Gal Vihara

Photo

by Dan Lundberg

/ CC BY-SA 2.0

Gal Vihara, located in Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka, is a renowned rock temple that dates back to the 12th century during the reign of King Parakramabahu I. It is famous for its stunning rock-cut Buddha statues, which are considered masterpieces of Sinhalese rock carving. The site features four main Buddha images carved into a single, large granite rock face: a large seated Buddha, a smaller seated Buddha inside a cave, a standing Buddha, and a reclining Buddha depicting the parinirvana (final passing away) of the Buddha.

Also check out

Sigiriya

Dambulla cave temple

Polonnaruwa

Rankoth Vehera

Wilpattu National Park

Minneriya National Park