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Rising up above the Kandy town its 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 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 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 passage of time.
Another story comes with its name. In the days of Kandy kingdom there was a sound comming from this mountain, which terrified people every day. People said that it is an evil gnome shouting for a sacrifice. The king decide to give a beautiful virgin as the sacrifice every year. It was a minister who told the king to make this scarifice because he him self was the evil gnome. One year the nominated woman was the girl friend of minister’s son.
In that night, people took the woman to the mountain and left he their. Later her boyfriend came and rescued her and fought the gnome. Then the boy himself made the same sound that ghome made, and the people thought the sacrifice was accepted. The couple left the town in the same night.
Now a Temple is build in the top of the mountain with a massive statue of Lord Budda. When you get to the top you will get a remarkable view of Kandy Town, 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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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 Kandy | Route 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 |