Weherahena Temple

SRI LANKA, Southern Province, Matara

This temple is situated in Weherahena village and it occupies 1.2 ha. It was founded by monk Parawahera Rewatha Thero, who committed most of his lifetime to the construction of the temple. The construction began in 1939 and completed in 1976, with the cover added after 1976.
The temple consists of a two-story tunnel shrine, a Samadhi Buddha statue, a stupa, and a Bodhi tree. The tunnel shrine, also known as the Buddhist Tunnel Temple, is the first such structure in the world. A 183 m long tunnel was built by excavating a large hill. It is divided into six sections. The murals along the tunnel walls depict Jataka tales such as the Ummagga Jataka.
The Samadhi Buddha is a colossal 39 m high statue dressed in a monastic robe that bares the right shoulder, and sitting with legs crossed upon a lotus throne. In front of the statue there is a courtyard with two ponds, a stupa, and a Bodhi tree.