Bahirawa Kanda Temple
The Bahirawa Kanda Temple is situated in Kandy, in the Central Province of Sri Lanka and is a mere 2 km away from the Dalada Maligawa, where the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha is enshrined. There are many legends that revolve around the Bahirawa Kanda Temple, one of which is that the village folk never ventured up to this Temple after dusk, due to the belief that there was a powerful Bahirawa Devalaya upon this hill where several hundred of damsels of the village in the bygone era were supposed to have been human sacrifices to the Bahirawa God. The villagers believed that the souls of those damsels wandered around the hillside at night, hence their reluctance to go up the hills at night. But today this area is a highly developed one and all those beliefs have been forgotten.
The Sri Maha Bodhi Viharaya at Bahirawa Kanda is where the giant Buddha Statue is built and this was founded by Ven Ampitiye Dammarama Thero, who started the monastery in 1972. The Buddha Statue which is in a seated Nirvana position is 88 feet tall and is one of the largest Buddha Statues in Sri Lanka and is sculptured in pure white that emits a sense of serenity and tranquility all round. Many devotees throng the Bahirawa Kanda Temple during all times of the year. This beautiful Buddha Statue can be viewed from all points from the Kandy town, which makes it a unique phenomenon.
Visitors can get a beautiful view of the Kandy town, including other places of interest from the Bahirawa Kanda Temple precincts. The temple is open for worship by devotees. All those who enter the temple are supposed to remove their shoes and hats and be dressed in attire that is befitting the sacred area. Adrenalin
