Badulla Kataragama Devalaya, Buddhist temple in Badulla, Sri Lanka.
Badulla Kataragama Devalaya is a temple displaying traditional Kandyan architecture with carved wooden columns and meticulously painted exterior walls. The complex includes multiple functional spaces such as a shrine room, kitchen, throne chamber, and priest quarters, all arranged according to classical design principles.
The original temple was damaged by Portuguese forces under General Constantino de Sa in 1630 during their invasion of the Badulla region. The structure was later rebuilt and acquired the architectural features visible today.
This sanctuary is devoted to the veneration of Kataragama, a deity whose worship runs deep in this region and draws regular visitors seeking blessing and divine favor. The way people perform rituals and leave offerings here reveals the religious importance this god holds in the community.
The temple sits behind the main post office in Badulla and is easily accessible through Devala Veediya street from the town center. Visitors should wear respectful clothing and maintain appropriate behavior upon entering, as this remains an active place of worship.
The throne chamber houses wooden carvings comparable to those at Embekka Devalaya and was historically used by kings to observe ceremonial processions. This detail reveals connections between royal temples across the region.
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