Muthiyangana Raja Maha Vihara
Uva Province
About Muthiyangana Raja Maha Vihara
Muthiyangana Raja Maha Vihara anchors the old heart of Badulla, ringed by the green wall of the Uva mountains. It is counted among the Solosmasthana - the sixteen places hallowed by the Buddha's own presence - for tradition holds that during his third visit to the island he came here to the realm of a local chieftain, and that the stupa raised afterwards enshrines drops of his perspiration turned to pearls ('muthu', giving the temple its name) along with hair relics. The temple compound is a graceful ensemble of whitewashed stupa, Kandyan-roofed image houses, carved gateways, and a great Bo tree, all kept with small-city pride; its August Esala Perahera fills Badulla's streets with drummers and elephants in the hill country's liveliest festival after Kandy's. Paired with Dunhinda Falls and the Bogoda bridge, it completes Badulla's classic trio.
Top Activities
- ✓The relic stupa and image houses
- ✓Esala Perahera festival (August)
- ✓Badulla old-town walks
- ✓Combine with Dunhinda Falls and Bogoda bridge
- ✓End-of-line railway arrival from Ella
Nearby Attractions
Travel Tips
Ride the train to Badulla - the final Ella–Badulla stretch is lovely and uncrowded.
Evening puja is the atmospheric daily visit.
August Perahera nights fill the town - book rooms ahead.
Quick Info
Best Time
Year-round; August for the Perahera
Weather
Mild Uva climate; afternoon showers common.
Estimated Daily Budget
6.9847°N, 81.0567°E
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