Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A little walk through the woods (bearing left) brings you to a magnificent 15m-tall
Buddha statue
, carved from a single piece of stone and weighing 100 tons. The figure
was only discovered in the 1950s and restored (and reheaded) a few decades later. At its
feet are usually offerings of flower petals left by pilgrims.
A few minutes' walk in the opposite direction is the 10m-high
Maitreya Bodhisattva
(Avalokitesvara), sitting high atop five stone terraces. It was found in pieces in the 1950s,
then blown up by treasure-seeking looters, and then reconstituted in 1991. It's a beautiful
statue despite the scaffolding harness and corrugated canopy.
Frequent buses run to Maligawila from both Monaragala (Rs 50, 40 minutes) and But-
tala (Rs 30). The journey to Maligawila from Monaragala, past jungles and paddy fields, is
as much a highlight as the ruins themselves. If you're heading towards Buttala it's possible
to hop off the bus at
Dematal Vihara
, a gorgeous temple lost in a sea of picturesque
paddy fields.
A three-wheeler from Monaragala costs Rs 1800 return, or Rs 2800 return to do the Ma-
ligawila-Yudaganawa loop.
Arugam Bay
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Lovely Arugam Bay, a moon-shaped curl of soft sand, is home to a famed point break that
many regard as the best surf spot in the country. It's a tiny place, with a population of a
few hundred, and everything is dotted along a single road, which parallels the coast.
If you're not a surfer, there are plenty of other draws: beachfront guesthouses, oceanside
restaurants and a mellow, swing-another-day-in-a-hammock kind of vibe that's totally re-
moved from the brash west-coast beach resorts. Arugam Bay also makes a great base for
several adventures in the surrounding hinterland. During the low season (November to
April) things get very quiet and some places shut up shop altogether, but it can also be a
beautiful time to visit, with few tourists and glistening green landscapes.
Activities
