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Buddhism, being the religion that is followed by the majority of the population in the country, plays a distinct part of both the culture and history of Sri Lanka. There is an abundance of Buddhist temples scattered around the country and here are some of the temples that are worth a visit. Each of these offers a visitor an insight into the unique culture and some, which are a hundred years old or more, add some wonder and mystery. Do keep in mind to wear appropriate clothing while visiting any temple.
Referred to as the Sri Dalada Maligawa by most locals, is famous for being the home to Lord Buddha’s venerated tooth. It is located in the centre of the city within the royal complex of Kandy which was once a well-known kingdom and the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings. It has also been added to the World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The relic and its custodianship play an important political part even during the present days. If you're on a tour of the Cultural Triangle, arranged by one of the popular tour agencies like Esna Holidays, then a visit to this iconic temple will be on the list.
Right opposite the famous rock fortress named Sigiriya is another rock called Pidurangala. The hike up the rock isn’t as hard and only takes less than half an hour. From the top, you can get a 360-degree view of the surrounding and a clear view of the Sigiriya rock. It is best to climb during sunrise so as to avoid the fogs obscuring the view below. The Royal Cave temple, at present, has only a few remains including a massive statue of reclining Buddha. It is notable to mention that this statue was built by bricks alone. If you’re staying at a nearby hotel like Hotel Sigiriya, it’s a 10-minute drive to reach the base of Pidurangala.
The temple was previously known as Buono Vista, a name that belongs to the colonial period. It means “pleasant view" in Spanish and seems like an apt name for the temple. The temple is perched on top of a hill that is surrounded by a spectacular view of the southern coastline. There is a famous folklore that is connected to the Rumassala hill; according to the Ramayana, during the war against King Ravana of Sri Lanka, many warriors were wounded. They required medicinal herbs to treat themselves and therefore, Lord Hanuman flew to the Himalayas to extract it. However, he wasn’t aware as to which herbs were needed and so decided to carry a part of the Himalayas back to Sri Lanka. During this journey, it is said that a part of the Himalayas fell off and hence became Rumassala. The locals believe in this because the forests surrounding the temple, in fact, has some of the rare and medicinal herbs. A visit to the temple and its surrounding certainly gives a sense of peace.
Also referred to as the Golden Temple of Dambulla, is another UNESCO World Heritage Site as of 1991 and has more than 80 documented caves. The main attractions are five caves which have been preserved very well enough to see the intricate carvings, statues and paintings that depict the life of Lord Buddha. There is a total of 153 statues of Buddha and many murals that tell the story of the Supreme Buddha’s first sermon. The temple goes back to the 1st century BCE and the monastery is still quite functional at present.
Mihintale, a mountain peak, located about 12 km away from Anuradhapura, is said to be the site where King Devanampiyatissa met the Buddhist monk Mahinda, the son of Emperor Asoka of India. It was this meeting that is believed to have inaugurated Buddhism in the country and at present, is a popular pilgrimage site.
Approximately 2 km away from popular beach resorts like Calamansi Cove Villas, the Kowilawatta Temple is a Buddhist temple holding several life-size statues of Buddha and other figures. The temple
was initially built in the Dutch era and it's architecture resembles that of a church.
