Close to the wilderness of
the Sinharaja natural forest reserve is located the Kalugala Aranyaya, a
Buddhist monastery perfect for peaceful meditation. For the monks in this
monastery, meditation has become a daily ritual in their search for the path to
nirvana. People from far and wide visit the monastery to make offerings to the
monks. Founded in 1940 by a great philanthropist in the area, P. Samaradivakara
Ralahamy, Kalugala has become a place of hope, showing the path to end
suffering for monks and Buddhist devotees. The motor-able road is available
only up to a small village called Gurulu Bedda in Badurelia Agalawatte. From
Gurulu Bedda, travellers have to walk about an hour to reach Kalugala Aranyaya.
The area is surrounded by spectacular scenery and involves crossing several
waterways. As rain is common in the area, the foot paths can become waterlogged
making the journey harder. As you walk uphill you enter the wilderness of the
Sinharaja forest. The sound of waterfalls breaks the silence. You can also spot
exotic trees, insects and birds, and if you are lucky, giant squirrels jumping
between branches. After climbing the mountain you arrive at the Kalugala
Buddhist Monastery. At the entrance you will find the caretaker or the office
of the monastery providing instructions to visitors. Some devotees visit the
monastery regularly, and have been visiting it since their childhood. The
monastery also offers accommodation for the devotees who comes there to prepare
the alms for the monks and for that reason there is a small electricity generator
to light up the kitchen. Other than that the monastery is illuminated by
kerosene lamps at night. Almost all the Buddha statues at the monastery are
hewn out of solid rock.
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