The Sasseruwa Buddha
The Reswehera Monastery (often called Sasseruwa due to the Sasseruwa Buddha found there) is a true hidden gem in the humid jungles around Dambulla. The site is practically unknown to foreign visitors and makes for a great day trip along with the Avukana Buddha which is located only a few miles away.
The temple/monastery complex is located in a nature reserve and features a long series of caves which, while in disuse today, have been inhabited by Buddhist monks for over 2,000 years. However, Reswehera's main claim to fame is the towering Sasseruwa Buddha, a 35-foot tall standing Buddha carved directly from a rock wall. A local legend states that the Sasseruwa Buddha resulted from a competition between a pupil and his master, with the master building the Avukana Buddha first and winning the competition. This explains the unfinished nature of the Sasseruwa Buddha (notable on some of the facial details and the pedestal). What does set the Sasseruwa Buddha apart, though, is that it is completely free-standing. While the Avukana Buddha is connected to its rock wall by a thin strip of rock, the Sasseruwa Buddha was completely separated from the wall.
