Budugekanda Viharaya is an ancient cave temple in Badulla with Kandyan-era murals and a reclining Buddha, declared a protected site in 1996.
Budugekanda Viharaya B udugekanda Raja Maha Viharaya (Sinhala: බුදුගේකන්ද රජමහා විහාරය) is a Buddhiat temple situated in Thenneyaya village in Badulla District, Sri Lanka. The Stupa at Mahiyangana is visible from the temple terrace on a clear day. History The presence of the drip-ledged cave temple suggests that the history of Budugekanda Viharaya likely dates back to early historical times. However, the shrine its present form does not appear to predate the 12 century (Chutiwongs et al., 1990). The subject-matter of the murals of the cave temple conforms to the conventions of the Kandyan Period (Chutiwongs et al., 1990). The dates of repainting of the shrine are given as 2483 B.E. (1939 A.D.) and 2494 [(1950 A.D.) Chutiwongs et al., 1990]. The Temple Located on the eastern slopes of the central range of mountains, the shallow cave temple of Budugekanda Viharaya consists several cellas. The main cell accomodates a recumbent Buddha statue and it has a central entrance and two windows on either side. Another cel…
