Aluvihare Rock Temple
අළුවිහාරය
An ancient cave temple among massive boulders, where tradition holds that the Pali Canon was first written down in the 1st century BCE.
Aluvihare Rock Temple lies about 3 km north of Matale and roughly 30 km from Kandy, on the route to Dambulla and Sigiriya. According to tradition, in the 1st century BCE, 500 monks first inscribed the oral Pali Tipitaka onto palm leaves here. The monastery spreads through several caves among the boulders and includes a reclining Buddha, murals, and a palm-leaf manuscript museum where you can watch demonstrations of traditional inscribing. Admission is several hundred rupees. Matale along the way has many spice gardens.
Opening hours
About 08:00–17:00
Nearby sights
- Matale Spice Gardens
- Knuckles Mountain Range
- Degaldoruwa Raja Maha Vihara
- Udawatta Kele Sanctuary
- Bahirawakanda Vihara Buddha Statue
- Kandy National Museum & Royal Palace
- Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
- British Garrison Cemetery