Sithulpawwa

In Hambantota district the Sithulpauwa Raja Maha Viharaya is a site of religious importance to Buddhists. Roughly translated as the ‘hill of the quiet mind’ the viharaya was a full fledged monastery where Buddhist monks learned and preached. The temple is located atop a rock (400ft high), hence one must climb a flight of stairs to get to the summit where the brilliance of the dagoba, rock caves and the view can be witnessed. The main temple has wall paintings from the 2nd Century and inscriptions. The temple’s surrounding is a natural habitat for wildlife, hence spotting a deer, a boar, sometimes even an elephant, is a possibility. The temple is within easy distance of the Yala National Park and could be visited at the same time.