An ancient Buddhist temple in the heart of Badulla, counted among the sixteen most sacred places of worship in Sri Lanka.

Overview

Set in the centre of Badulla town, the Muthiyangana Raja Maha Vihara is a revered temple complex crowned by a large white dagoba. It is one of the Solosmasthana, the sixteen sacred Buddhist sites of Sri Lanka, and is believed to mark a spot visited by the Buddha. Pilgrims come for its peaceful shrine rooms, painted halls and the atmosphere of a working temple at the town's core.

History

Tradition holds that the site was hallowed by a visit of the Buddha to the region, with the dagoba said to enshrine a sacred relic. The temple has been rebuilt and patronised by successive Sinhalese kings over the centuries, cementing Badulla's standing as an important religious centre in the Uva highlands.