Mulgirigala Rajamaha Vihara, also spelt Mulkirigala Raja Maha Viharaya, is the most important historical Buddhist temple in southern Sri Lanka. In the colonial period it was called as „Adam’s Berg“ by the Dutch, maybe due to a confusion with the pilgrimage site of Adam’s Peak. Situated in the hinterland of Tangalle, Mulgirigala can be called both the Sigiriya of the south, because it’s a steep monadnock rising 200 m from the surrounding plains, and Dambulla of the south, as it has the by far most impressive murals in a Kandyan style in the area which is alson kown as Cultural Triangle of the south. The painted caves can be found on different levels of the rock. The caves of the Lower Terrace and Middle Terrace also contain large reclining Buddhas. The murals represent the southern style of Kandyan art. The themes are classic ones such as Jataka illustrations narrating stories of loving care from the previous lives of the Buddha, embedded in scenes representing rural life in Sri Lanka. As t is typical of southern paintings, more blue colour can be seen than in classical Kandyan paintings in the hillcountry and further north. Rock inscriptions can be dates to early and late Anuradhapura period.

There are only few megalithic sites in Sri Lanka. However, one of them is a spectacuarly large dolmen, called Gal Massa in Sinhala. It’s situated in the village of Padavigampola not far from Rambukkana. The prehistoric site, of course, is surrounded by legends. Only giants were able to create it. Nevertheless, the Gal Massa of Padavigampola is also the setting of a famous story from the Buddhist period. It is believed to be the place – though not the only one – that served as the dwelling of the last monk who attained enlightenment on the island of Sri Lanka, Maliyadeva. Surprisingly, the Gal Massa of Padavigampola is almost unknown to tourists, though not far away from a major travel destination, the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage.

The Mahiyangana Rajamaha Viharaya is situated just to the south of the town, not far from the Mahaweli River. The stupa is of utmost significance for Sinhalese Buddhists, as it is believed to be the first one built in Sri Lanka and marking the spot where the Buddha when visiting the island of Sri Lanka for the first time, gave a sermon to prepare the island for the future adoption of Buddhism. The speach was given to demons, one of which was Sumana, the deity of Adam’s Peak, who became a guardian deity of Buddhism. The first stupa in Mahiyangana is said to habe been erected by Suman. The relic chamber of the stupa was the finding place of paintings from the medieval period, which are now in a museum and not in situ any more.

Hikkaduwa Beach near Galle is famous for its night life attracting young travellers and popular with surfers, particularly for beginners there are several surf schools available. The coral gardens close to the beach are attractive for snorkeling and glass-bottom boat rides. There are several attractions in the hinterland of Hikkaduwa that can be visited on half-day trips or full-day excursions. Our website presents one of the most comprehensive descriptions of travel destinations in and around Hikkaduwa you can find anywhere online. Just check here...

Diva Guhawa is mentioned in ancient Buddhist Chronicles as a cave that was visited by the Buddha, he is said to have stayed here the day after visiting Siri Pada (Adam’s Peak). In the 20th century, the famous Batatota Lena, a cave near Kuruwita which is known for its for ist prehistoric findings, has been identified with this Buddha-visited place and became a major Buddhist pilgrimagesite. Inside of Diva Guhawa are several sculptures and decorations from the Kandyan and colonial period and images houses, making this large rock shelter a quite colourful place. In height, the cave measures up to 15 meters. Accessing the shrines of Diva Guhawa requires climbing several stairways along a half-kilometer hike from Sudagala.

Thiriyai, also spelt Tiriyaya, is the most significant and most attractive ancient site in Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province. Surprisingly, it has remained to be untouched by mass tourism, though located in only 30 km distance from the beloved beaches of Nilaveli near Trincomalee. Thiriyai's ruins of a Buddhist monastery are situated on and around a hillock not far from the ocean. The main attraction is a well-preserved circular temple on the very top of the hill. Apart from ist beauty, it’s remarkable for two reasons. Although it’s a so-called Vatadage, which is a type of building that is specific to Sinhalese monastic architecture, Tamils have played an important role in establishing this Buddhist site in the first millennium. Thoughs days many Tamil merchants and seafarers from Southern India were Buddhist and left traces of their presence all along the eastern coast of Sri Lanka. Furthermore, the guardian stones of the Vatadage of Thiriyai seems to be the earliest of this elaborate kind in Sri Lanka. This means, the less-known Thiriyai in the coastal area set an example for Buddhist art in the core zone of the island’s interior und cultural core region of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa.  Visiting Thiriyai undisturbed by the crowds but with oppotunities to meet Buddhist pilgrims from all regions of Sri Lanka is a delightful experience. The site is extraordinarily charming and can be called an insider tip for heritage travelers.      

Kandalama is one of Sri Lanka’s thousands of reservoirs that were constructed by the ancient Sinhalese civilization. Within the irrigation system of the core area of that culture, it was a medium-sized tank. It was reestablished in the mid 20th century shortly after independence of Sri Lanka, then called Ceylon, from British rule. Kandalama is famous for its first-class hotels, at least one of them being a cultural attraction in itself, as it represents the local modern style of the renowned architect Geoffrey Bawa. Though situated in a calm surrounding, adjacent to a nature sanctuary, Kandalama is situated close to Sigiriya and Dambulla, this means: right in the centre of the heritage-tourism are known as Cultural Triangle. It’s a perfect starting point for half-day and one-day excursions to all major destinations in the districts of Matale, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa.

Seenigama is both a village and an islet just to the north of Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka’s famous southwestern beach holiday resort. The islet is known for its picturesque small island temple, which is Buddhist. Seenigama is a place on the so-called Ramayana-Trail, as it is believed to be the landing place of Sugriva, who is the leader of the army of monkey who supported Rama to liberate his wife Sita, who had been held in captivity on the island of Lanka.

Dodanwala, also spelt Dodamwala or Dodanwela or Dodanvela and pronounced „dodang-vaele“, is located near Danthura to the west of Kandy. Similar to the Sacred City of Kandy, Dodanwala has a group of several sanctuaries for Hindu deities venerated by Sinhalese Buddhists, too. Such Sinhalese shrines are called Devalayas or Devales, in contrast to mainly Tamil places of worship, which are known as Kovils. In the case of the Dodanwala Devala, the temple was originally known as Nahimige Kovil. It is dedicated to a local god who has been identified with Vishnu since the Kandy period. The inner sanctum of this temple represents a very ancient form of worship, as similar to Wedda temples id contains no idol, no image of a god. But there are painted depictions of two Kandy kings.

Ravana Ella in Uva Province is an often photographed waterfall in the famous Ella Gap, as it can be seen from the road from the hill resort of Ella to Sri Lanka’s southern plains. The main waterfall which has several cacades is about 25 m tall. Ravana Ella is named after the legendary demon-king Ravana, known from the Indian Ramayana epic to have kidnapped Sita, the consort of Rama. It is believed she had hidden her in the Ravana caves behind the waterfall.