Lankathilaka Viharaya

Considered to be one of the most magnificent pieces of architecture that stems from the Gampola Kingdom, this particular temple built by King Bhuvenakabahu IV also once served as a mansion. Similar to the Gadaladeniya temple, Lankathilaka was designed using South Indian, Dravidian and Indo Chinese styles.

There are two shrines of particular interest. The main shrine is of the Lord Buddha, seated under the Dragon’s Arch looking upon the lush foliage of the Hanthana Mountain range. The secondary shrine is primarily a Hindu shrine, as it is dedicated to many deities, Vishnu being the most notable. Lankathilaka also boasts of some stunning views of the central highlands. It is located about 16km away from Kandy.