The Embekke Devalaya; a temple that is dedicated to the God of Kataragama, is mostly famous for the fine and intricate wood carvings that have been around the place of worship since the ancient times of the Kings and Queens. From the pillars to the columns to the doors to the roofs – everything is decorated in delicate and unique carvings of local flowers, dancers and mythical creatures. It has been built by King Vickramabahu and lat Queen Bisobandara during the Gampola Regime mainly due to a series of peculiar and inexplicable incidents that have followed through, which could not have been justified as otherwise than a ‘work of god’ back in the day.
How to get there
The temple is located in Dawulagala, and is around 15 kilometers away from the Kandy town. If you are a traveler staying in a Kandy hotel, transport could be arranged by the hotel itself to visit the temple and the other nearby places of interest such as the Gadaladeniya Temple, and Lanka Thilaka Viharaya. The Kandy city, being considered a world heritage site by the UNESCO is also considered the ‘cultural capital’ of the country.
Wooden Architecture
The wooden carvings are acknowledged by the UNESCO as one of the ‘most outstanding’ sculptures on wood. It is also one of the finest representations of the evolving Sinhalese art that have developed throughout the different regimes of the country. There are 128 carvings in total and no carving is a duplicate of another. The delicacy and the exquisiteness of these crafts would leave any ‘lover of the arts’, awestruck.
Accommodation
The numerous hotels in Kandy from luxury to semi luxury to budget, offer transport to many of the cultural places in and around the city. Each of them offer a unique ambiance and would give the true feeling of living in the hill country. For example Earl’s Regency Hotel offers a comfortable and a relaxing stay with spectacular views of the upcountry overlooking the mountains and the splendid gardens.
Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google+