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A little backstory…

The first thing that struck me as I walked near the entrance of the temple was how incredibly calm and quiet it was. The ambiance seemed almost as if it has hushed in reverence and was at one with the tranquil nature around it. Surrounded by verdant paddy fields that swayed in the breeze with a life of their own, this ancient temple is located alongside a sparkling, rippling lake.

The temple dates all the way back to the times of King Devanampiyatissa and was built by a local leader in the name of Sumitta. However, as time took its toll the structure began to lose its former glory until it was revived again during the Kandyan era of Ceylon. The paintings that date back to the Kandyan era and the Watadageya stand testimony to this while the latest addition, a Buddha statue built adjoining the lake gives an aura of breathtaking spirituality and beauty to this unique architectural feat. A meditation centre that is also a recent addition gives the pilgrim the opportunity of a lifetime to relax, focus and refresh.

One more feature that really caught my eye was the Watadageya that has almost singularly historic and Sri Lankan architecture without any doubt. The roof, again one of its kind, is divided into two big decks that also break down into four directions. A pinnacle roof characteristic to Kandy can also be seen. The roof of the Watadageya boasts two rows of meticulously done, ornate paintings the upper of which indicate the Simbula and Themiya Jathaka stories (reincarnations of the Buddha) while the bottom row depicts the Dhamsoda Jathakaya. The sacred Bo tree in this ancient temple is said to be a sapling of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya in Anuradhapura, another ancient and sacred site of Sri Lanka.

The beautiful and incredibly expressive Buddha statues stand true to the architectural skill and talent of the ancient architects and artists of Ceylon while they add to that tangible spirituality that is present in the very air of the temple.

Out of the many shapes under which dagobas have been built in Sri Lanka the Dadagamuwa Raja Maha Viharaya dagoba takes the shape of a water bubble or ‘Diya Bubula’ while the ancient ‘padassa gala’ and ‘nidana gala’ speak volumes in silence about its immense historic significance.

I never imagined that tucked away in Gampaha, just minutes from the hustle and bustle of modern day city life, I would discover a hidden gem in the form of an ancient temple that very few even had heard of. It’s that kind of place, the ones that change your take on life merely by being so incredibly pure and beautiful.