A dramatic rock-temple monastery on a towering granite outcrop, its terraced cave shrines holding reclining Buddhas and vivid murals.

Overview

Mulkirigala is one of southern Sri Lanka's finest cave temples, built into a 200 m granite rock inland from Tangalle. Rock-cut stairways climb through five terraced levels lined with cave shrines, each sheltering reclining and seated Buddha statues, painted ceilings and ancient inscriptions. The summit stupa offers panoramic views over the surrounding jungle and paddy. Often called a 'little Sigiriya', it is a rewarding and far less crowded alternative to the island's better-known cave temples.

History

The monastery is traditionally said to be one of the temples founded by King Kavantissa around the 3rd century BCE. Ancient Brahmi inscriptions confirm that monks occupied the caves by the 2nd century BCE, making it among the oldest continuously inhabited monasteries in the world. It fell into neglect for centuries before King Kirti Sri Rajasinha of Kandy sponsored its restoration in the 18th century; palm-leaf manuscripts found here later aided the translation of the Mahavamsa chronicle.