Nalanda Gedige, Ancient stone temple in Matale District, Sri Lanka
Nalanda Gedige is a stone temple in Matale District featuring an entrance hall, a central sanctuary chamber, and a passageway that circles the sacred heart of the structure. The building displays architectural features from South India and contains Buddhist carvings throughout its walls.
Construction took place between the 8th and 10th centuries, marking an important moment in the region's religious architecture. The structure remained hidden until 1893 when an archaeologist working in Ceylon brought it back to public attention.
The temple blends Hindu architectural features with Buddhist religious use, showing how South Indian and local traditions came together in its design. The carvings on its walls reveal how craftsmen drew from different artistic traditions to create something that belonged to multiple worlds at once.
The site sits about one kilometer east of the main road and is reached via a flower-lined pathway that makes it easy to find. The ground is relatively level and open, making it straightforward to walk around and view the structure from different angles.
During the 1980s the entire structure was taken apart and reassembled at a higher location to protect it from flooding caused by a reservoir project. This remarkable effort allowed a building over 1000 years old to survive and stand in its new position today.
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