Nalanda Gedige is one of the most enchanting and mysterious old temples that you will find in Sri Lanka. It is located in close proximity to the Aluvihare Temple in Matale. You will be able to reach the site with great ease when you travel in the island with Green Holiday Centre.
About Nalanda Gedige
At one point in time, it was believed that mesmerizing Nalanda Gedige was located at very centre of Sri Lanka. Indeed, this beautiful temple hides quite a number of secrets. No one knows for sure when it was built. Although many believe that it was built sometime between the 8th and 11th centuries.ย The creator of this temple remains unknown too.
The strange and fascinating appeal of this temple stems from the unique architecture of it, which combines both Hindu and Buddhist architectural styles. The Dravidian architecture which is easy to notice is believed to have been used by Buddhists to create this temple. Some believe that Nalanda Gedige was a result of an attempt made to marry Sinhalese and Tamil cultures of the time. The period during which the temple is believed to have been created, was a time of turmoil and distress for the Sinhalese. The Tamil kings were becoming more and more powerful while the power of the Sinhalese kings was rapidly declining.
Another interesting feature of Nalanda Gedige is the Tantric Buddhist carvings which are erotic in nature. You will be able to spot a few of these stone carvings on the temple as you visit it.
The temple was abandoned for unknown reasons. The thick forest enveloped it for many long centuries until it was discovered in the year 1893. Nalanda Gedige truly is an architectural masterpiece which richly deserves a visit when traveling around the island of Sri Lanka.
