Lying between Kandy and Dambulla, the Aluvihara Rock Cave Temple holds great historical importance in the preservation of Theravada Buddhism. During the reign of King Vattagamini Abhaya in the first century BC, conflict with South India invaders was rife and he feared that the teachings of the Buddha which were until the time committed to memory and passed on orally might be lost. Hence, he commissioned a conclave of 500 monks to transcribe these scriptures or the Tripitaka as they are known, on ola leaves in the Pali language. The temple complex comprises a network of caves, which displays statues of the Buddha and elaborate murals within them.

Written by Jonathan Roelofsz for Travel Lanka Compass