Mulkirigala Raja Maha Vihara
An ancient Buddhist temple built up the sides of a 205 metre natural rock, ringed by four smaller rocks. Stairs climb past a series of cave shrines with reclining Buddhas and murals to the stupa at the summit.
- Where
- Tangalle, Southern Province, Sri Lanka
- Grade
- Local gem
- Worth
- 10 points collected on site
- Coordinates
- 6.1231, 80.7364
Get the Mulkirigala Raja Maha Vihara stamp
Open LOQAH when you are at Mulkirigala Raja Maha Vihara. It checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp is yours: confirmed on site in gold and struck with the date. It goes into your Southern Province volume with your photos and a note.
Near Mulkirigala Raja Maha Vihara
Hummanaya Blowhole 16 km
The only known blowhole in Sri Lanka, said to be the second largest in the world, on the rocky coast near Kudawella. Its name comes from the hoo sound it makes, heard some way off when waves force water up through the rock.
Tenavaram Temple 27 km
A historic Buddhist and Hindu shrine at Devinuwara on the south coast, dedicated to Upulvan, guardian god of the island, known to Hindus as Tenavarai Nayanar. Kings endowed it from the 7th to the 16th century, when it was among the most celebrated temples in Sri Lanka.
Dondra Head Lighthouse 27 km
Sri Lanka's tallest lighthouse, a white tower on Dondra Head, the southernmost point of the island. It is run by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and looks out over one of the busiest shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean.
Ussangoda National Park 28 km
A patch of high ground by the sea near Ambalantota, a national park and archaeological site in the southern turtle nesting zone. Unlike the land around it, its flat top is covered only in grass and a few pockets of dwarf forest, over strikingly red soil.
Star Fort, Matara 28 km
A small star shaped fort built by the Dutch in 1765 on the east bank of the Nilwala River, about 350 metres from the gate of Matara's main fort. It was first called Redoute Van Eck, and its six pointed walls and moat are still intact.
Mirissa 36 km
A small fishing town on the south coast, about 150 km from Colombo, with a curving beach and a lively night scene. Its harbour is one of the island's main bases for whale and dolphin watching trips.
Udawalawe National Park 39 km
Grassland and scrub on the border of Uva and Sabaragamuwa, set aside in 1972 as a refuge for animals displaced by the reservoir on the Walawe River. It covers some 30,800 hectares and is one of the surest places on the island to see wild elephants.
Koggala Lagoon 47 km
A coastal lagoon behind the south coast at Koggala, about 110 km south of Colombo. Eight small islands dot its waters, rich in birds and mangroves, and boats take visitors across to them.
More hidden gems in Southern Province
Questions
Where is Mulkirigala Raja Maha Vihara?
Mulkirigala Raja Maha Vihara is in Tangalle, Southern Province, Sri Lanka. The nearest other LOQAH stamps are Hummanaya Blowhole (16 km), Tenavaram Temple (27 km), Dondra Head Lighthouse (27 km).
How do I get the Mulkirigala Raja Maha Vihara stamp?
Open LOQAH when you are at Mulkirigala Raja Maha Vihara and get its stamp. The app checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp goes into your Southern Province volume, confirmed on site, with the date.
I have been to Mulkirigala Raja Maha Vihara before. Can I still have the stamp?
Yes. Add it from Earlier trips in your Southern Province volume, with the date if you know it, or import your Google Timeline and LOQAH matches the places you were.
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