The Bellanwilla Rajamaha Temple, which is located in Colombo, has a lengthy and revered past. The temple’s hallowed Bodhi tree, thought to be one of the 32 seedlings that sprung from the revered Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi tree in Anuradhapura in the third century BC, is the source of the high level of holiness associated to the building. The shrine hall’s walls are covered with stunning murals that are another feature of the temple (Budu-Ge).

These murals, which were created by Somabandu Vidyapathy when he was 67 years old, portrays the life of the Buddha and Buddhism in various brushstrokes. In the 4,632 square feet of walls inside the temple, his artistic flair is on display. Explore this historical development of Buddhism and art here.