Experience Overview

Hop on a tuk tuk and navigate the rural setting of Gampola to explore the three lesser known temples in the area with a knowledgeable host. Start off with Gadaladeniya Viharaya, a temple built exclusively by stone by Gampola’s King Bhuvanekabahu IV. Settled on a rock cliff, the temple exhibits a combination of Dravidian and Sinhalese architecture styles and offer its visitors a panoramic view of the countryside. Then enjoy a ride though paddy fields and reach the second temple, Lankathilaka, considered as the most magnificent architectural monument to be built during the Gampola era. During the experience, your host will talk you through the foundations of Buddhism and its significance in Sri Lanka. Before making your way to Embekka, a Hindu shrine, stopover at a plantation that grows tea, coffee and pepper to get a glimpse of the island’s numerous cultivations. This particular shrine is renowned for its intricately carved wooden pillars and its high pitched roof. Embekke consists of three sections, the ‘Sanctum of Garagha’, the ‘Dancing Hall’ and the ‘Drummers’ Hall’.