Lit by the sun from dawn to dusk

By Damitha Hemachandra

The morning showers sweeping across Batathota turned into a sudden burst of sunshine clearing the mountain tops around the Batathota cave temple from the mists and giving way to a rare show of Adam’s Peak that seemed to touch the sky.

Built by King Nissankamalla, Batathota cave temple is believed to be the long lost ‘Divaguhava’, where Buddha spent his afternoon during his third visit to Sri Lanka at the request of King Maniakkitha.
It is said that Buddha who visited Kelaniya, the kingdom of King Maniakkitha, was invited to leave his footprint on Adam’s Peak by god Saman.
During his visit to Adam’s Peak, Buddha spent his afternoon at a cave facing east, which received sunshine from daybreak to sunset. Many believe that Batathota cave temple is the ‘Divaguhava’ found at last.
Batathota cave temple too is lit up by the sun from dawn to dusk, thanks to a special phenomena created by nature. Five mountain peaks, which stand tall opposite the cave, reflect sunrays into the cave throughout the day illuminating the cave for nearly 12 hours a day.
The cave also matches the measurements of the aforementioned Divaguhava.
King Nissankamalla visited this cave during his visit to Adam’s Peak and built the Batathota cave temple, which stands today well protected against natural destruction.
Much of the original architecture of the building still remains while some of cave paintings are beginning to the show signs of stress with time.
The makara-thorana at the main entrance of the temple however, holds special significance since it is a structure of one of a kind. The two sides of the makara-thorana are different from each other while many similar structures display comparable sides.

The cave temple also comprises a standing, sitting and sleeping statue of Buddha built during the Polonnaruwa period and many cave paintings too have been linked to the Polonnaruwa period.

Meanwhile, recent investigations into the historical past of the Batathota cave temple have revealed additions to the main structure. Most of the statues have received retouching at later stages.

The Batathota cave temple was rediscovered in 1908 and renovated. It had been damaged by treasure hunters and nature.

Although the renovations have changed the face of the old temple, the old sal trees can be still seen in full bloom tallying with the story that ‘Divaguhava’ stands amidst a sal forest in full bloom around the year.
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Getting there....
The Batathota cave temple is situated on the Kuruwita-Erathna road leading to Adam’s Peak. A 30-minute journey takes you to the foot of the Batathota mountain and a steep climb through stone paved steps leads to the Batathota cave temple.

From the Batathota cave temple you can see numerous oil lamps shining in the temples on Adams’ Peak at night while pilgrims who reach the top of Adam’s Peak can see the lamps shining at Batathota cave temple.

You can see Buddhist flags at the temple on Adam’s Peak with the help of binoculars from Batathota.