witnessing the annual procession.

Pelmadulla Raja Maha Viharaya is an old temple located on Balangoda Road in Ratnapura. It consists of two temples– the Tempita Viharaya, which is over 400 years old and was built on 16 stone pillars, and the Main Viharaya, which was built during the British period in 1819. The significant things to see are Makara Thorana, Gayasinghe Thorana, an image house, and paintings from the period of the Kandyan Kingdom.

A curiosity about this temple is that there are many Christian themes visible. In the center of the Makara Thorana there is a small sculpture of a lady, which is believed to be the Blessed Virgin Mary, and there are two angels in the center of the Gajasinghe Thorana. The sculptures are a sign of peace, harmony, and understanding between Buddhists and Christians. Furthermore, the paintings show 28 previous Buddha’s figures, Buddhist events, 27 auspicious signs, 10 manifestations of Vishnu, 12 signs of the astrological zodiac, and a Hansa Puttuwa. Since 1828, this temple has been conducting an annual procession, which takes place in February.