Kande Vihara, Buddhist temple in Kalutara District, Sri Lanka
Kande Vihara is a Buddhist temple set on a hilltop near Aluthgama, in the Kalutara District of Sri Lanka. The site brings together a stupa, a Bo tree, a relic chamber, and an image house, all arranged across the hill.
The temple was founded in 1734 by Venerable Mong Karapagala Dewamitta, with support from two fellow monks. From that point on, the site grew steadily into the active place of worship it is today.
The image house displays the Buddha in different poses, surrounded by wall paintings that tell stories from the Jataka tales. Visitors who walk through this space can follow the teachings through pictures rather than words.
The temple sits on a hill and is easy to reach from nearby Aluthgama, making it a convenient stop for anyone traveling along the coast. Modest clothing is expected on site, and the paths leading up the hill can be steep in places.
The Samadhi Buddha statue, completed in 2006, stands about 48 meters tall and is considered the world's highest seated Buddha figure. What makes this unusual is that such a recent and large statue was added to a site that has been in use since the early 18th century.
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