Lankatilaka Temple
Lankatilaka Temple
4.5
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4.5
271 reviews
Excellent
131
Very good
113
Average
22
Poor
5
Terrible
0
ourunner
Cambridge, UK497 contributions
Feb 2023
On top of a rock which means climbing a LOT os stairs. However it is worth it. Local monk may be around to let you in for a "tour" Donation expected of course.
Best to get a Tuk Tuk to get you here as goinf by bus wold be a pain
Best to get a Tuk Tuk to get you here as goinf by bus wold be a pain
Written 22 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Love Mate
Beirut, Lebanon681 contributions
May 2018 • Friends
One of the best and oldest temple we visited, its a must do if you hate crowd and need to check real historical places
Written 15 October 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MikeHSFO
San Francisco, CA218 contributions
Dec 2019
This temple is near Kandy and another very old structure. Its importance in Sri Lanka is noted as it is shown on the 500 rupee note! The guides were very interesting and helpful.
Written 14 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lasith Imarshana
Ingiriya, Sri Lanka84 contributions
Mar 2022 • Friends
This Temple was build by king Buwanekabahu IV in 14 century. Lankatilaka Vihara is a Buddhist temple situated in Udunuwara of Kandy.It is beautiful Buddhist Temple.
Written 7 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carolyn L
Melbourne, Australia117 contributions
Mar 2016 • Couples
This historic temple is part of the "Three Temple Loop" near Kandy. We very much enjoyed our visit and were able to view historic religious artefacts and statues. We were lucky enough to be the only people there when we visited - a real treat.
Written 7 April 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dingo_6152
Fremantle, Australia3,340 contributions
Jan 2016 • Couples
This is located well outside Kandy, tucked away in the countryside, in the village of Rabbegamuwa. It is located on the summit of a large granite rock, called Panhalgala. You enter via the Main Street in the village, through a large roofed gate (entrance fee Rs300). The setting is as impressive as the temple and because it is out of the way there are very few tourists.
If you make your way around to the far side (east) of the large white temple/image house, with sculptured elephants and other designs, you get to the entrance of the shrine. Inside is a large seated Buddha, with two huge ivory tusks either side. Make sure you look up as well to see the decorative paintings & designs, in particular the hansa puttuwa (conjoined swans), which apparently is the best presentation of its kind.
Back around the western side of the temple, is the makara thorana (dragon arch) and the entrance to the Hindu shrine. If you can get the caretaker to unlock the doors, it is worth it. The vaulted brick Hindu shrine to Lord Vishnu, is wrapped around the outside of the Buddhist shrine, all in the one building. This is what makes it unique.
Out of all the temples outside of Kandy, this is the one worth visiting.
If you make your way around to the far side (east) of the large white temple/image house, with sculptured elephants and other designs, you get to the entrance of the shrine. Inside is a large seated Buddha, with two huge ivory tusks either side. Make sure you look up as well to see the decorative paintings & designs, in particular the hansa puttuwa (conjoined swans), which apparently is the best presentation of its kind.
Back around the western side of the temple, is the makara thorana (dragon arch) and the entrance to the Hindu shrine. If you can get the caretaker to unlock the doors, it is worth it. The vaulted brick Hindu shrine to Lord Vishnu, is wrapped around the outside of the Buddhist shrine, all in the one building. This is what makes it unique.
Out of all the temples outside of Kandy, this is the one worth visiting.
Written 14 January 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MrandMrsBen
Somerset, UK288 contributions
Mar 2015 • Couples
We visited this beautiful 14thC temple together with the Gadaladeniya and the Embekke Devale as an excursion from Kandy.
The Lankatilanka sits on top of a hill with stunning views in all directions. The huge rock where the temple was built is called as Panhangala Rock
You climb a steep set of steps cut into the rock to reach the temple complex. Inside is a huge Bo tree, an Audience hall and an image house with a seated Buddha statue with a Makara Torana above the image. The concept of Bodhi is depicted here by the arrangement of tree and flower design. There are gorgeous paintings from Suvisi Vivarana or the lives of the twenty four previous Buddha's in the surrounding walls.
We really enjoyed visiting a truly spiritual and tranquil spot, it was a most rewarding experience and right off the tourist track.
