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Dodanwela - Vishnu temple once housing Rajasinghe II's crown

Dodanwela Vishnu temple title image
Dodanwela is located 14 km east of Kandy and only 1 km west of Danthure. When King Rajasinghe II came along Dodanwela during a war with the Portuguese, he rested at the temple of the local deity, which then was names Nahimige Kovil. The king made a vow to donate his crown and crown jewels to the god after a victorious battle against the Portuguese. After winning the war, he indeed left his crown. It was transferred to a museum in Kandy for safekeeping. This turned out to be a mistake, as the crown was stolen from there.

The local deity worshipped in an iconic form was later on identified with Vishnu. This is why the Dodanwela temple is known as a Vishnu Devale now. The architecture, with an open hall in front of the shrine room and a stairway at the slope in front of the temple resemles that of the Vishnu Devale in Kandy.

Remarakbly, there is another similarity between Dodanwela and Kandy. The Vishnu Devale in Kandy is located in close proximity to Devales (Devalayas) of Natha and Pattini. This is the case in Dodanwela, too. A Pattini temple is only 80 m southwest of  the Dodanwela Devale dedicated to Vishnu. A Natha shrine is 80 m to the northeast. Together with Kataragama, the three gods in Dodanwela formed the pantheon of highest gods of Sinhalese Buddhism in the Kandyan period.   

According to rock inscriptions from the late Middle Ages, Natha was originally a deity helping Sinhalese warriors from the Kandy region in combat. Interstingly, his role changed after the arrival of the Portuguese and the establishment of Kandy as the powerhouse of Sinhaleses independence. The Local legend of Dodanwela has it, that Natha Deviyo was defeated in a battle by Pittiya, a divine newcomer to the Kandy region. Afterwards Natha retreated to an elevated position by following the path to Buddhood. The myth emphasizes that there are victories of higher value than winning military combat. Natha remained to be the guardian deity of the Kandyan heartland, from now on as a protector of its religion.    

