“Peace has its victories no less than war but it doesn’t have many monuments to unveil.”
—Kin Hubbard
Well, they mostly don’t, but this one does. Have you been here before? Can you guess where this is?
When you first view this Buddhist shrine from Galle Fort in Sri Lanka, this stupa looks like a giant white marshmallow. Surrounded by a green cover, you can see nothing more until you drive up to the Rumasalla Hill and see the Peace Pagoda in its’ stately form—a beacon of peace and a shrine that brings people of all nationalities together.
Built with the help of Japanese monks, this pagoda is one of the four Buddhist stupas in Sri Lanka. The stupa’s clean, rounded design in white and gold, is a huge draw for hundreds of visitors who walk or drive the path to the hill. There is also a towering, white, bell-like structure surrounded by gold-painted statues.
There are steps that lead to the walkway encircling the shrine, from where you can get a beautiful 360-degree view of the jungle and the bay. I never realised until that moment, what a stunning view lay before me, not to mention the much-needed stillness that one had been looking for, amid the hustle and the restless pace of our lives.
This is definitely worth a visit if you are planning to visit Sri Lanka any time soon and even more so if you are going to be visiting Galle. The views you capture here will truly be wonderful but the peace you’ll carry within will last much longer than that! I can certainly vouch for that.
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18 Comments
Natasha
So glad to start my day with the blessings of the Buddha and this soothing post. Thank you so much. Just what I needed, my friend.
Galle is among my places to go, and I hope I end up there sooner than soonest. 🙂
Big Hugs and Much Love. Have a blessed new week, dearest Esha. <3
Esha MD
So glad you felt that way, dear Natasha! Yes, lovely way to start the day with such lovely words of wisdom, right?
Do visit Galle when you visit SL. There’s much to see in that beautiful country, especially in the North, which we couldn’t cover!
Love, loads of positive vibes and sunshine your way, Natz! Have a lovely week ahead. <3
Shilpa Garg
This Pagoda truly inspires peace and has simple yet magnificent architecture. Have bookmarked it and will certainly visit it whenever we travel to Sri Lanka!
Esha MD
It did for me, Shilpa. Yes, do include Galle when you visit SL. it is definitely not to be missed.
Anagha Yatin
Peace should be the only religion in the world and white be the only flag representing humanity! The serene pics shared here ushered these thoughts to my shore.
Beautiful, majestic and so peaceful!
Thanks for sharing.
Anamika Agnihotri
The whiteness of the monument looks splendid. I am never going to visit Sri Lanka or anywhere else so it is a great thing to visit these places through your blog. But, I would like to visit a place of worship some day where I experience calm, quiet and peace. Temples are the places where I feel most uncomfortable for various reasons, known and unknown. I did not even feel at home in the monastery in Kushal Nagara.
Esha MD
Yes, Anamika. I do agree about that whiteness and the emotion it evokes in me is something similar. Glad you are enjoying the pictures on the blog…if temples make you feel that way, I guess they are best avoided. Do what speaks to your heart and soul. I think any place is beautiful if we find them so, and they don’t need to have a name to evoke respect or peace within us.
Debbie D.
A beautiful piece or architecture! It does give off an aura of tranquillity. Happy Wednesday!
Esha MD
You’re right, Debbie. So glad to know we think alike here. Thanks for stopping by and wishing you had a happy week as well. 🙂
Balaka Basu
Nice picture Di.
Esha MD
Thank you, Tina.
Shilpa Gupte
I loved the white and gold colours used that give this stupa a simplistic look. The structure exudes peace. Lovely shot, Esha!
Esha MD
So glad to hear that, Shilpa. I feel that way too. So soothing as a combination, right? I find all Buddhist places of worship very peaceful and calming to my mind, body and soul. Thanks for the appreciation, dear.
anouradha
So awe inspiring.
BellyBytes
These Buddhist stupas always leave me wondering….. why did these monks make such edifices in such difficult and hard to reach places? Was this their form of worship? How strong they must have been to carry out such menial work in times of non-mechanisation…..
Esha MD
Yes, Sunita—a very apt question about the location of the stupas they erected! I do think the monks were absolutely capable of undertaking such arduous tasks that would normally seem very daunting to lesser mortals.
Anshu Bhojnagarwala
Liked the marshmallow bit, esha. But looking at the golden statue in the lotus pose is so calming. I have a ready itinerary for Sri Lanka for a trip planned and then canceled and gaelle is on the list.