Kande Vihara

Kande Viharaya Kande Viharaya Kande Viharaya

Kande Vihara is one of the biggest Buddhist temples in the Kalutara district. The name of this sacred place means ‘Mountain Temple’ and was derived because it was built on the crest of a hill near to Aluthgama town. The temple is a formally recognized Archaeological Site of Sri Lanka.

While the temple was founded by Venerable Mong Karapagala Dewamitta in 1734; the credits for its construction the Venerable Monks Udugama Chandrasara and Dedduwa Dhammananda. However, the temple gains most of its current fame, not from its historical elements; but from the gigantic Samdhi Buddha statue unveiled in 2006. This 48 m statue is the tallest Seated Buddha statue in the world.

The Temple’s Features

Kande Vihare has all the important features necessary for a major Buddhist Temple. These include the Stupa, Bo Tree, Relic Chamber, Image House, Sri Vishnu Temple and the four Great Temples including the Kataragama Temple. The ancient Bo Tree, Sri Saranatissa Memorial Meditation Hall and other such structures are situated out the Vihara premisesmises.

  • The Stupa: Kande Vihara has a bell shaped stupa erected within an octagonal shelter. The base of the stupa has a flower petal molding with three steplike terraces above which is the dome. The square boxlike top before the spire has a Bo leaf engraving in each comer.
  • The Relic Chamber: This is believed to be the oldest structure within the Kande temple grounds. At the entrance to the chamber is a Moon Stone (Sandakada Pahana) on the ground and an ancient solid granite door frame. The relic casket lies within the inner chamber. The relic chamber is also one of the most beautiful places within the temple due to its ceiling and walls being completely covered in detailed and colorful paintings, belonging to the latter part of the Kandyan period.
  • The Bo Tree: The tree dates back to over 300 years. In 1980s a square enclosure wall was created in the tree.However, recently the present Chief Incumbent Monk erected an replaced the square enclosure with an octagonal one. The cells of the enclosure have sculptures depicting the events during the arrival of the Sri Maha Bodhi sapling to Sri Lanka.
  • The Image House: This attractive structure is decorated with complex floral and creeper designs, together with three arched entrances including one magnetic looking decorative arch. It was created in 1731 with an inner chamber and an outer chamber. Within the inner chamber are paintings of Buddha in the standing, seated and reclining postures. Figures of monks have also been painted along with other traditional artistic motifs.
  • Outside the Temple: Beyond the temple walls are the Meditation Hall; an ancient Bo Tree surrounded by a lotus petaled wall; and a five storied structure with a small relic chamber, a museum with artefacts, ancient books and scrolls, and the Sri Saranatissa Memorial Library. Numerous valuable books are available within this library. On the other side of the Bo Tree, is the Saranatyissa Dhamma Hall where Buddhism is preached to the masses.

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Sobre el distrito de Kalutara

Kalutara se encuentra aproximadamente a 42 km al sur de Colombo. En el pasado, fue un importante centro comercial de especias y estuvo bajo el control de los portugueses, holandeses y británicos en diferentes momentos. La ciudad es conocida por sus cestas y alfombras de bambú de alta calidad, así como por sus deliciosos mangostanes. El puente de Kalutara, que tiene una longitud de 38 metros y se construyó en la desembocadura del río Kalu Ganga, sirve como un enlace importante entre las fronteras occidental y sur de Sri Lanka. En el extremo sur del puente se encuentra el Kalutara Vihara, un templo budista construido en la década de 1960, que tiene la distinción de ser la única estupa en el mundo que es hueca por dentro.

Sobre la provincia occidental

La provincia occidental es la provincia más densamente poblada de Sri Lanka. Alberga la capital legislativa, Sri Jayawardenapura, así como Colombo, el centro administrativo y comercial del país. La provincia se divide en tres distritos principales: Colombo (642 km²), Gampaha (1,386.6 km²) y Kalutara (1,606 km²). Como el centro económico de Sri Lanka, la provincia occidental alberga todas las principales empresas locales e internacionales, así como importantes minoristas de marcas de diseño y comercios de alta gama, por lo que estará listo para disfrutar de una excelente experiencia de compras.

Con la mayor población de todas las provincias, la provincia occidental también cuenta con numerosas instituciones educativas prestigiosas, como la Universidad de Colombo, la Universidad de Sri Jayawardenepura, la Universidad de Kelaniya, la Open University of Sri Lanka, la Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka, la General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University y la Universidad de Moratuwa. La provincia occidental tiene también la mayor cantidad de escuelas en el país, incluidas las escuelas nacionales, provinciales, privadas e internacionales.

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