Matara City
Matara is a major city in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka. It's known for its beautiful coastal scenery, historical significance, and cultural heritage. The city is located about 160 kilometers south of Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka. Matara has a rich history, with colonial influences from the Portuguese, Dutch, and British, and it's home to several historical landmarks, such as the Matara Fort and the Star Fort.
Weherahena Viharaya
Weherahena (Veherahena) ist ein beliebter Tempel unter buddhistischen Pilgern. Obwohl es nichts von historischer Bedeutung gibt, ist die Geschichte des Tempels recht interessant. Darüber hinaus soll der Tempel der größte und erste Tunneltempel der Welt sein.
Obwohl gesagt wird, dass dieser Tempel im alten Sri Lanka aus Lehmziegeln für Arhath Bikkus gebaut wurde, beginnt die Geschichte des Tempels in der frühen Hälfte des 20. Jahrhunderts. Der Hochwürdigste Parawahera Rewatha Thero wurde zu Beginn des Tausendgüldenkrauts von seinem Lehrer zur Strafe in die Gegend von Weherahena geschickt. Weherahena war nur ein halber Hektar großer Hügel im Dschungel mit nur einem Bodhi-Baum. Es wird gesagt, dass Ven. Revatha Thero kam nur mit einer Decke, einer Matratze und der Schüssel.
Es gelang ihm, die Dorfbewohner zu organisieren und für sich selbst ein kleines Lehmhaus zu bauen, doch bald kam ihm die großartige Idee, die größte Buddha-Statue der Welt zu bauen. Er wollte auch einen Tunneltempel bauen, wie in der Ummaga Jathaka-Geschichte.
About Matara District
Matara District, located in Sri Lanka's Southern Province, is renowned for its coastal beauty, rich history, and thriving local culture. Bordered by the Indian Ocean, it features stunning beaches like Polhena and Mirissa, which are popular for swimming and whale watching. The district's economy is driven by agriculture, particularly coconut and tea cultivation, as well as fishing. Historical landmarks such as Matara Fort and the Dondra Head Lighthouse highlight the area's colonial past. With its mix of natural attractions and cultural heritage, Matara District is a captivating destination for both locals and tourists.
About Southern Province
The Southern Province of Sri Lanka is a small geographic area consisting of the districts of Galle,Matara and Hambantota. Subsistence farming and fishing is the main source of income for the vast majority of the people of this region.
Important landmarks of the Southern Province include the wildlife sanctuaries of the Yala and Udawalawe National Parks, the holy city of Kataragama, and the ancient cities of Tissamaharama, Kirinda and Galle. (Although Galle is an ancient city, almost nothing survives from before the Portuguese invasion.) During the Portuguese period there were two famous Sinhalese poets called Andare who was from Dickwella and Gajaman Nona who was from Denipitiya in Matara District, composing poems on common man.