Mulgirigala in the Southern Province

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.