Aluvihare Rock Temple
Central Province
About Aluvihare Rock Temple
Aluvihare Rock Temple, tucked among giant boulders just north of Matale, holds a singular place in world religious history: it was here, in the 1st century BC, that the Pali Canon - the Tipitaka, the core scriptures of Theravada Buddhism - was first committed to writing. For four centuries the Buddha's teachings had been carried purely by memory; famine and war convinced the monks of Aluvihare to gather and inscribe them on ola palm leaves, an effort of years that preserved the teachings for the world. The temple today is a charming warren of cave shrines painted with vivid (occasionally gruesome) murals, reclining Buddhas beneath overhanging rock, and stairways winding between boulders to a hilltop stupa with valley views. Monks still demonstrate the traditional craft of inscribing ola-leaf manuscripts.
Top Activities
- ✓Exploring the painted cave shrines
- ✓Ola-leaf manuscript demonstrations
- ✓Climbing to the hilltop stupa
- ✓Combine with Matale's spice gardens
- ✓Stop-over on the Kandy–Dambulla road
Nearby Attractions
Travel Tips
It sits right on the Kandy–Dambulla road - an easy cultural stop.
Ask to see the ola-leaf writing demonstration; a small donation is appreciated.
Some hell-scene murals are graphic - worth knowing with young children.
Quick Info
Best Time
Year-round
Weather
Warm and pleasant year-round; occasional showers.
Estimated Daily Budget
7.4919°N, 80.6167°E
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