WEHERAHENA CAVE

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A sacred cave (temple cave) decorated with about 200 comic-book-like scenes from the Buddha's life is situated at the Weherahena Temple (admission by donation) and represents a superb example of what one visitor labelled 'neo-Buddhist kitsch' (note 1). KUSCH (1973c: 20) was led to believe that there are -very interesting, partly subterranean rock temples- near the town of Matara. APPROACH: This collector's item is reached by leaving the outskirts of Matara (N05°56'55”: E080°32'34” WGS84) and turning inland: You can get here from Matara on bus No. 349, or a three-wheeler will charge Rs 200 from Matara's bus stand (LONELY PLANET, Sri Lanka 2003: 151). CULTURAL HISTORY - human use: The site is exloited as a religious show cave promoted with regular sacred entertainment events: At the time of the late November / early December poya, a perahera (procession) is held at the temple to celebrate the anniversary of its founding. During the evening there's a big procession of daners and elephants. Foreigners at the 2002 perahera were charged Rs 1000 for tickets (LONELY PLANET 2003: 151).ers and elephants. Foreigners at the 2002 perahera were charged Rs 1000 for tickets (LONELY PLANET 2003: 151).