Nelligala Buddhist Temple or Nelligala International Buddhist Center is a modern temple built in the year 2015 in Kandy. Nestled high on top of the Nelligala mountain, this temple is a lesser-known, but a must-visit place in the hill capital. This temple locates in a dramatic location filled with breathtaking sceneries. Therefore, it considers one of the most beautiful Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka.
Although this temple was created quite recently, it has become a pilgrimage hotspot among local visitors. It is visited by not only Buddhists but also all Sri Lankan communities. Certainly, it is a place that brings peaceful vibes and tranquility to the visitors. The picturesque view at the top of the mountain will make you feel this is an extremely worthy spot to visit in Sri Lanka.
We have visited Nelligala Temple several times and had a great time enjoying the lovely sceneries. Here we are going to show you around and give you all the details of the temple.
Access to Nelligala Temple from Colombo side
If you are coming from Colombo, turn left at Pilimathalawa to Muruthalawa – Godamuduna Road. Then turn left onto Aladeniya – Eriyagama Road from Muruthalawa Junction. The road is well carpeted to the top of the temple, so you can reach the temple very easily.
Access to Nelligala Temple from Kandy side
If you are visiting from Kandy, it is quite easy to reach Nelligala Temple. It locates only 12 km from Kandy city. There are direct buses from the Kandy bus stand to Nelligala via Gannoruwa. If you are using a taxi or car, drive through Getambe Bypass and turn right onto Gannoruwa-Muruthalawa Road. Turn left from Muruthalawa junction and you’ll meet Nelligala Road which runs to the temple.
1. Entrance to Temple
There is ample parking space to park the pilgrimage buses and other vehicles. From there, you need to climb the staircase which runs to temple ground. This takes only a few minutes and you can reach the top comfortably.
2. Temple Ground
Surrounded by a range of mountains, the natural scenic beauty of the environment around temple ground is mind soothing. When you enter the temple, definitely you’ll get the peaceful vibes of this sacred place.
The temple ground is well-maintained and decorated with flower plants and pots. The plants are filled with lovely blooms and they are swaying in the wind making beautiful scenery.
There is a beautifully decorated wall around the temple. These golden painted sculptures of swans adorn the temple wall increasing the aesthetic beauty of the temple a lot.
3. The Surrounding
The panoramic views from the summit of the temple are incredible. The top of Nelligala Hill provides a 360° view of the surrounding mountain ranges. They include Hanthana Mountain, Knuckles Mountain Range, and several mountain ranges in the central highlands including the famous Bible Rock. Sigiriya and Sri Pada Mountain are visible on the other side, but often the heavy mist obscures the clear view of them.
Without a doubt, the lush green mountain ranges in the far distance create a spectacular view. It gives a wonderful feeling to the visitors. The weather is windy in Nelligala Temple with a strong cool breeze. This wind that blows through the mountains brings you freshness even in the hot daytime.
4. Main Shrine
There are gold color Buddha statues along the way to the main shrine. This is one of the key features of the Nelligala temple. These golden color Buddha statues with the blue sky create a unique and picturesque sight.
The main shrine is the most important place in the temple. You’ll feel the high-quality architectural value in its elegant construction design.
Creating a vibe of peacefulness with the aura of Buddhism, this main shrine is a quiet place to soothe your mind, heart, and soul. This main shrine is a spiritual spot, where you can relax your mind by meditating for a while.
If you take some flowers with you, you can offer them in front of this main shrine. We could capture some lovely shots of the main shrine, where flowers are offered for Lord Buddha.
5. Sacred Bodhi Tree
A branch of the ancient sacred Bodhi tree in Anuradhapura is planted in a golden bowl at Nelligala Temple. The golden statues of Lord Buddha combined with the golden Bodhi tree soothe our minds.
6. Statue of God Sumana Saman
The statue of God Sumana Saman is a beautiful design you can observe in the temple. It is a recent addition to the temple, which was completed in 2020. This statue has created in a protruded balcony that extends over the valley, where you can see the beauty of the surrounding clearly.
Since Buddhists believe that God Sumana Saman is living in the Sri Pada Mountain, this statue represents a white elephant coming down from the sky from that direction. Moreover, the view becomes quite gorgeous in the evening, after the illumination.
7. White Stupa
The big stupa in the temple is one of the most remarkable structures in the temple. The pilgrims can peacefully continue their religious rituals and observations in the spacious temple ground around the white stupa without any disturbances.
The 70 feet high stupa is beautifully painted in pure white. It becomes a marvelous scenery during the illumination in Poya days.
8. Golden Stupa
The beautiful golden stupa in Nelligala Temple is called Sri Shakyasinghe Maha Seya. This Stupa offers an extraordinary view to visitors. Most importantly, you cannot see this kind of stupa in any other Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka. This golden stupa has a unique appearance, mostly similar to the ones you’ll find in Thailand.
You’ll see the bright and shiny golden stupa glittering in the sun creating wonderful scenery at the Nelligala mountaintop. It stunningly glows with golden rays of sunlight in the evening. Certainly, this is a rare glimpse you can get in any Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka.
9. Best time to visit
Since the mid-day heat might be unbearable, the best time to visit Nelligala Temple is in the morning, evening, or even at night. That way you can spend more time relaxing here to appreciate all the beauty around you.
During the sunset, the temple becomes a photogenic spot with the gleaming sun streaming through the mountains. Sunset is creating a beautiful and serene environment in the temple ground. As well, you’ll see the golden hue of the distant mountain range is breathtaking scenery.
10. Best tips for you
The temple is open 24 hours, while morning and evening is the best time to enjoy the scenery. The entrance to the temple is free of charge. You don’t need to buy any tickets to visit the temple.
There isn’t any strict dress code to enter the temple. However, it is advised to dress politely as this place is a Buddhist temple. Do not wear sleeveless tops and shorts. If possible, wear something that covers your shoulders, as well as your knees like long pants or a skirt.
The temple becomes highly crowded with pilgrims on Poya days. The narrow road that runs to the temple gets highly congested during these days. So, it is better to avoid visiting Nelligala Temple in the Poya days. Usually, it is not a crowded place and you can get a peaceful experience.
To sum up, Nelligala Buddhist Temple is a picturesque place that offers stunning views over the hills in the central highlands. It is indeed a lesser-known, secret jewel of Kandy, where most of the tourists are unaware of this beautiful place. If you are going to visit the Sacred Temple of Tooth Relic in Kandy, you may combine the trip with visiting Nelligala Buddhist Temple. You can spend more time relaxing here in the evenings and even at night, taking in all the beauty that surrounds you. Hope you’ll witness the awesome scenic beauty of the Nelligala Buddhist Temple someday.!
