Located in the District of Galle in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka is the coastal town of Benthota. Coming into prominence during the Portuguese era of Sri Lankan history, the city of Benthota is one of the Southern Province’s popular tourist destinations. Known for being one of Sri Lanka’s premier water sports destinations, and for its rich traditions in Ayurveda practice and hospitality, Benthota is ideal for a relaxing beach vacation. The AVANI Benthota Resort is one of the most stylish and luxury resorts in Benthota.
One of the most iconic landmarks of near the town of Benthota is the Kande Vihare Buddhist Temple. Literally meaning ‘the temple of the hill’ in Sinhalese, the Kande Vihare Buddhist Temple is considered to be one of the most visited temples in the region, and is known for its amazing architecture, beautiful paintings and murals, and its colossal sitting Buddha statue.
Established in 1734 by Ven. Deduwe Dammananda Thero, the Kande Vihare Buddhist Temple is located in Aluthgama, a few kilometers away from Benthota. Comprising of a bell-shaped stupa with a relic chamber, a Buddha image house, and 5 devala’s for Hindu gods and goddesses, this temple is visited daily by many devotees from various parts of Sri Lanka, who attend to pray their woes away or in seek of spiritual and mental relief. The tranquility of the temple helps create a soothing spiritual aura around the temple premises, giving visitors and devotees a sense of calmness and serenity. The major highlight of the Kande Vihare Buddhist Temple is its colossal sitting Buddha statue, which stands over 48m, making it one of the largest sitting Buddha statues in the world. The temple is also known for the beautiful paintings and murals that cover the walls and pillars, which depict stories of Lord Buddha’s previous births, as well as many other significant incidents in Buddhist history. The temple’s beautiful architecture, rich history and spiritual aura make it a landmark which is worth visiting.
Uditha Dharmawardhane is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Roland Lefevre. He specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe.
