Bahirawakanda Temple

Bahirawakanda Temple

Average Reviews

Description

Bahirawakanda Temple

Bahirawakanda Temple is a mysterious and a heart-fluttering temple situated in Kandy. The meaning of Bahirawakanda Temple is “Gnome Mountain”. There is a whole story circulating this temple to get this name.

About the destination

Bahirawakanda Temple is just 2 km away from the world-famous Sri Dalada Maliga aka the temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. It has a beautifully sculptured huge white Buddha statue that rises to the sky where people around Kandy can see. This is quite a scenic view that tourists and locals flock all around the year.

History of the place

Many legends are surrounding this place, one among them is that in the past, hundreds of beautiful virgins girls were sacrificed to the “Bahirawa Deviyo”. Later this practice was not followed anymore. Another legend surrounding this place is that there was a sound coming from this cave and people were terrified. They said that it was an evil spirit asking for a sacrifice. This was done by a minister of the King. A large number of girls were sacrificed, however, this practice was stopped when the girlfriend of the minister’s son was ordered to be sacrificed and when she was rescued.

How to reach your destination

From Colombo

Go on McCallum Road and enter the Colombo-Katunayake Expressway from Colombo. Take the exit toward the outer circular expressway and turn right onto Colombo-Kandy road to continue for 90.8 km.

Turn left onto Gannoruwa Road and turn left onto Lamagaraya Road. Turn left onto Sri Pushpadana Mawatha and turn right at Vihara Handiya Bodhiya onto Bahirawa Kanda Road and drive to your destination.

From Kandy

You have to head southwest on Baladaksha Mawatha toward Getambe Kandy By-Pass. Then go on Lamagaraya Road. Turn left at Kandy Taxi Service onto Lamagaraya Road.

Then take Thilak Ratnayake Mawatha to Sri Pushpadana Mawatha. Continue on Sri Pushpadana Mawatha. Drive to Bahirawa Kanda Road and drive to your destination.