Buduruwagala Temple Tour
Buduruwagala is an archaeological attraction that dates back to the seventh or eighth century and consists of seven ancient Buddha figures in a standing posture carved onto the face of a large rock. The largest measures 51 feet high, making it one of the tallest Buddha statues in Sri Lanka. The tallest statue still bears traces of its original stuccoed robe – a fine plaster like substance used to enhance the features of the carving – as well as faint orange streaks which suggests it was once brightly painted.
The name Buduruwagala is derived from the words Buddha (Budu), images (ruva) and stone (gala), and roughly translates to ‘rock with Buddha statues’. It is speculated that Buduruwagala was refuge for Mahayana Buddhist monks, but no information other than the approximate age of the carvings has come to light so far. In addition to these rock carvings, many ancient ruins can be seen dotted around the site. Due to long travel times (3 hours one way), we recommend visiting Buduruwagala only if you are heading to the south after your stay at Nine Skies, as you will pass it along the way. The remote site is located 9km south of Wellawaya, accessed via a scenic by road.
