Explore the Appearance of this artwork.
The Maligawila Buddha statue is located close to the village of Maligawila in the Moneragala District of the Uva Province in Sri Lanka. It has been carved from a single large limestone rock, and is considered to be the tallest ancient free-standing image in Sri Lanka, at a height of 37 feet 10 inches (11.53 m). Along with the Buddha statues of Avukana and Buduruvagala, the Maligawila Buddha statue is considered one of the best examples of the standing image of the Buddha from ancient Sri Lanka. It bears a close resemblance to the Avukana statue, and depicts the same asisa mudra, a variation of the Abhaya mudra. The standing Buddha clutches the robe at the left shoulder, while the right hand is raised to the right shoulder.Ruins around the statue indicate that an image house had been constructed around the statue. It appears to have been about 80 feet (24 m) each in length and breadth, with walls 4 feet (1.2 m) thick. Its height would have been about 65 feet (20 m).
Sri Lanka Uva Province Moneragala District Buddha Maligawila Avukana Abhaya mudra Avukana statue limestone Buduruvagala