Lankathilaka Temple
Lankatilaka Vihara is a Buddhist temple in Udunuwara, Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is located on Daulagala road, approximately 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) from the Pilimatalawa junction and a few kilometres from the Buddhist temple, Gadaladeniya temple It is regarded as the most magnificent architectural edifice built during the Gampola Era.
The Temple
The vihara structures are built on a natural rock known as Panhalgala Rock. Among the structures, the image house has distinctive architectural features that are embellished with traditional Sinhalese sculptures. According to the information on the Lankathilake copper plaque, this image house was built as a four-story mansion with a height of eighty feet, but only three stories can be seen today. The Kandyan era paintings and sculptures adorn the walls and ceiling of the image house.
On the temple grounds, rock-curved inscriptions with both Sinhala and Tamil sections proclaim the initiators and the facilities gifted upon this temple by the kings.
The image house of the Lankatilaka is enriched with six devales. The gods: Upulvan; Ganapathi; Saman; Vibhishana, Kataragama deviyo and Kumara Bandara are worshipped here. Kumara bandara is believed to be the deity, who protects the Lankatilaka vihara
History
The temple’s history dates back to the 14th century. According to historical records, King Bhuvanekabahu IV, who reigned from 1341 to 1351 A. D., built this temple. He entrusted the construction of this temple to his Chief Minister, Senalankadhikara, who completed the work successfully. Sathapati Rayar, a South Indian architect, designed the temple’s architecture. According to Professor Senarath Paranavithana, Sathapati Rayar designed this temple in the 13th century AD. Polonnaruwa era using Tamil Pandya sculptors brought from Tamil Nadu in Hindu style, as well as other Dravidian and Indo Chinese architectural patterns.
Popular Tourist Attractions Ticket prices