Cultures across the world describe hell in a number of ways. No description has ever been pleasant. An inland road to Beliatta will bring you to Dickwella, a village that is at a distance of twenty-two kilometers from Matara. The village has made it on to travel maps on account of the Wewurukunnala Viharaya, The most convenient way to get here from Colombo is to ride your own car or simply rent a car. Sri Lanka is a country where history is highly influenced by Buddhist traditions and beliefs, including its architecture. If you aren’t a much into driving but would prefer having yourself to your destination, King’s Rent a Car offers the chauffeur driven car rides to any location from Colombo.
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The Wewurukunnala Viharaya depicts Sri Lanka’s own rendition of Inferno. This temple has a history that dates back to the 18th century, a time when King Rajadhi Rajasinghe reigned over Kandy (1782AD – 1798AD). The entrance of this 250 year old structure is dominated by a 162 feet colossal statue of a seated Buddha which spans the entire height of the six-storied temple. In fact, you can take the stair to reach the top of the building and gaze into the massive head of the Buddha statue.
The first part of the building is houses the image temple- a spectacular collection assemblage of statues that narrate stories of gods and princes. It is from here that you enter a long hall with garish and gaudily crafted life-size clay figures of scenes from hell as described in Buddhism. From being ripped into two halves mercilessly to getting yourself skinned and being dunked into scorching lava; there is a punishment for every act of sin. There is a written catalog that describes punishment specific to the misdeeds committed. The semblances, however, fail to strike much fear into the heart, unless you let your imagination wander a bit. Nevertheless, the mix of history and lore makes the ride fascinating.
