Lankathilaka Viharaya

Lankathilake Viharaya is an ancient Buddhist temple located in the village of Udunuwara in the Kandy Administrative District of Sri Lanka. It is located about 4 km from Pilimatalawa Junction on the Daulagala Road. Lankathilaka Viharaya is considered to be one of the finest architectural features of the Gampola period.

History of Lankathilaka Vihara It dates back to about the 14th century. According to ancient sources, the temple was built by King Bhuvanekabahu IV (1341-1351 AD). It is said that the king entrusted the construction of this temple to his chief minister Senadhilankara and he built the temple with the help of Satapathi Ryer in South Indian architecture. According to archaeologist Senarath Paranavithana, Sathapathi Ryer used Sinhala, Dravidian and Indochina architectural patterns from the Polonnaruwa period in the construction of the Lankathilaka temple.

The temple buildings are built on a natural rock. The Pilimage is home to traditional Sinhala sculptures and architectural features. Its inner walls are decorated with paintings from the Kandyan period. Information on the Lankathilake copper plate found in the temple reveals that the statue house, which can be seen only on three floors today, consisted of four floors at that time.

In addition, inscriptions in both Sinhala and Tamil, which speak of the chiefs who made offerings to the temple, can be seen in the temple premises.

The idol house of Lankathilaka Vihara consists of five temples and worships the deities Vishnu, Ganadevi, Sumana Saman, Vibhishana and Kumara Bandara. Kumara Kumara Bandara is believed to be the guardian deity of the Lankathilaka temple.