The island of Sri Lanka is a landscape lavishly laden with history in many forms, and one example that is easily overlooked is the Sithulpawwa Temple, located in the Hambantota district, and in very close proximity to the infamous Yala National Park. With a name derived from the word meaning “the hill for the quiet mind”, the Sithulpawwa Temple has a history that reaches back over two thousand two hundred years, where it was constructed by King Kawanthissa and was used as place of meditation and residence by over twelve thousand monks.
Considering its closeness to Yala National Park, there are various accommodation options available for an extended visit to this temple that is a long distance away from the main city of Colombo. One can easily find options ranging from comfortable lodging facilities to more luxurious options such as the, a very prominent choice among Tissamaharama Hotels.
The Sithulpawwa complex consists of two temples, the main one and a smaller one. The main temple consists of a number of stupas, caves shrines, and Buddha statues. There’s also a cave temple containing drawings that are thought to reach as far back as 3rd century BC. The main stupa was built quite painstakingly by flattening the top of a mountain, and can be reached from the south and the north by steps that have been cut into the surface of the mountain. Given that the rock of the main temple sits on is about four hundred feet high, the climb is a fairly grueling one, but one that is guaranteed to provide some breath-taking sights of the nearby surroundings as well as Yala National Park.
If you’re looking for a place of peace and solitude away from the chaotic embrace of Colombo, then take a visit to this majestic place and explore some history as well.
Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.
