Mulkirigalla

Mulkirigala Raja MahaViharaya – the Grand Royal Temple. It is located in the district of Hambantota, 21 km north of Tangalle. The rock, on which the Temple was erected, the English called “Small Sigiriya”. At the end of the III century B.C. the Temple was laid by the king. Historical records indicate that during the reindeer hunting the king met wild Veddas who told him that this mountain was the ideal place for a Buddhist monastery. After that Saddattissa had built a large Temple complex.
There are 533 steps lead to the top of the Temple, with the total height of about 270 meters. The complex consists of 5 terraces and 7 caves. Inside each cave – a statue of a reclining Buddha carved into a solid rock. On the walls and ceiling there are frescoes of the Candian period (restored in the 18th century).
On the second terrace grows the Bo tree. On the third terrace there are 4 caves, the walls of which are decorated with frescoes depicting scenes from the past lives of the Buddha. In the chronicles they write that the Buddha had 550 lives. In the last, fourth, cave (Cobra Cave), a tunnel was dug behind the door, which served as a secret royal path. On the fifth, uppermost terrace, there is a mortar. From there you can enjoy a beautiful panorama.
In good weather, one can even see the ocean from here. During the wars in Mulkirigal, the sacred relics of the Buddha were kept. Subsequently, the Temple was a settlement of monks, and now it houses a functioning monastery.