The Lankatilanka sits on top of a hill with stunning views in all directions. The huge rock where the temple was built is called as Panhangala Rock
You climb a steep set of steps cut into the rock to reach the temple complex. Inside is a huge Bo tree, an Audience hall and an image house with a seated Buddha statue with a Makara Torana above the image. The concept of Bodhi is depicted here by the arrangement of tree and flower design. There are gorgeous paintings from Suvisi Vivarana or the lives of the twenty four previous Buddha's in the surrounding walls.
We really enjoyed visiting a truly spiritual and tranquil spot, it was a most rewarding experience and right off the tourist track.
Written 27 March 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RamVenkat
Bengaluru, India130 contributions
May 2014 • Family
The temple is nice and calm. But what put us off was the following:
1. The person gave us our tickets - He took the money from us, but gave us old used tickets (clearly pocketing the money for himself). When we bought the tickets, a ceremony was ongoing because of which we couldn't enter the temple. But he didnt state this fact upfront - told us only after we bought the tickets, and then assured us it would take only 5 more minutes. Instead we had to wait for about 30 mins.
2. The temple brochure talks of many artefacts - example - a sapphire Buddha statue. However most of these artefacts are not displayed to public.
Somehow, a bad example of expectation management.
1. The person gave us our tickets - He took the money from us, but gave us old used tickets (clearly pocketing the money for himself). When we bought the tickets, a ceremony was ongoing because of which we couldn't enter the temple. But he didnt state this fact upfront - told us only after we bought the tickets, and then assured us it would take only 5 more minutes. Instead we had to wait for about 30 mins.
2. The temple brochure talks of many artefacts - example - a sapphire Buddha statue. However most of these artefacts are not displayed to public.
Somehow, a bad example of expectation management.
Written 13 May 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SueKot
London, UK436 contributions
One of the Three Temples outside Kandy this is arguably the most interesting. Constructed of brick the outside temple is Hindu with heavy Southern Indian influences.
The caretaker showed us round and had obvious pride in his property. The Hindu part has excellent images of the gods. The one of Ganesh was particularly fine with extremely fat belly and a white elephant head in stark contrast to the brown body.
The inner temple is reached from the other end of the building. It contains the image of Buddha. The main construction material is brick.
Quiet and contemplative
The caretaker showed us round and had obvious pride in his property. The Hindu part has excellent images of the gods. The one of Ganesh was particularly fine with extremely fat belly and a white elephant head in stark contrast to the brown body.
The inner temple is reached from the other end of the building. It contains the image of Buddha. The main construction material is brick.
Quiet and contemplative
Written 7 October 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
worldnomad_01
Los Angeles, CA1,597 contributions
Nov 2018
Lankatilaka Temple is another of the three "temples of the loop". It dates back to the middle of the 14th century, having been built during the reign of King Bhuvanekabahu IV, based on a plan designed by a South Indian architect named Sathapati Rayar. Inside the temple there is a large, polychrome statue of Buddha, and the ceiling and the walls of the main the main hall are adorned with Kandyan era paintings and statues. It is quiet place, no tourists here, hardly any locals and worth a short visit...
Written 17 December 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We would like to walk the three temples route. Is it easy to follow?
Written 26 August 2018
Yes it is an easy route. Quiet roads and paths, beautiful surroundings, not much climbing. Enjoy!
Written 28 August 2018
How can I get there from kandy?Any buses-As single female I prefer not to use tuk tuk
Thanking you kindly for your time
Written 24 March 2018
there are buses from kandy,the route which to be taken is pilimatalawa(daulagala road via)plz pay attention to daulagala via because there is another common place route to pilimathalawa which donot pass near the temple.should ask to drop at lankatilaka temple , morning visits are advisable because buses are infrequent after 4pm .
in return journey u can take buses in either directions from this location( toward kandy via daulagala or pilimatalawa via kandy)
Written 11 September 2018
howmuchtimeittook fromthe groundtothe top and is advisable to climb for the elderly people.
Written 11 August 2015
there are 2 routes, which one is accesible for any vehicle if u dont want to climb steps ,any local will tell if u ask them specifically
Written 11 September 2018
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