The Bahirawakanda Buddha statue is a white seated Buddha, about 88 feet (26.8 m) tall, on a hilltop just above Kandy. It is part of the Sri Maha Bodhi Viharaya, an active Buddhist temple, and you can see it from much of the city. Come for the view of Kandy, and for the statue itself, which looks down towards the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.
Is it worth visiting?
Go if you want a view over Kandy without a long hike, or you would like to see up close the statue you can spot from across the city. It is a short stop that slots in easily around the Temple of the Tooth.
Think twice if steep, slippery steps are a problem. Visitor accounts report a climb from the end of the road, and more stairs inside the statue’s base if you go up to the shoulders. The temple is also a place of worship, so it is a quiet visit rather than a photo stop.
The statue and the hill
The Buddha sits in the meditation posture (dhyana mudra) on the summit of Bahirawakanda, and it faces the Dalada Maligawa below. Wikipedia and the Central Province tourism page agree on the height of 88 feet. Sources differ on when work began and when the statue was opened, so this page gives only the year it was finished.
The rest of the story is better agreed: the land was given to a monk, Ven. Ampitiye Dammarama Thero, in the early 1970s, and the statue was finished in 1992. Senior monks at the Sri Dalada Maligawa opposed the project, arguing that it would overshadow the centre of the Siyam Nikaya. The hill is older than the statue. The Central Province tourism page says a branch of the Sri Maha Bodhi was planted on the summit and that folklore links the hill to a deity called Bahirava, which is where the name comes from.
Visiting the statue
From the city, take Pushpadana Road uphill, past the girls’ school, to the temple. Tuk-tuks run up from the centre in a few minutes, and recent visitors report that drivers drop you at the foot of the steps. From there it is a short, steep walk.
- At the top: you remove your shoes, dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered, and leave a donation. Recent visitors (2025–26) report an entrance charge of around Rs 300 ($0.91 · convert) for foreigners. No official source states a fee or opening hours, so treat both as unconfirmed.
- Inside the base: visitor accounts describe a shrine room and stairs up to the Buddha’s shoulders, with a platform behind the statue.
- When to go: early morning or late afternoon. Visitor guides recommend avoiding the middle of the day, when the stone floors get hot.
- After rain: the steps get slippery, so wear shoes you can slip off easily.
Around Bahirawakanda
The hill sits close to the centre. Combine it with Kandy Lake, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, the walks in Udawattakele Forest Reserve or the Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya. For general planning, see the guide to Kandy, and read Sri Lanka cultural etiquette before you visit the temple. If you are in Kandy for the festival season, the Kandy Perahera guide will help you plan.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
How tall is the Bahirawakanda Buddha statue?
About 88 feet (26.83 m), according to Wikipedia and the Central Province tourism page.
How far is it from the centre of Kandy?
A short tuk-tuk ride up Pushpadana Road. Sources give about 2 to 3 km, so allow a few minutes by road.
Is there an entry fee?
No official source lists one. Recent visitors (2025–26) report paying around Rs 300 ($0.91 · convert) as a foreigner, and a donation is expected.
What should I wear?
It is an active temple, so cover shoulders and knees and take your shoes off before you go in.
Can you go inside the statue?
Visitor accounts describe a shrine room in the base and stairs to the Buddha’s shoulders. Ask at the temple what is open.
Header photo: Dulakshi / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped).
