Bahirawakanda Vihara Buddha Statue
A 26.8-metre white seated Buddha statue on Bahirawakanda Hill overlooking central Kandy, visible from most of the city and accessible by a 30-minute walk or tuk-tuk.
Duration
1-1.5 hours
Entry Fee
Free
Difficulty
easy
Budget
free
About Bahirawakanda Vihara Buddha Statue
The Bahirawakanda Vihara white Buddha statue stands 26.8 metres tall on a hilltop 333 metres above sea level, making it visible from most vantage points in Kandy city. The statue depicts the Buddha seated in the Dhyana (meditation) mudra and was constructed in 1969. The site is an active Buddhist temple with a small shrine room at the base of the statue. Visitors can walk up from the Katugastota Road entrance via a 30-minute path through a residential area, or take a tuk-tuk to the car park below the final steps. The 360-degree view from the hilltop platform includes Kandy Lake, the Temple of the Tooth, the surrounding green hills, and on clear days the ridge of the Knuckles Range. Entry to the hilltop is free but shoes must be removed on the steps leading to the statue.
Highlights
- 26.8-metre white seated Buddha (completed 1969)
- 333m elevation — 360-degree panoramic view over Kandy
- Active Buddhist temple at the base
- Free hilltop access
Practical Tips
The best time to visit is early morning or late afternoon for soft light on the white statue and clear views.
A tuk-tuk from Kandy town to the car park costs approximately LKR 300-400 one way.
Remove shoes before the final flight of steps to the statue platform.
A 7am visit before the first tour groups arrive gives you the hilltop largely to yourself.
Explore by Interest
Best Time to Visit
Best time of day: Year-round; early morning or late afternoon for best light and views
Location
Planning Info
- Crowd level
- Moderate
- Physical difficulty
- easy
- Setting
- mixed
- Child friendly
- Yes
- Senior friendly
- Yes
- Budget level
- free
- Photography
- ★★★★☆
Plan Your Visit
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ALSO IN THE AREA
Nearby Destinations
Temple of the Tooth Relic
Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy houses a tooth relic of the Buddha and has been the most sacred Buddhist site in Sri Lanka since the 4th century AD.
Explore →
Udawattakele Forest Reserve
A 104-hectare protected cloud forest reserve directly above central Kandy, with 68 recorded bird species and multiple walking trails through bamboo groves and tropical trees.
Explore →
Kandy Lake
Artificial lake built by King Sri Wickrama Rajasinha in 1807 at the centre of Kandy, encircled by a 3km walkway and flanked by the Temple of the Tooth.
Explore →PLAN YOUR VISIT
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