The Perahera  at Dodanwela Devale brings back the memories of the much earlier Kandyan war of the first Kandyan King, Wimaladharmasuriya, against the Portuguese invaders. In this Perahera, an original royal palanquin is taken in procession.
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if not stated otherwise, texts and photos provided  by Ernst A. Sundermann, sales manager of Lanka Excursions Holidays
all rights reserved, © 2016 Lanka Excursion Holidays
  • Home
    • Welcome
    • Terms
    • payments
    • по-русски
  • About
  • Info
    • Where is Sri Lanka
    • Names of Sri Lanka
    • Travel Regions >
      • Cultural Triangle images
      • Central Highlands images
      • Western Plains images
      • Southwest Wet Zone images
      • Deep South images
      • Eastern Shores images
      • Northern Province images
    • Sri Lanka off the beaten path >
      • highly recommended
      • around Colombo
      • around Yapahuwa
      • around Anuradhapura
      • around Jaffna
      • around Trincomalee
      • around Polonnaruwa
      • around Sigiriya
      • around Kandy
      • around Nuwara Eliya
      • around Arugam Bay
      • around Hambantota
      • around Bentota
      • all over Sri Lanka
    • Things to do
    • Slide Show >
      • Famous Places Slide Show
      • Less-known Sites Slide Show
    • Directory
  • Tours
    • 4-days classic
    • 8 days tour
    • 4 weeks honeymoon tour
    • your-price-choice
    • 3 days 2 nights
    • 4 days 3 nights
    • Sri Lanka Transport Service
    • 7 days with 4 hikes
    • 10 days with 7 hikes
    • 2-days trek Knuckles-5-Peaks
    • 15 days with 7 means of travel
    • Bentota beach holidays
    • Nilaveli beach holidays
    • Services >
      • Outdoor Anuradhapura
    • Tripadvisor
    • Cambodia
    • Nepal
    • deutsch >
      • 15 days with 3 surf beaches
  • Mihintale
    • Mihintale attractions
    • Guesthouse Rooms
    • Rent my Villa
    • Activities around Mihintale
    • Picnic at Kaludiya Pokuna
    • car
    • Day trips by car
    • Mihintale-sightseeing
    • Hiking in Mihintale
  • Culture
    • Food >
      • Rice
      • Breakfast
      • Kottu Roti
      • Pasta Sri Lanka style
      • Rice Noodles Sri Lanka style
      • Egg-fried rice Sri Lanka style
    • Tea
    • Ayurveda
  • Destinations
    • World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka >
      • Anuradhapura World Heritage Site
      • Polonnaruwa World Heritage Site
      • Sigiriya World Heritage Site
      • Dambulla World Heritage Site
      • Kandy Sacred City
      • Galle Fort
    • Cities of Sri Lanka >
      • Colombo
      • Nuwara Eliya
      • Trincomalee
      • Ratnapura
      • Batticaloa
      • Kurunegala
      • Matale
      • Kalutara
      • Tangalle
      • Hambantota
      • Puttalam
      • Chilaw
      • Matara
      • Avissawella
      • Badulla
      • Tissamaharama
      • Kalmunai
      • Embilipitiya
      • Habarana
      • Kilinochchi
      • Pottuvil
      • Giritale
    • Sacred Places >
      • Kataragama
      • Mahiyangana
      • Seruwila
      • Somawathiya
      • Sita Eliya
      • Maha Saman Devale
      • Kelaniya
      • Munneshvaram
      • Kanniyai
      • Manavari
      • Adisham Hall
      • Madampe
      • Seenigama
      • Divurumpola
    • Ancient Temples >
      • Ritigala
      • Thiriyai
      • Yapahuwa
      • Haththikuchchi
      • Velgam Vehera
      • Medirigiriya
      • Sithulpahuwa
      • Pidurangala
      • Nalanda
      • Mulkirigala
      • Panduwasnuwara
      • Padeniya
      • Padavigampola
      • Namal Uyana
      • Arankale
      • Menikdena
      • Manakanda
      • Nillakgama Bodhigara
      • Panavitiya
      • Gadaladeniya Temple near Kandy
      • Lankatilaka
      • Embekke
      • Lahugala
      • Kudumbigala
      • Hanguranketa
      • Dambadeniya
      • Kiralagala
      • Kalupokuna
      • Degaldoruwa
      • Ramba Vihara
      • Medawala
      • Dadagamuwa
      • Buddhangala
      • Dematamal Viharaya
      • Pilikuttuwa
      • Dodanwela
      • Dimbulagala
      • Beligala
      • Bogoda
      • Barandiya Kovil
      • Kokabe
      • Divulwewa
      • Madagama
      • Pettagangala
      • Isenbessagala
      • Kuruwita
      • Koskandawala
      • Attanagalla
      • Alawwa
      • Awariyawala
      • Karagahagedara
    • Historical Caves >
      • Ridigama
      • Salgala
      • Veheragala
      • Wavulpone
      • Sankapala
      • Varana
      • Aluvihara
      • Anamaduwa
      • Aluthepola
      • Maligatenna
      • Divaguhawa
      • Batadomba Lena
      • Beli Lena
      • Pahiyangala
      • Maradankadawala
      • Wilandagoda
    • Giant Stupas >
      • Yudaganawa
      • Dedigama
      • Dighavapi
    • Rock Buddha statues >
      • Gal Vihara
      • Aukana Buddha
      • Sasseruwa Buddha
      • Buduruwagala
      • Dowa
      • Maligawila
      • Ramboda
      • Kushtaraja Statue
      • Thanthirimale
      • Bakamuna
      • Maboda Temple
    • Mountains >
      • Adam's Peak
      • Horton Plains
      • Hunnasgiriya
      • Pidurutalagala
      • Knuckles Range
      • Sinharaja
      • Haputale
      • Ella
      • Namunukula
      • Deanston
      • Ambuluwawa
      • Bible Rock
      • Medamahanuwara
      • Hakgala
      • Kadugannawa
      • Uda Pussellawa
      • Passara
      • Retiyagama
      • Victoria Lake
    • Waterfalls >
      • Bambarakanda Falls
      • Diyaluma Falls
      • Dunhinda Falls
      • St. Clair's Falls
      • Devon Falls
      • Bopath Falls
      • Dodam Falls
      • Mannakethi Falls
      • Aberdeen Falls
      • Lakshapana
      • Kirindi Falls
      • Bambarakiri Falls
      • Ravana Falls
      • Hunas Falls
    • National Parks >
      • Yala NP
      • Wilpattu NP
      • Maduru Oya NP
      • Gal Oya NP
      • Udawalawe NP
      • Minneriya NP
      • Kaudulla NP
      • Kumana NP
      • Bundala NP
      • Ussangoda
      • leopards
    • Activity Attractions >
      • Kandy Perahera 2023
      • Kithulgala
      • Pinnawela
      • Madu Ganga
      • Muthurajawela
      • Meetiyagoda
      • Rekawa
      • Induruwa
      • Brief Garden
      • Lunuganga
      • Gampaha
      • Kanneliya
      • Bodhinagala
      • Mahapalessa Hot Springs
      • Thoppigala
      • Rufus Kulam
      • Wewurukannala
      • Kalawewa
      • Kandalama
    • Beaches >
      • Beruwela
      • Bentota Beach
      • Balapitiya
      • Ambalangoda
      • Hikkaduwa
      • Unawatuna
      • Weligama
      • Mirissa
      • Dondra
      • Hiriketiya
      • Hoomaniya Blowhole
      • Kirinda
      • Okanda
      • Arugam Bay
      • Thirukkovil
      • Pasikuda
      • Thennadi Bay
      • Nilaveli Beach
      • Pulmoddai
      • Mannar Island
      • Kalpitiya Peninsula
      • Marawila
      • Negombo
    • Jaffna Peninsula >
      • Jaffna
      • Nallur
      • Kandarodai
      • Nilavarai
      • Point Pedro
      • Manalkadu
      • Naguleshvaram
      • Jambukola
      • Nainativu
      • Delft Island
      • Elephant Pass
    • top 20 attractions >
      • top 20 in Colombo
      • top 20 in Kandy
    • Sri Lanka off the beaten track
  • Blog
  • Reviews
    • Reviews since 2020
    • Tripadvisor Reviews
    • Reviews 2015-2020
    • instagram
  • Contact