Kandy Tuk Tuk Temple Tour: Culture, Tea, Gardens & Traditional Dance

Embekke temple was built by King Vikramabahu III to honor King Mahasena who ruled Sri Lanka from 277 to 304 AD. The Devalaya (temple) has three main areas; the Sanctum of Garage, Dancing Hall, and the Drummers Hall which is beautifully decorated with splendid wood sculptures and carvings of dragons and fierce battles between lions and elephants.

Lankatilaka Vihara (monastery), the best example of architecture during the reign of King Buwanekabahu IV who made Gampola the capital of Sri Lanka during the mid-fourteenth century. Built on natural rock, the temple mixes stone, plaster, and wood within its uniquely Sinhalese architectural style and is home to many ancient paintings which draw people from afar.

Gadaladeniya temple which is made almost exclusively from stone and is considered one of the largest stone temples on the island. It is another example of an imposing temple built during the reign of King Buwanekabahu IV during the mid-fourteenth century and following the Sinhalese architecture style from the Polonnaruwa era. The main shrine in the temple has a seated Buddha statue underneath a dragons arch (‘Makara Thorana’) which is richly decorated.