Japanese Peace Pagoda Galle – Sri Lanka

Japanese peace pagaoda is a place of worship and peace. A huge white dome shaped structure rising against the sky greets you from afar. Its shape is very unique with a golden ring on its pinnacle. Once you reach the top you are rewarded with a 360 degree stunning view of the pristine waters, lush green forests and the bustling town of Galle. Wide granite corridors surround the stupa. A sprawling lawn adds beauty to it. Located close to the shore amidst thick foliage, the aerial view leaves you dumbstruck. The balustrade around the stupa is uniquely designed and a sight to behold. An early morning or late evening visit will reward you with breathtaking sunrise or sunset. With the waves dashing along the rocks, you will realise it is a singular place where you the ocean meets the forest.

A divine buddha statue sculpted to perfection in stone is placed in the lawns. With trees and ocean in the backdrop, this creates a serene environment. A quirky steel frame with diyas on it will inspire you to light them in devotion. The final moments of Buddha’s life technically known as Parinirvana is movingly described in the inscription placed in front of the buddha statue. Buddha had exhorted his disciples to follow his teachings and they are famously his last words.

History

Situated in the Unawatuna district, Japanese peace pagoda was built by Buddhist monks in 2005. It is one of the 3 buddhist stupas in Sri Lanka. This beautiful monument was built as part of building peace temples in conflict zones across Sri Lanka. It was built under the guidance of Nichidatsu Fuji. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, he started building these peace pagodas to promote non-violence across the world. A majority of the sinhalese population in Sri Lanka are buddhists. There are about 2700 monastries and about 30,000 monks. People of all nationalities visit this place.

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How to reach there?

Mounted on the cliff top of the rummasala hill, this pagoda is a 20 min trek from the Unawatuna centre or you can as well hop onto an auto rickshaw to reach the entrance of the temple. Tired after the trek? As a bonus you get to dip your feet or indulge in a refreshing swim in the Jungle beach just a few metres away. Lovely shallow waters make it safe for kids to have a sea bath. Restaurants nearby fulfill your food cravings after a good climb on the cliff.

Quick tips:

• Make sure you go there early in the morning or late in the evening. Afternoons, may be a bit uncomfortably hot, which you may keep you from enjoying the scenic beauty of the place.
• They have a ritual performed around 5:30 in the evening. This will give you an idea of Buddhists practices.
• Make sure you dress modestly.
• Evening sunsets are the best. You can see the sun setting amidst skies into the ocean with the forest in the foreground.
• The temple is open from morning 7 am to evening 9 pm.
• Entry is free

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Major tourist attraction in Galle

Here is the list of few other attractions around the Japanese peace pagoda that may interest you:

1. Galle Fort and lighthouse
2. Galle National museum
3. Unawatuna Beach
4. Jungle Beach
5. Reformed Dutch Church

Where to stay?

This coastal city of Sri Lanka is definitely a home to a lot of attractions as seen above. Spending a night or two here will definitely not let you down. You are sure to have a great time. Galle has a lot of homestays, antique boutique hotels, 5 star properties. You can choose any according to your budget. It is a right place for family travellers. The kids will have lots and lots of fun.

The visit to the Unawatuna Japanese peace pagoda will be the most divine and soul-filling experience in Sri Lanka. It would take less than half a day to cover this place, so combining it with the other attractions listed above will make sense.Can’t wait to explore Sri Lanka to the fullest? We at Pickyourtrail can’t wait to help you plan a customised trip according to your needs and wishes to Sri Lanka. Check out our Sri Lanka Packages page to get, set and flying. Tick Sri Lanka off your bucket list and leave the rest of the planning to us.