Buduruwagala

Buduruwagala is a group of seven figures cut in high relief into a rock face in dry jungle near Wellawaya, dating to around the ninth or tenth century. The central standing Buddha is about fifteen metres, the tallest in the country, and the flanking figures are Mahayana bodhisattvas, Avalokitesvara and Tara among them, which makes the site evidence of a Mahayana presence in an island whose Buddhism is otherwise Theravada. Traces of the original stucco and paint survive.

Background

The carvings stand about 4 miles southeast of Wellawaya in the Monaragala district and belong to the Mahayana school. Most authorities date them to the 9th or 10th century. The great standing Buddha measures 51 feet from head to toe, the largest such statue on the island, and still shows traces of a stuccoed robe, with a long orange streak hinting that it was once brightly painted. Of the three figures on its right, the central one is thought to be the Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara, painted white, with a female figure in the thrice-bent pose beside him, probably his consort Tara.

Source: Wikipedia, "Buduruvagala"

What's there

• The central Buddha - about fifteen metres, the tallest standing figure in Sri Lanka.
• The bodhisattva figures - Mahayana attendants unusual in a Theravada country.
• The surviving stucco - traces of the original coating and pigment on the rock.
• The jungle setting - the carvings in dry forest with a tank below.

When to go

November to April is the drier window. Morning light falls on the west-facing rock in the afternoon, so late in the day suits photography. The site is quiet on weekdays.

Things to know

The site is small and takes an hour. There is little interpretation and the Mahayana significance is easy to miss. Monkeys around the car park are aggressive.

Nearby

Wellawaya is north, and Diyaluma is northwest.

Key facts