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.
When you enter the temple complex, the custodian will take you up the 300 steps to first admire the standing Buddha before taking you on a tour of the rest of the complex which features over 99 cells once used by ascetic monks (it's interesting to note the difference between the once inhabited centuries ago and the more modern ones) and some truly beautiful cave temples featuring impressive frescoes like those found at the Dambulla Cave Temples. All in all, it was an incredible and rewarding find and definitely one of the best short excursions you can take from Dambulla.
