Aluthgama: Temples, Art and River

Aluthgama combines a distinctive temple complex with art and nature in the surrounding area. Kande Viharaya stands on a hill; even its name refers to this: “Kanda” means “hill” in Sinhala. Those interested in architectural forms and visual art will find several different details here to take time to appreciate.

Kande Viharaya: Architectural Forms and Visual Art

The temple complex includes a stupa, a Bo tree, an image house, a relic chamber and several devalas dedicated to the deities Upulvan, Kataragama and Paththini. The stupa is bell-shaped and stands within an octagonal protective structure. A rounded form is thus set against a clearly articulated, octagonal frame. The Bodhi tree is estimated to be more than 300 years old.

The image house, too, reveals its character through its layout: it has an inner and an outer chamber. The inner chamber contains standing, seated and reclining Buddha statues. The interior walls and ceiling are decorated with Kandyan-period murals. Together, these details create a layered picture of the complex: architecture, religious imagery and painting sit side by side, without the impression being limited to a single building. There is also a museum and a library outside the temple.

Art and River in the Surrounding Area

Brief Garden lies three kilometres inland from Aluthgama. The former home of Bevis Bawa, the architect Geoffrey Bawa’s brother, displays a diverse art collection. It includes sculptures, among them homoerotic works, as well as a mural depicting Sri Lankan life in the style of Marc Chagall. The garden therefore offers a different cultural focus from Kande Viharaya: the art collection and mural take centre stage here, while the temple complex and its paintings do so there.

Near Aluthgama, the calm waters of the Kaluwamodara River and the lush vegetation provide a setting for leisurely boat trips or walks along the river. This offers a different focus from the architectural and visual art at the two places mentioned: the river is associated with peaceful scenery and time by the water, while Kande Viharaya and Brief Garden offer primarily cultural impressions.

Choose the Right Focus for Your Stay

When choosing a holiday rental in Aluthgama, it helps to distinguish between these locations. Kande Viharaya is in the town; Brief Garden is three kilometres inland, and the riverside area is close to Aluthgama. As you choose your accommodation, you can consider whether the temple architecture, the art collection in the surrounding area or the riverside landscape should shape your stay most. The differences concern not only the subject matter, but also the location: a temple in the destination itself versus cultural and scenic experiences in the surrounding area.

Discover more destinations: Bentota, Matugama, Neboda, Wadduwa, Kalutara, Pelawatta, Panadura, Beruwala.

Return to the main travel overview: Kalutara.