Description of the attraction
If the idea of a monastery built in a sheer cliff sounds intriguing, try driving 3 km along the road north of Matale, 20 km from Kandy, to view Aluvihara. This is a unique group of monastic caves, picturesquely located among the rocks, which are located high above the valley. Legend has it that the giant used three rocks as the base for his pot, and the name Aluvihara (Ash Monastery) refers to the ashes from cooking over a fire.
Aluvihara is one of the most important cultural sites in Sri Lanka. It is believed that Buddhist doctrines were first written on palm leaves here, in the 1st century BC, during the reign of King Wattagamini Abaya. This Dhamma record is known as the Tripitaka and is now the main guiding Dhamma book for Theravada Buddhism. Two thousand years later, in 1848, the monks' library was destroyed by British troops. The long process of restoring the manuscript to this day is occupied by monks, scribes and artisans. For a small fee in the form of a temple donation, you can attend their Palm Leaves Writing Workshop.
The first cave you enter contains an image of a 10-meter reclining Buddha and an impressive painting in the form of lotus flowers on the ceiling. Another is filled with cartoonish painting of the sphere of hell: before deviating from the straight path to heaven, you think twice when you see the statues of devils punishing sinners in the afterlife. One scene shows a sinner with an open skull and two demons slicing through his brains.
Despite the historical significance of Aluvihara, the paintings and sculptures that can be seen in his cave temples are modern.
At the top is the cave of Buddhaghosha, the Jew of an Indian scholar who is believed to have spent several years here while working on the Tipitaki. Although historians claim that Buddhaghosi lived in Anuradhapura in the 6th century AD, there is no clear evidence of this. However, the walls of the caves are painted with scenes showing Buddhaghoshi working on the manuscripts.
Stairs lead to the top of the cliff, where you will find Dagoba (relic storage site) and enjoy stunning views of the surrounding valleys.
