Maligawila Buddha Statue is situated in Monaragala Sri Lanka. Maligawila is a remote village in Monaragala. This is a standing Buddha statue that is made out of limestone and is believed to have been built back in the 7th century.
About the destination
Maligawila Buddha Statue is believed to have been built by a prince named Agrabodhi. This is believed to be the tallest free-standing Buddha statue found in Sri Lanka. It has a height of 37 feet and 10 inches. The whole carving is made out of single large limestone rock. The statue bears a very close resemblance to the Avukana Buddha statue.
History of the Maligawila Buddha Statue
The huge Maligawila Buddha Statue was found broken into pieces in the Jungles of Maligawila. The statue has fallen face down in 1951 and broken into pieces. Later treasure hunters too had used dynamite to destroy this statue when in search of valuables.
An attempt was taken in 1974 and failed but in 1980 the President of that time President Ranasinghe Premadasa took steps to raise the statue back to its glory. Some remains are found of an image house built around the statue which is approximately 20 meters in length and has a width of 1.2 meters and 20 meters in height.
Reaching the destination
From Colombo
Go on McCallum Road and continue straight onto Colombo – Katunayake Expressway and merge onto Southern Expressway.
Take the exit from Beliatta interchange and turn left onto Colombo – Wellawaya Highway. Turn right at Kumbukkana Junction onto Kumbukkana – Okkampitiya – Maligawila Road and drive to your destination.
From Monaragala
Turn right onto Technical College Road and turn left at Monaragala Ayurveda onto Colombo – Batticaloa Highway. Turn right onto Wellawaya By-Pass and turn left onto Wewelkandura – Kosgahawela Road.
Turn left at Kumbukkana Junction onto Kumbukkana – Okkampitiya – Maligawila Road and drive to your destination.
