Mahiyanganaya is a town situated close to the Mahaweli River in Badulla District, Uva Province of Sri Lanka. It is said that Gautama Buddha visited Mahiyanganaya on the Duruthu full moon poya day in order to settle a dispute that arose between Yakkas and Nagas (two tribes then inhabiting this area) — his first ever visit to Sri Lanka. The Buddha then preached Dhamma to Sumana Saman, a leader in this area, to whom the Buddha gave a handful of his hair relic so that people could worship it. Sumana Saman (now the god Sumana Saman) then built a golden chethiya in which the sacred hair relic was deposited; later on, about seven chethiyas were built over the original golden chethiya from time to time, the last one built by King Dutugemunu. As such, this historic town is a very sacred place for Buddhists. The majority of the people in this area are engaged in paddy cultivation as the main economic activity.
Discover the historic landmarks, cultural attractions and hidden gems that make Mahiyanganaya special.
This ancient temple is of tremendous religious significance since Lord Buddha visited the Mahiyanganaya Raja Maha Viharaya on his very first visit to Sri Lanka. A golden chethiya was built here to enshrine a hair relic gifted by the Buddha himself, and it has remained one of the most sacred sites for Buddhists ever since.
Mahiyanganaya is strategically situated in the Badulla district, with great views of the misty mountains of the central highlands and the Knuckles range. The city is also bestowed with large open spaces of land, lush grasslands, arable land, picturesque lakes and man-made reservoirs. Supporting the region's agricultural economy, the longest river in Sri Lanka, the Mahaweli, flows through this beautiful city, replenishing and nourishing its abundant plant, animal and human life. Even within Mahiyanganaya, on the bank of the Mapakada Lake, one can observe herds of elephants and numerous birdlife while on a boat ride.
Located about 19km off Mahiyanganaya, in Dambana bordering the Maduru Oya sanctuary, lies one of the world's oldest aboriginal tribes, known as the 'Vedda' community. A minority population of about 1,000 individuals currently resides here, enjoying the natural habitat, seclusion and protection of the forests. You can peek into the unique culture and traditions of these indigenous people and observe how they hunt and gather, cook over open-air fires, collect bees' honey, and engage in traditional song and dance — a few of the rare opportunities to be witnessed while in Mahiyanganaya. Visitors can also learn how to make a traditional Sri Lankan dish, indulge in an authentic Sri Lankan lunch on a village tour, learn a simple village craft, and immerse themselves in the simplistic lifestyle of people who thrive and coexist with nature.
The drive up to Mahiyanganaya, situated approximately 5 hours (about 200km) from Colombo, is a spectacular one. The popular Mahiyanganaya–Kandy road can be accessed through the historical city of Kandy. Commonly referred to as the 'road that needs both your hands on the wheel all the time', or the 18-bend road in Sinhala, it's a winding stretch with 18 arduous hairpin bends leading up to the town. A 41km stretch through the bends is a challenging yet scenic drive, with several lookout points atop the mountains gazing down over the beautiful valley of Mahiyanganaya. During a road redevelopment in 2011, the number of hairpin bends was reduced to 16, yet it remains a very popular drive among tourists and local travellers alike.
The famous Rathna Ella is within a short 30-minute drive of Mahiyanganaya town. It's a truly mind-blowing experience accompanied by a scenic hike of about 3km each way, taking around 1.5 hours and leading through lush paddy fields, villages, forests and streams up to the awe-inspiring waterfall that gushes in drapes of water — a serene experience worth the effort. After the hike and a dip in the water, you're bound to be hungry, and on the way back you can enjoy a scrumptious Sri Lankan lunch at a nearby village home.
The Wasgamuwa and Maduru Oya National Parks are located within an hour's drive of Mahiyanganaya. Both parks are home to numerous wildlife species, from over 100 species of birds to herds of elephants, purple-faced langur monkeys, wild boar, sambar, spotted deer and buffalo, including leopards and sloth bears on rare occasions. You could also take a boat safari over Sri Lanka's largest lake at Gal Oya National Park and discover elephants swimming between islands, alongside exceptional birdlife, including migratory birds that swell their ranks from December to April.
