Delgaldoruwa Temple, Kandy

Well known for its Kandyan style paintings, Degaldoruwa Raja Maha Viharaya is a small temple located on Kandy’s outskirts.

So small that if visiting during the week the monk has to unlock the temple for you – make sure you clock sight of the ginormous key required to unlock the temple doors – Degaldoruwa temple is made of three chambers, with the inner chamber situated between two rocks. That is where the temple name comes from, meaning the hinge between two rocks, as one piece of bedrock makes up the floor, and another overhang makes up the cave ceiling.

The 18ft long sleeping Buddha in the inner temple sanctum is wonderfully carved, and the frescoes on the walls and ceiling based on the Jathaka katha are excellent examples of the Kandyan era craftsmanship, a time during which the temple was created by King Rajadhi Rajasinghe.

Outside of the temple is a small cave tunnel, said to reach all the way to the caves temples in Dambulla.

Degaldoruwa provides a great opportunity to see some of Sri Lanka’s intricate artwork and craftsmanship without the crowds of Dambulla.