Galkanda Vihara is a temple situated in Panadura in the Kalutara District and is considered to be one of the most exciting temple attractions thanks to its architectural and heritage value. It is a must-visit site when you are in Kalutara.
1. Architecture
Rankoth Vihara is made up of some very unique architectural features that have put the temple on the list of significant places of Buddhist worship and are definitely worth the visit if you are holidaying in a hotel in Kalutara Sri Lanka. The temple was built on a rock and the way rock and construction have been shaped around each other is very visible.
2. Evolution of the Name
The temple was renamed Rankoth Vihara in 1890 after the pinnacle of the pagoda was painted golden. If you are staying locally like at Mermaid Hotel & Club, you will find that people still refer to it as Galkanda – which means rock hill.
3. The Bo-Tree
The Bodhi at the temple is believed to be older than the temple itself having been planted there much earlier than the history of the temple in the 1800s.
4. The Shrine
The inner sanctum of the temple has walls decorated in murals depicting folktales and historic stories of the kingdoms of Sri Lanka and Buddhism in the country.
