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Resvehera Monastery

Sri Lanka, Cultural Triangle

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Resvehera Monastery
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Built by King Devanampiya Tissa in 237 AD, Resvehera Monastery is now a quiet affair hidden away in the elephant rich jungle west of Dambulla.

Created during the same period the Bo Tree sapling was being brought to Anuradhapura, Resvehera is made up of 99 natural caves, still used to this day for meditation. In addition to the many caves and stunning forested hillside, the monastery is home to a large stone standing Buddha. Reaching 42ft in height, some argue that this is not a replica of the Buddha at all, but one of King Mahasen, but this claim is yet to be substantiated.

Throughout the 1,645 acres belonging to the monastery and between the 32 ponds found here, relics are still being unearthed, with an estimated 8% of relics still lying beneath the forest. One of the meditation caves is home to the only reclining Buddha statue in Sri Lanka that can be walked around in its entirety, with most only showing the front side of the Buddha.

As with many of Sri Lanka’s more off the beaten track sights, the magic here lies not only in the physical monuments and buildings, but in the beauty of the scenery, the excellent conversation from the one residing monk, and the fact that you get to enjoy this beautiful, secluded spot packed full of history, all to yourself.

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Experience Travel Group

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Call
  • Destinations
    • South Asia
      • Sri Lanka
      • The Maldives
      • India
      • Bhutan
    • South East Asia
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
      • Cambodia
      • Laos
      • Myanmar
      • Indonesia
      • Malaysia
      • Borneo
      • Indochina
    • Middle East
      • Oman
  • Holidays in Sri Lanka
    • Classic Sri Lanka Holidays
    • Family Holidays
    • Sri Lanka & Maldives Holidays
    • Ultimate Holidays
    • Nature & Wildlife Holidays
    • Off the Beaten Track
    • Slow Holidays
  • Guide to Sri Lanka
    • Why choose Sri Lanka
    • Weather & When to go
    • Hotel inspiration
    • Experiences inspiration
    • Free Country Guide Download
  • Info on Sri Lanka
    • Nature and Wildlife
      • 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
    • Getting Around in Sri Lanka
      • Overview
      • Chauffeur Guides & Transportation
      • Vehicles in Sri Lanka
      • Internal Flights
      • Helicopter in Sri Lanka
    • Honeymoons in Sri Lanka
    • Sri Lanka Weddings
  • 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
  • About us
    • Our Story
    • Our Team
    • Our Reviews
    • Our Press
    • Our brochure
    • Our Blog
  • How it works
    • Why choose us?
    • Booking with confidence
    • How much does it cost?
    • Trip planning process
    • Financial protection
    • What happens if something goes wrong on my holiday?
    • Working with in-country partners
    • My Booking
    • Contact Us
  • Holiday Types
    • The Revitalise Collection
    • Immersive Escapes
    • Honeymoons
    • Family Travel
  • Inspiration
    • Inspire me
    • Travel Soon
    • Plan Ahead
    • Month by month weather guide
    • Free Country Guides
  • Sustainability
    • Travel Better
    • Our Counter-Carbon Pledge
    • One bottle at a time
    • Building a Sustainable Future
    • Giving Back
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