සිතුල්පව්ව රජ මහා විහාරය / Sithulpawwa Rajamaha Viharaya

I had an unforgettable experience visiting a Buddhist temple nestled in the heart of a jungle with a rich heritage. The sight of two pagodas perched on two rocks was awe-inspiring. What made it even more special was the friendly wildlife that ventured close to visitors. This place is simply superb, offering a unique blend of spirituality and natural beauty.

It was a wonderful experience. You have to go through a forest to enter the temple area. You can have 360° panoramic view at the top of the temple. Be sure to register your vehicle before entering. Please don't feed elephants when you are going there. There's an entrance to the Yala National park also. Always drive carefully and patiently.

Sithulpawwa Temple is an ancient Buddhist monastery located deep within the Yala National Park in Sri Lanka. It is believed to have been built in the 2nd century BC by King Kavantissa, and is one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the country.

The temple complex is perched on a rocky outcrop, and is surrounded by lush green jungle. Visitors must climb a steep flight of steps to reach the temple, but the effort is well worth it.

The temple complex consists of a number of dagobas (stupas), cave temples, and other structures. The most impressive structure is the Maha Sithulpawwa dagoba, which is over 400 feet tall.

Inside the cave temples, visitors can find ancient sculptures and wall paintings. Some of the most notable paintings depict the life of the Buddha, as well as scenes from Buddhist mythology.

In addition to its religious significance, Sithulpawwa Temple is also a beautiful place to visit for its natural surroundings. The temple is located in the heart of Yala National Park, which is home to a variety of wildlife, including elephants, leopards, and crocodiles.

Sithulpawwa Temple is an ancient Buddhist monastery located deep within the Yala National Park in Sri Lanka. It is believed to have been built in the 2nd century BC by King Kavantissa, and is one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the country.

The temple complex is perched on a rocky outcrop, and is surrounded by lush green jungle. Visitors must climb a steep flight of steps to reach the temple, but the effort is well worth it.

The temple complex consists of a number of dagobas (stupas), cave temples, and other structures. The most impressive structure is the Maha Sithulpawwa dagoba, which is over 400 feet tall.

Inside the cave temples, visitors can find ancient sculptures and wall paintings. Some of the most notable paintings depict the life of the Buddha, as well as scenes from Buddhist mythology.

Tips for Visitors

The best time to visit Sithulpawwa Temple is during the dry season (December to April). During the rainy season (May to November), the steps leading up to the temple can be slippery.
Visitors should wear comfortable shoes and clothing, as there is a lot of walking involved.
It is also important to bring water and sunscreen, as there is no shade on the hill.
Visitors should be respectful of the religious significance of the site, and dress appropriately.
It is also important to be aware of the wildlife in the area, and to take precautions to avoid animal encounters.
My Review

I had the opportunity to visit Sithulpawwa Temple in February 2023, and it was an unforgettable experience. The temple is truly a remarkable place, both in terms of its religious significance and its natural beauty.

I was particularly impressed with the ancient sculptures and wall paintings in the cave temples. The detail and craftsmanship of these works of art is truly stunning.

Overall, I highly recommend visiting Sithulpawwa Temple to anyone who is interested in Buddhism, history, or nature. It is a truly unique and special place.

Road to sithulpauwa temple Memorable journey in side the wild jungle.
Its almost like a safari in side the jungle.
You can see lot of wild animals during the journey 😍😍

The road is extremely not suitable for a car. Be careful about that if you are going via a car. On both sides, Thissa and Kataragama side both. The only difference I felt is the Kataragama side is shorter than the Thissa aide road.

This is a collection of beautiful places situated in the Yala national wildlife park. Buddist ancient Temple, beautiful lake, view point, historical place. There are wild animals too. If you want you can spend whole day to visit these places.

An ancient Buddhist monastery located in Hambantota District. Journey will be rude if you go there by open vehicle specially three wheel of bike coz of dust. Elephant attacks on vehicles is not rare.

Sithulpawwa raja maha viharaya is an ancient temple which is believed to have been built by King Kavanthissa. Sithulpawwa is known as a location where thousands of Arhaths lived. It contains a large number of sthupas, cave temples, Buddha statues and a stupa house spread in a large area. In addition to the main Sithulpawwa stupa, there is another hill called "small Sithulpawwa". Two ancient Bodhisattva statues can be seen in the main cave temple. There is a large number of rock inscriptions scattered throughout the vihara complex. All these are said to be belonged to the pre Christian era.

