The stupa (dagoba) of this place of worship is well known for its uniqueness as a hollow dagoba. Pilgrims can enter the stupa and see the many temple paintings that depict different previous lives of Lord Buddha, which are known locally as “Jataka stories”. It is believed to be the one and only stupa of this kind in the whole world. There is also a miniature pagoda and golden Buddha statues inside the hollow edifice that resembles a drop of milk.
Another important fact about this place is that on the other side of the highway that runs from Colombo to Galle, dividing the sanctuary land to two sides there is a Bo tree, which is considered to be a sacred tree. People hang garlands and Buddhist flags of different hues on the tree as prayer requests as well as to express gratitude for the answering of their prayers.
Close by to this holy place is also a river that meets the sea and an estuary, a great place to go for an evening walk to enjoy the sunset or go on a boat ride up the river. For visitors who are heading to Kalutara for a weekend or a longer stay there are many Beach Resorts Sri Lanka Kalutara as it is a city popular among tourists. A Hotel in Kalutara would ideally be located close to the sea and they are also within close proximity to many attractions in the township. Avani Kalutara Resort is one such great place for any tourist to choose to stay.