Kandy · Hilltop statue

Bahirawakanda Buddha

A white seated Buddha, 26.8 metres tall, on a hill above Kandy, worth the short climb mainly for the view down over the city.

Facts checked · 10 October 2026Dates, dimensions and history on this page were reviewed against the public sources named in the text; where sources disagree, the page says so. Drive times and prices come from our own routes and rates, and are approximate.

The place

What Bahirawakanda actually is

The Bahirawakanda Buddha is a large white statue of a seated Buddha in the meditation posture, standing on a hill about two kilometres from the middle of Kandy. It is 26.83 metres (88 feet) high, was completed in 1992 and officially opened on 1 January 1993. It belongs to the Sri Maha Bodhi Viharaya temple, which was founded in the early 1970s.

The project was started by a monk, Ven. Ampitiye Dammarama Thero, and opened by President Ranasinghe Premadasa. The statue is a modern concrete landmark rather than an ancient site, and the interest is mostly what it overlooks.

From the terrace you see Kandy Lake, the roofs around the Temple of the Tooth and the surrounding hills. Seen from the town, the statue is visible from many places, which is part of why people want to go up.

What to look for

Worth your attention

The view over Kandy

The terrace looks across the lake and the temple roofs. It is the best single frame of how the town sits in its bowl of hills.

The statue itself

White, 26.83 m, in the meditation (dhyana) posture. Up close it is plain; the scale is the point.

The small temple below

Sri Maha Bodhi Viharaya has shrine rooms and monks’ quarters at the base. Remove shoes and keep voices down.

Kandy from above at dusk

Evenings give lit-up roofs and softer light, though you should leave while the road is still busy.

Straight advice

Before you go

Do this

Go by tuk-tuk or car; the guides give about 10 to 15 minutes from the railway station.
Time it for clear morning or late afternoon light, and weekdays if you can.
Dress modestly and be ready to remove shoes at the shrine.
Take water for the steps up to the statue.
Pair it with Kandy Lake, which is a short ride away.

Know this first

The statue is modern and rather plain up close.
The climb to the statue is steep in places and can be slippery in rain.
Tuk-tuk drivers sometimes ask for a high return fare; agree it before you start.
Opening hours and any ticket price were not stated in the sources we checked.

Where it fits

Getting to Bahirawakanda Buddha

Most people see Bahirawakanda Buddha as part of a stay around Kandy. Our Kandy guide covers where to stay, how long to give it and what else is nearby.

Coming straight from the airport, the relevant run is Colombo Airport to Kandy — fixed price per vehicle, driver waiting inside arrivals with a name board.

Read the full Kandy guide

From Colombo Airport

Airport → KandyUS$ 65

Journey time3 – 3.5 hrs

Distance115 km

Car up to 3 passengers; vans quoted on the route page. No night surcharge.

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