Passing Matale from Kandy to Dambulla, many don’t realise what a beautiful township it can be even if it means stopping over for some tea. Besides being residential, it is also rich in history and the administrative capital of the Matale District. Matale is a town 142 kilometres (90 miles) from Colombo and 26 kilometres (17 miles) from Kandy.
The Matale administrative district is home to the historical Sigiriya Lion’s Rock, the Aluvihare Temple and the Dambulla Cave Temple. Around the town are the stunning Knuckles mountain foothills called Wiltshire. This area is primarily an agricultural area, where tea, rubber, vegetable and spice cultivations dominate the Knuckles Mountain Range is the unique landmark of Matale.
On the north side of the township, the Aluvihare Temple shines in its historical glory. This is the epic location in which the Pali Canon was first scripted finely into text on ola (palm) leaves. Situated near Aluvihare are different monastery caves which exhibit Sri Lanka’s finest frescoes. Aluvihare is a rock monastery on the Kandy-Dambulla highway which was established during the first century and situated between rocks.
Matale was at the centre of a vital battle in 1848 when the Matale Rebellion began when the British garrison in Fort Macdowall, Matale was brought under siege by the rebels.
Christ Church, Matale was consecrated by Bishop James Chapman on December 30, 1860. The church site selected was Fort McDowall, overlooking the view to Matale via Trincomalee.
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