墩(dun)(dun)(dun)頭(tou)古寺,俗稱墩(dun)(dun)(dun)頭(tou)廟,位于仙女鎮北原雙(shuang)溝高家莊。何謂墩(dun)(dun)(dun)頭(tou)?據傳邗溝以東為蜀(shu)岡腹(fu)地,范圍(wei)涵蓋西至安徽大別山、東延海陵(今泰州)至海安,昔(xi)謂之(zhi)古陸中脈也。
據佛(fo)(fo)歷記載,墩頭(tou)古寺(si)始建(jian)(jian)于(yu)元代。高(gao)僧印智云游江(jiang)淮,居(ju)黃塘之(zhi)東北墩頭(tou),發現(xian)此處佛(fo)(fo)光顯現(xian),人杰地靈(ling),故結緣于(yu)此,發愿建(jian)(jian)墩頭(tou)寺(si),供奉神靈(ling),祭(ji)拜(bai)佛(fo)(fo)祖,護(hu)國安(an)民,陸續建(jian)(jian)起山門(men)、天(tian)王殿(dian)、大雄寶(bao)殿(dian)、藏(zang)經樓(lou)、齋(zhai)堂、客堂。古寺(si)建(jian)(jian)成后,香(xiang)(xiang)火旺(wang)盛,百姓信仰,贏各(ge)方居(ju)士、信眾(zhong)、官員(yuan)來此燒香(xiang)(xiang)拜(bai)佛(fo)(fo),一時盛況空前,香(xiang)(xiang)客如云。
清乾隆皇(huang)帝南(nan)巡下江南(nan)時(shi)(shi),曾親往(wang)察看游(you)覽(lan)古(gu)寺(si),并欣然為寺(si)廟(miao)題匾“墩(dun)頭古(gu)寺(si)”,起駕時(shi)(shi)贊曰:“龍川竹影(ying)幾千秋,天(tian)緣有(you)份(fen)再來(lai)游(you)。”。同治、光緒年間(jian)相繼修繕。
古寺(si)歷經滄桑(sang),經戰(zhan)(zhan)火(huo)摧殘,幾乎蕩然無存,抗戰(zhan)(zhan)時(shi)期,寺(si)內(nei)殿堂(tang)廂房等設施被(bei)毀。所幸(xing)寺(si)內(nei)兩(liang)棵二(er)百多(duo)年(nian)歷史的銀杏(xing)樹并未枯萎,年(nian)復(fu)(fu)一年(nian)枝繁(fan)葉茂,開花結果,見證(zheng)著(zhu)古寺(si)興(xing)衰的痕跡。清同治年(nian)間所立(li)的“墩頭(tou)(tou)古廟”石碑,在戰(zhan)(zhan)火(huo)中被(bei)毀,成為兩(liang)截(jie)斷壁殘垣,流失民間,后經周健經居士(shi)多(duo)方尋找(zhao),半截(jie)“墩頭(tou)(tou)”二(er)字終于失而(er)復(fu)(fu)得(de),重(zhong)現古寺(si)風貌。
改革(ge)開放后(hou),黨的宗(zong)教政策得到(dao)落(luo)實,在揚州、江都各級(ji)領(ling)導的關心(xin)支(zhi)持(chi)下(xia),2002年底,墩(dun)頭古寺(si)開始修復重建(jian),先后(hou)興建(jian)了(le)山門、天王(wang)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、三圣殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、地(di)藏(zang)堂、觀(guan)音殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、齋堂、僧舍(she)等(deng),古寺(si)修葺一(yi)新。如今(jin)的墩(dun)頭古寺(si),占地(di)達40畝,前有天王(wang)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),后(hou)有大雄(xiong)(xiong)寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),東西兩(liang)廂(xiang)為觀(guan)音殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),中間(jian)是在建(jian)的玉佛殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)。大雄(xiong)(xiong)寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)兩(liang)邊,還(huan)建(jian)有兩(liang)座古樓(lou),一(yi)座是鐘(zhong)樓(lou),一(yi)座是鼓(gu)樓(lou),蔚為壯觀(guan)。