Bahirawakanda Vihara Buddha Statue

This 88-foot white seated Buddha sits on a hill above Kandy, facing the Temple of the Sacred Tooth, and was completed in 1992 as part of a modern temple. From the grounds you look across the lake, the temple roofs and the Hanthana range. It is a working temple as well as the best quick viewpoint over the city. At 30-45 minutes and free entry, it works well slotted between larger visits rather than as a standalone destination.

Climb steps past smaller Buddha statues to reach the base of the massive white seated Buddha. From the temple courtyard, look out over Kandy's red-tiled roofs, the artificial lake, and hills beyond while listening to chanted prayers from the main shrine hall.

Elevated perspective over Kandy city and lake, plus insight into contemporary Buddhist practice. It is not the first thing you should see in Kandy, but with two or more days it fills a gap the major sights leave. It pairs naturally with Kandy Central Market and Kandy Cultural Show - add it before or after without rearranging your day. Afternoon tends to work best here.

See where it ranks among the things to do in Kandy. The Kandy guide covers transport, costs and when to go.

We plan trips to Kandy and the rest of Sri Lanka. Tell us your dates and we will put a route together. Our routes are on the tours page.