Bahirawakanda Vihara Buddha Statue

Looking over the holy city of Kandy is a massive stark white statue of Lord Buddha. The statue was built back in 1972. Let’s learn more about why you should definitely visit this attraction.

The Statue

Bahiravakanda Buddha Statue — Bernard Gagnon, Bahiravakanda Buddha 01, CC BY-SA 3.0

Standing tall at 88 ft, this is one of the largest Buddha statues in Sri Lanka. The carefully sculpted statue depicts Lord Buddha sitting in Nirvana pose and can be seen from anywhere in the city.

Location

The statue sits alongside a temple that you can explore when you reach the top of the mountain. It is just 2 km away from the Temple of the Tooth Relic and is a short drive away from Earl’s Regency Kandy.

A bit of history

The project was initiated by Ven. Ampitiye Dharmarama Thero in 1973, reached completion in 1993 and was open to the public. Many Sri Lanka luxury resorts recommend the hike leading to the peak of the mountain.

Folklore

The mountain is actually shrouded in mysterious folklore about devils and fear-striking gods who demanded virgin women as sacrifices. Thus, it is also known as “gnome mountain” and “devil’s hill”.