Degaldoruwa Temple
Degaldoruwa Temple
4.5
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Top ways to experience Degaldoruwa Temple and nearby attractions
The area
Address
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
33 reviews
Excellent
16
Very good
13
Average
4
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Muditha J
Colombo, Sri Lanka733 contributions
Feb 2021
Ancient Painting and Load Buddha's Statues.
Recommended to visit there and to see get an historical experiences.
Recommended to visit there and to see get an historical experiences.
Written 7 February 2021
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.
travelwithkamal
Kandy, Sri Lanka34 contributions
Aug 2015 • Family
Just 5km away from Kandy close to Lewella is Degaldoruwa temple , a main tourist attraction. It’s a cave temple built by King Rajadi Rajasinghe in 1771. This temple is renown for paintings done on stone using natural colours depicting Jathaka stories.
The temple shows real kandyan style architecture with massive pillars & doors . What fascinated me most is the wooden locks on back of the gem studded entrance door. It would have truly secured the paintings and statues of the temple. There are statues of Lord Buddha, 2 statues on seated posture, 4 in standing posture and 1 in lying posture which is about 6 meters in length inside the stone cave..
Climbing a few steps you enter the “Weli Maluwa” with Dagaba , Bodhi and the foot print of Lord Buddha on a stone. The natural pond on the stone with white lotus is eye catching.
Degaldoruwa Temple is a must for one who admires paintings of Kandyan Era.
The temple shows real kandyan style architecture with massive pillars & doors . What fascinated me most is the wooden locks on back of the gem studded entrance door. It would have truly secured the paintings and statues of the temple. There are statues of Lord Buddha, 2 statues on seated posture, 4 in standing posture and 1 in lying posture which is about 6 meters in length inside the stone cave..
Climbing a few steps you enter the “Weli Maluwa” with Dagaba , Bodhi and the foot print of Lord Buddha on a stone. The natural pond on the stone with white lotus is eye catching.
Degaldoruwa Temple is a must for one who admires paintings of Kandyan Era.
Written 26 August 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.
kerryannlaynebachan
7 contributions
Dec 2016 • Solo
This is one of the most beautiful temples u gave ever seen in my life the painting to the view of the surrounding to the dedication and passion. Of the people to up keep this temple was simply amazing to me thank you for such a beautiful view and experience
Written 9 December 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.
Mil412
Singapore, Singapore22 contributions
Aug 2016 • Family
If you are an art/history lover, this is a must see. This temple was commissioned in the mid 1700s by the Kandyan kings and is built between two large slabs of rock.
Inside the shrine room, you will see the original paintings dating back to mid 1700s depicting the life and Jataka stories of Buddha. You will notice the distinct Kandyan features and colors in these paintings. You are not allowed flash photography in the inner sanctum (non-flash is ok) but you can take pictures of frescoes in outer walls.
These paintings have been featured in many re-productions (that you could probably buy from the "Art-street" in Colombo or in a batik or souvenir store in Kandy).
Degaldoruwa temple is a ~30min drive from the City center or you could take the bus to Lewella from the Kandy bus depot. Once you are in Lewella, either cross the bridge and walk to the temple (15~30min) or take a tuk-tuk.
Inside the shrine room, you will see the original paintings dating back to mid 1700s depicting the life and Jataka stories of Buddha. You will notice the distinct Kandyan features and colors in these paintings. You are not allowed flash photography in the inner sanctum (non-flash is ok) but you can take pictures of frescoes in outer walls.
These paintings have been featured in many re-productions (that you could probably buy from the "Art-street" in Colombo or in a batik or souvenir store in Kandy).
Degaldoruwa temple is a ~30min drive from the City center or you could take the bus to Lewella from the Kandy bus depot. Once you are in Lewella, either cross the bridge and walk to the temple (15~30min) or take a tuk-tuk.
Written 14 August 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.
Replevin2015
Southampton, UK91 contributions
May 2016 • Couples
Close to our hotel,(well,2 km) it was something of a trek in the heat but surprisingly well presented and maintained.It is effectively a cave temple and very hot in the daytime but the paintings,colours and the reclining statue are quite superb and the equal of many more illustrious sites.There are no guides or touts so just enjoy the site and the peace.The key holder is patient and deserves the gratuity which is clearly used to maintain the temple,such is its good state.
Written 2 June 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.
L0d0
London400 contributions
Mar 2016 • Couples
We were escorted across the paddy fields to this ancient treasure by one of the garden staff from the Kandy House Hotel (about 2km). The key and temple guardian were fetched and lights turned on revealing a reclining Buddha in this rock temple. The faiding frescos were as detailed as we've seen in more mainstream sites and all the more special for their secluded dusty location.
Written 24 March 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.
nandanak
Kandy, Sri Lanka1 contribution
Aug 2014 • Family
Simple site but very interesting cave paintings.As we had been explained these paintings are considered as temple paintings belong to the Kandyan era.
Written 4 July 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.
Sankalpa G
Colombo, Sri Lanka30 contributions
May 2015 • Family
Archaeological temple with Kandyan era frescoes ... These frescoes are always referred in Sri Lankan secondary education ART subject in the text books. So worth to visit.
Written 12 May 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.
bhavinthaker
Mumbai, India11 contributions
Apr 2015 • Friends
One of the absolutely must visit places in Kandy!
Historical monument!
Be prepared for some pushing and shoving!
Historical monument!
Be prepared for some pushing and shoving!
Written 22 April 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.
Madhawa Habarakada
Colombo, Sri Lanka55 contributions
Mar 2014 • Family
Degaldoruwa Temple which is built during the Kandian Kindom, is the temple with best and most beautiful wall paintings related to Kandian Age.
One special painting is that, there are Demon sons painted with holding guns.
One special painting is that, there are Demon sons painted with holding guns.
Written 7 February 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.
wie lange benötige ich um degaldoruwa zu besichtigen
Written 12 October 2019
Please help me how to get to this temple from Kandy town centre.
Is there any public transport ?
I do not like to be ripped off from three-wheelers.
Written 6 May 2017
Dear monks of Degaldoruwa, is there a book or booklet with the fotos of all the paintings of your temple and a description of all the stories to these pictures? A few weeks ago I have visited your temple with my wife and a friend and a friendly monk told us about one of these stories.
Written 2 March 2015
Showing results 1-3 of 3
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing