Weherahena Temple
Southern Province
Photo by Mstyslav Chernov via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
About Weherahena Temple
Weherahena, on Matara's eastern edge, claims to be the first 'tunnel temple' in the world - and delivers one of the island's most cheerfully overwhelming religious experiences. Beneath and behind its centrepiece, a 39-metre polychrome seated Buddha rising out of the coconut palms, runs a subterranean labyrinth whose walls carry literally thousands of painted panels - a continuous comic-strip of the Buddha's lives and the Jataka tales, executed by generations of local artists in vivid storybook style. Emerging from the tunnel's cool half-dark to stand at the great statue's knee is a genuine coup de théâtre. The temple began in the 19th century as a secret jungle shrine during colonial times, which explains its underground instincts. Visit during the November–December Kathina season and you may catch a perahera with dancers and drummers filling the country lanes.
Top Activities
- ✓The underground tunnel of murals
- ✓The 39-metre seated Buddha
- ✓Kathina season peraheras (Nov–Dec)
- ✓Combine with Matara's forts
- ✓Polhena and Talalla beaches nearby
Nearby Attractions
Closest Places in This Guide
Straight-line distances; allow considerably longer by road, especially in the hills.
Travel Tips
Take the tunnel first, statue second - the reveal works better that way.
A small donation funds the murals' endless repainting.
It's ten minutes from Matara town - easy by tuk-tuk.
Quick Info
Best Time
Year-round
Weather
Warm; the tunnel is pleasantly cool.
Estimated Daily Budget
5.9569°N, 80.5750°E
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