Gangarama Tempita Viharaya in Kadukanna near Telijjawila was built around 1755 AD; its original Tempita architecture is now obscured by renovations.
Gangarama Tempita Viharaya (Telijjawila) G angarama Tempita Purana Viharaya (Sinhala: කඩුකන්න ගංගාරාම ටැම්පිට පුරාණ විහාරය) is a Buddhist temple situated in Kadukanna village near Telijjawila town in Matara District, Sri Lanka. It is believed to have been established in the Buddhist year 2298 (or 1755 A.D.) and some renovations have been done to the temple in 1986. The Tempita Viharaya is the main monument of this temple with architectural importance. This type of buildings were popular in many Buddhist temples during the Kandyan Period . They were usually built on a wooden platform resting on bare stone pillars or stumps which are about 1-4 feet tall and the roof is generally made of timber. The walls are usually made of wattle and daub and form the main enclosed shrine room containing Buddhist sculptures and murals. Some Tempita Viharas have narrow verandas and ambulatories circulating the main enclosed space. The construction of these buildings started in the 17th century and lasted until the end of the 19th century (Wijayaw…
