Aluvihare Rock Temple
The Aluvihare Rock Temple (also called Matale Alu Viharaya) is a sacred Buddhist temple located in Aluvihare, Matale District of Sri Lanka. Surrounded by hills, the Aluvihara cave temple is situated 30 km north of Kandy on the Matale-Dambulla road. The history of Aluvihare Rock Temple is traced back to the 3rd Century B.C to the reign of King Devanampiyatissa. It is the site of the 5th Buddhist Council (Theravada Tradition) where the Tipitakaya (Core Buddhist teachings) were written down for the first time after a huge gathering of monks assembled to compare notes on what they thought the Buddha had actually said all those years ago.
It is believed that the King built the dagoba, planted the Bo sapling and founded the temple after the introduction of Buddhism to the country during his reign.
Aluvihare Rock Temple was the historic location where the Pāli Canon was first written down completely in text on ola (palm) leaves. Many monastery caves, some of which exhibit frescoes are situated near this temple.
If you knock on the door of the monastery a lovely monk will come and explain the process, showing you exactly how it was written onto palm leaves as well as showing you round the site. Very few tourists ever go here. Click here for more information.