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Maligawila Standing Buddha

Sri Lanka, Hill Country

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Maligawila Standing Buddha
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Hidden away in the Moneragala District of Uva Province, the Maligawila Buddha is the tallest free-standing Buddha statue in Sri Lanka, standing at 45ft high.

Carved from a single piece of limestone rock, the statue dates back to the 6th/7th Century AD when it was built by the first Aggabodhi, a prince from the southern kingdom of Ruhunu. The site also contains a rock Bodhisattva, standing at 34ft tall. The monastic complex used to be inhabited by a sect of hermit monks.

The site was rediscovered as recently as 1951, where both the Buddha and Bodhisattva statues were found broken into several pieces by treasure hunters. The statues were reconstructed and raised again in 1980 under the instruction of the then president Ranasinghe Premadasa. The site also lays claim to the only square moonstone in the world.

The site has had many comparisons to the Aukana Standing Buddha in the Cultural Triangle, and although the Buddha is missing his crown of enlightenment here, the surrounding jungle and pleasant walk involved in visiting the temple make it that much more magical. It’s also much more off the beaten track, so generally you will have the site all to yourself, though with careful route planning, it is not difficult to work into an itinerary.

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Call
  • Destinations
    • South Asia
      • Sri Lanka
      • The Maldives
      • India
      • Bhutan
    • South East Asia
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
      • Cambodia
      • Laos
      • Myanmar
      • Indonesia
      • Borneo
    • Middle East
      • Oman
  • Holidays in Sri Lanka
    • Essential Holidays
    • Family Holidays
    • Sri Lanka & Maldives Holidays
    • Luxury Holidays
    • Slow Holidays
    • Nature & Wildlife Holidays
    • Immersive Holidays
  • Guide to Sri Lanka
    • Sri Lanka Guide
    • Weather & When to go
    • Hotel inspiration
    • Experiences inspiration
    • Sri Lanka Travel Blog
  • Places in Sri Lanka
    • Regions of Sri Lanka
      • Overview
      • The Cultural Triangle
      • Colombo, Negombo & Around
      • Kandy and Around
      • The Hill Country
      • West Coast Beaches
      • Galle and Around
      • The South Coast
      • Puttalam & the North West
      • The East Coast
      • Jaffna & The North
    • National Parks & Sancturaries
      • Overview
      • Bundala National Park
      • Flood Plains National Park
      • Gal Oya National Park
      • Horton Plains National Park
      • Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary
      • Kumana National Park (Yala East)
      • Lahugala National Park
      • Lunugamvehera National Park
      • Maduru Oya National Park
      • Minneriya National Park
      • Somawathiya National Park
      • The Knuckles Range
      • The Sinharaja Rainforest
      • Udawalawe National Park
      • Wasgamuwa National Park
      • Wilpattu National Park
      • Yala National Park
  • About us
    • Why choose ETG?
    • Our Story
    • Meet the Team
    • Reviews
    • In the Press
    • Our Offices
    • Our Brochure
    • Travel Blog
    • Newsletter Signup
  • How it works
    • Get in touch
    • Booking with confidence
    • How much does it cost?
    • Financial protection
    • What happens if something goes wrong on my holiday?
    • Working with in-country partners
    • My Booking
    • Come and see us
  • Immersive Holidays
    • Immersive Family Holidays
    • Immersive Honeymoons
    • Ideas & Inspiration
    • Holidays by month
    • Family Holidays by Month
    • Download Free Country Guides
  • Sustainability
    • Travel Better
    • Our Counter-Carbon Pledge
    • One bottle at a time
    • Building a Sustainable Future
    • Giving Back
  • Come and see us
  • My Booking
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