Temples · Matale
Aluvihare: Where the Buddhist Canon Was Written Down
By Days of Iru and Opa
Aluvihare, just north of Matale, is a cave temple of great historical importance: it is traditionally where the Pali Canon, the core Buddhist scriptures, was first written down on palm leaves in the first century BC.
The caves
Rock caves set into the hillside hold Buddha statues and colourful murals, including striking depictions of Buddhist hell. Steps link the caves up the rock.
History
A small library and museum recall the writing of the scriptures and the tradition of inscribing texts onto palm leaves, which you can sometimes see demonstrated.
Nearby
Matale’s spice gardens and the road up to Kandy or on to Dambulla make it an easy stop.
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