MULKIRIGALA RAJA MAHA VIHARA

This monastery dates back to the 3rd century, but its present decoration and appearance are from the time of the kings of Kandy in the 18th and 19th centuries. We find traces of the temple in the ancient writings of the Mahavamsa and it would have been placed under the royal auspices since its construction. A stupa was added by King Datusena between 461 and 479 and many additions and paintings were made by King Kirti Sri Rajasinghe (1747-1782). The temple of Mulkirigala is known under many names: Mulgirigala, Muvathitigala, Muhudungiri or Dakkhina Vihara. It is actually 7 temples installed in caves of a rocky cliff of 205 meters high. The caves present a large collection of wall paintings and sculptures belonging to the Kandy era. The majority of the frescoes represent the episodes of the life of Buddha. It is necessary to climb no less than 500 steps to reach the top of the fifth terrace and enjoy the majestic view over the plain.

Siyambalamaluwa: at the foot of the rock, the buildings house the museum which contains ancient manuscripts, a temple and a pilgrims' house for the monks passing through.

Low temple: the sacred cave contains a long reclining Buddha and an ancient inscription. Around it, some tombs, a monastery and an information center where you can buy your ticket for the upper terraces.

Bomaluwa: the term means precisely "the terrace of the Bo tree". The caves contain beautiful paintings and inscriptions dating back to the 6th and 7th centuries.

Temple of Raja Maha: a new flight of steps a little steep leads to the temple of Raja Maha, the king who would have initiated the construction of the temple on this site. The renovation of the temple dates back to the 18th century, when the paintings visible today were added.

Upper temple: it is after climbing a last flight of uneven steps that the ultimate reward is found: three caves with magnificent frescoes. The Bo tree here is said to be a cutting from the Bo tree of Anuradhapura.

Summit: at the top, after some rather steep stairs, is a large stupa which crowns the rock. It is necessary to go around the enclosure of the stupa to benefit from the platform offering a splendid panorama on the surroundings

The rock temple of Mulkirigala is definitely worth a visit if you are in the area and if you have not yet visited the cultural triangle of the center of the island.