Situated in the mountainous terrains of Uva Province, Dhowa Rock Temple is a heritage site that is protected, which is among the top of the list of places to visit in Bandarawela.
Location
Dhowa Rock Temple is located in the village of Dhowa, an ancient residence that is about 210km away from Colombo, by the side of Badulla-Bandarawela road. The journey from Colombo to Bandarawela takes close to seven hours. Alternatively, you can take the train to Bandarawela, and make your way to the Rock Temple from there.
Attractions
The main attraction of Dhowa Rock Temple is an unfinished Buddha statue of 12m carved into the rock that is said to be the work of King Walgamba. Although the temple and the statue were work of King Walgamaba’s period, the completion of the temple took place later in history during the Kandyan period. Thus, the shrine room of the temple depicts stories from the life of Buddha painted in Kandyan style.
Accommodation
Dhowa Rock Temple may not be easily accessible on your own. The area is not properly mapped for satellite navigation, and the temple is located within the forest about 6km from the main road. It is advised to base yourself in a hotel which gives close proximity to the temple, such as Bandarawela Hotel.
Attire
When you are visiting the temple or any place of worship on the island, your attire has to be specific. While locals prefer to wear white to temples, it is not expected from tourists. However, you are expected to cover yourself from knees upwards. Sleeveless tops and deep necklines are frowned upon on both men and women. It is best that you wear sandals, flip-flops or other footwear that can be easily removed, as you need to remove footwear and headgear when entering a place of worship.
Roland Lefevre is a travel writer who specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe. Google+
