Mottunna Tempita Viharaya
Photo credit: Pradeep K Liyanage, Google street view Mottunna Kiritarama Viharaya (Sinhala: මොට්ටුන්න කිරීටාරාම ටැම්පිට විහාරය) is a Buddhist temple situated in Mottunna village in Gampaha District, Sri Lanka. History According to local belief, the history of this temple runs back to the Kandyan Period (Chandrasoma, 2013). The Tempita Viharaya building which is considered the oldest structure of this temple has architectural and other features of the Kandyan Era. Tempita Viharaya Tempita Viharas (the temples on pillars) were a popular aspect of many Buddhist temples during the Kandyan period. These structures were usually built on a wooden platform resting on bare stone pillars or stumps which are about 1-4 feet tall. The roof is generally made of timber and held by wooden stumps. The walls are usually made of wattle and daub and they form the main enclosed shrine room containing the Buddhist sculptures and murals belonging to the Kandyan style. Some Tempita Viharas have narrow verandas a…