You can see a herd of wild boar and elephants in the car park area. There are two ways to reach the temple, I.e. Kirinda-Sithulpawwa Road and Katharagama-Sithulpawwa Road. Both roads are going through the Yala sanctuary. The road is bit difficult, ( you don't need a 4×4 to go through these roads. Even a small car would manage.) If you are lucky enough you will be able to see a lot of wild animals on your way to Sithulpawwa.

Sithulpawwa Rajamaha Viharaya is an absolutely stunning Buddhist temple that is well worth a visit if you are in the area. The temple is located in a beautiful natural setting, surrounded by lush greenery and towering rock formations.

The temple itself is a marvel of ancient architecture and craftsmanship, with intricate carvings and artwork adorning every surface. Walking through the temple grounds feels like stepping back in time to a more serene and contemplative era.

One of the highlights of the temple is the large stupa, which is said to date back to the 2nd century BC. It is a truly awe-inspiring sight and a testament to the skill and dedication of the ancient builders.

The temple also offers a sense of peace and tranquility that is hard to find in today's fast-paced world. The atmosphere is serene and welcoming, and the monks who reside at the temple are friendly and happy to answer any questions you may have.

Overall, I highly recommend a visit to Sithulpawwa Rajamaha Viharaya. Whether you are a history buff, a spiritual seeker, or simply looking for a beautiful and peaceful place to spend some time, this temple is sure to leave a lasting impression.

Built on a series of hilltops and surrounded by natural forest and wildlife, this is a memorable and important cultural site. Allow plenty of time if you want to experience it fully. The journey is best undertaken in a strong vehicle, because the roads are difficult.

This is a very difficult path. Do not enter normal vehicle's during rainy season. You start the trek at 9 am and end before 4 pm, because wild animals come at 4 pm especially elephants.

A very old temple that has not been significantly modernized yet. There are a lot of ruins.

A stunning view can be seen in the morning and evening. If you plan to stay overnight, you can get it at the lowest price (less facilities).

We spent a night in December 2022. The price of a hall is 3000 rupees. Cooking and bathing facilities are available in the hall

Sithulpawwa is an ancient Buddhist monastery, believed to date back to 2nd Century BC. The monastery straddles a collection of rocky outcrops and caves deep in the heart of the Yala National Park. There are said to be hundreds of caves and shelters within and around the complex that have housed monks (for centuries) who came to the site to further their education as well as to meditate.

Going here as early as 6 AM will give you the opportunity of viewing sunrise and worshiping before it is too warm to be around. The temple doors open at 6 AM.

Peaceful environment. There are caves that monks do meditation. Its hard to go to the temple at afternoon time because of high sun rise temperature. In the car park most of the times you can see elephants and wild pigs coming to eat foods from tourists.

You will get different experience with the travel via the jungle.

Sithulpawwa Rajamaha Viharaya is an ancient buddhist monastery located inside the Yala National Park. Visitors can see a large number of wild animals inside the monastery, specially few tuskers and wild elephants. Another thing to keep in mind is to be careful with monkeys 🐵. As monkeys are more likely to rob your personal belongings when they get a chance... 🤭

Very clam place please protect the environment by not bringing plastics here.

History- Situlpawwa Rajamaha Viharaya is an ancient Buddhist monastery located in Hambantota District, South Eastern Sri Lanka. This temple dates back to the 2nd century B.C. and located deep within the heart of Yala national park. It is believed to have been built by king Kavantissa.

King Kavantissa is thought to have erected it in the second century B.C. Traveling 18 kilometres on the Tissamaharama-Yodhakandiya route in the direction of Yala National Park will bring you to Sithulpawwa Vihara. The term "Chiththala Pabbatha," which means "the hill of the tranquil mind," is the source of the name Sithulpawwa.

Sithulpawwwa monastery is a religious ionic place with breathtaking views, open to anyone who can relax their lives and minds. It is located at deep within Yala national park and elephants, leopards and wild boars 🐗 are a frequent scene at this place. There are two ways to reach her:
1. Via Kataragama route
2. Via Tissa route

They said there are hundreds of caves around this scenic place and you can see most of the residential monks are here to plant and develop their inner peace through meditation 🧘‍♀. If there is anybody who is willing to visit the place there are two advises from me.

- Start the journey with enough water
- Visit the place as soon as possible before 10.00 am as there won’t be any chance to climb the rock with the scorching sun rays.
Enjoyed my visit to Sithulpawwa Buddhist Monstery.
#mySriLanka