Maha Saman Devalaya near Ratnapura

The Maha Saman Devalaya is the largest temple of Ratnapura, situated 2 km to the northwest of the town. The shrine is dedicated to Saman, the local guardian deity protecting Siri Pada (Adam’s Peak) and Sabaragamuwa (Ratnapura and Kegalle districts). It's a sacred site for Buddhists and Hindus alike. Second in size only to the Sacred Tooth Relic Temple in Kandy, the Maha Saman Devalaya is one of the largest temple complexes built in the Kandyan style, after a predecessor building at this place had been destroyed by the Portuguese. The Maha Saman Devalaya is also the focal point of Sri Lanka’s second largest procession, which takes place in the same month Esala (July/August) as the more famous Kandy Perahera. The procession is not at all touristy and it has features that differ from other regions in Sri Lanka.