The city of Tangalle is a fascinating beach town located on Sri Lanka’s exquisite southern coastline, home to pristine beaches and a unique brand of culture. The best way to experience everything the city has to offer is from a quality Sri Lanka beach resort on Tangalle’s beautiful beachfront. A superb option of all Tangalle hotels is the Ranna Tangalle which serves up a delectable range of seafood and stellar service to make for an unforgettable Tangalle experience. While in the area, visit the ancient monastery of Mulkirigala for a true taste of Sri Lanka’s impressive history. The temple, which has been carved into the rock and features a magnificent array of stupas, shrines and beautiful rock murals reminiscent of those at Sigirya and Dambulla, is located merely 20km north of Tangalle proper. It is the site where a British archaeologist first discovered the ancient manuscript the “Mahavamsa”, which chronicles the island’s history and has become a cultural mainstay in Sri Lanka’s brand of Buddhism. To reach the top of the rock is almost as arduous as embarking on the path to Nirvana, for it requires climbing a steep rock stairway that spans 533 steps. But once you do, it’s as if you’ve ascended into heaven, because the view of the top of the temple is spectacular and is well worth the trek. You’ll encounter several terraces on the trek up, and on the first is a Bo tree, which is considered sacred by Buddhists since the Buddha was believed to have attained enlightenment under it. The terrace also features two cave temples with Buddha statues as well as statues of the Hindu Gods who prominently feature in Buddhist shrines across the country. The second terrace up features a courtyard and a temple. On the third terrace at the very top is a massive reclining Buddha. The fourth terrace features a view of a snake, when one looks down, one can see a giant fissure. Legend has it that a giant snake sprang up from a tree through the rock, splitting it asunder, and that impact is still visible to this day. The final trek, although steeper, will take you to a Bo tree, a renovated stupa, image house and a temple. However, what will take one’s breath away is the gorgeous view of the surrounding countryside, which is well worth the climb to the top.
Angela Fernando is an impassioned travel writer who composes pieces under the pen name Sumaira Narayan. She loves writing about new and exciting places around the world and intends to visit them all someday.
