Bahirawa Kanda (බහිරව කන්ද)

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Rising above the Kandy town it’s just 2 km from the Dalada Maligawa, the temple of the Sacred tooth relic. The name “Bahirawa Kanda” means the gnome mountain. There are many beliefs in folklore pertaining to the ancient history of this mountain.

According to one legend there was a powerful Bahirawa Devalaya at the top of the Bahirawa Kanda where hundreds of beautiful girls had been sacrificed to Bahirawa Deviyo. These Devalayas and Kovils flourished during the days of the Nayakkar Kings.

So, Dunuwilla Gajanayake Nilame, chief of the Elephant department of the King interfered to release his fiancee who was sentenced to be sacrificed as Bahirawa Puja and got her released. This marked the end of the Bahirawa pooja and the Devalaya was ruined with the passage of time.

Another story comes with its name. In the days of the Kandyan Kingdom, there was a sound coming from this mountain, which terrified people every day. People said that it was an evil gnome shouting for a sacrifice. To please the gnome, the king decides to give a beautiful virgin as the sacrifice every year. It was a minister who told the king to make this sacrifice because he was the evil gnome of the mountain. One year the nominated woman was the girlfriend of the minister’s son.

That night, people took the woman to the mountain and left her there. Later her boyfriend came and rescued her and fought the gnome. Then the boy himself made the same sound that gnome made, and the people thought the sacrifice was accepted. The couple left the town on the same night.

Now a Temple is built on the top of the mountain with a massive statue of Lord Buddha. When you get to the top you will get a remarkable view of Kandy Town, a mountain line connected with each other, and the inside of the Bogambara Prison.

Also See

  • Kandy – The Last Kingdom of Sinhale

Map of the Bahirawa Kanda

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The map above also shows other places of interest within a approximately 20 km radius of the current site. Click on any of the markers and the info box to take you to information of these sites

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Driving Directions to Bahirawa Kanda

Kandy can be reached from Colombo on the old Colombo – Kandy road (option 1) which is scenic but heavy in traffic, especially on Fridays and Sundays. However, the new Central Expressway (option 2) has opened up a new route which is longer but less cumbersome.

Route 1 from Colombo to KandyRoute 2 from Colombo to Kandy
Through : Katunayake Expressway – Central Expressway – Kurunegala
Distance :150 km
Travel time: 3.20 hours
Driving Directions : see on Google map
Through : Katunayake Expressway – Central Expressway – Kurunegala
Distance :150 km
Travel Time: 3.20 hours
Driving Directions : see on Google map
Route From Nuwara Eliya to Kandy
Through : Walapane – Raja Mawatha
Distance :100 km
Travel Time : 3.0 hours
Driving Directions : see on Google map
Route from Kandy City Center to Bahirawa Kanda
Though :
distance : 1.5 km
Travel time : 30 minutes
Driving directions : see on google map

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