Quick answer
The Japanese Peace Pagoda stands on Rumassala hill, the forested headland between Galle harbour and Unawatuna bay, about 2 kilometres from Unawatuna and 6 kilometres from Galle Fort. Built by the Japanese Buddhist order Nipponzan Myohoji and completed in the mid-2000s, the white stupa has gilded Buddha images on each side and a terrace looking across to Galle Fort. Entry is free, a visit takes 30 to 45 minutes, and late afternoon light is best. Rumassala is said in legend to be a fragment of the Himalaya dropped by Hanuman.
Key takeaways
- Rumassala is the forested headland between Galle harbour and Unawatuna, about 2 kilometres from Unawatuna beach.
- The Japanese Peace Pagoda was built by the Buddhist order Nipponzan Myohoji, which has built peace pagodas in many countries.
- Local tradition holds that Rumassala is a piece of the Himalaya dropped by Hanuman while carrying medicinal herbs.
- Entry to the pagoda is free, and a visit takes 30 to 45 minutes.
- Paths from the pagoda lead down to Jungle Beach, a small cove on the Galle side of the headland.
What the Peace Pagoda is
The Japanese Peace Pagoda on Rumassala is one of a series of peace pagodas built around the world by Nipponzan Myohoji, a Japanese Buddhist order dedicated to non-violence. The Sri Lankan pagoda was completed in the mid-2000s on the highest point of the headland, a white dome visible from Galle Fort and from boats in the bay.
Gilded Buddha images face each direction around the dome, and a small community of monks lives in a temple nearby. The site is calm and simple, with a terrace that looks west across Galle harbour to the fort walls, the lighthouse and the town beyond.
Rumassala and the Ramayana
Rumassala hill is tied to one of the most famous episodes of the Ramayana. In the story, the monkey god Hanuman was sent to the Himalaya to fetch healing herbs for the wounded Lakshmana. Unable to identify the right plant, he carried back a whole mountain, and pieces fell on the way. Rumassala is said to be one of them.
The legend is often linked to the unusual range of medicinal plants on the hill, and Rumassala is a protected area. It is one of several stops on the Ramayana trail in southern Sri Lanka, alongside Ussangoda further east, where a similar story is told.
- →Rumassala: a fallen fragment of Hanuman's mountain.
- →Ussangoda: a plateau linked to Hanuman and the burning of Lanka.
- →Ritigala, inland: another fragment in the same legend.
How to get to the pagoda
The Japanese Peace Pagoda is reached by a road that climbs from the Galle to Matara road near Unawatuna, about 10 minutes by tuk-tuk from the beach. From Galle Fort the drive takes around 15 to 20 minutes. Cars and tuk-tuks can park close to the pagoda.
Walkers can climb from Unawatuna by a steep lane in 30 to 40 minutes, which is pleasant early in the morning but hot by midday. From the pagoda, a path drops down to Jungle Beach, a sheltered cove on the Galle side of the headland, for a swim afterwards.
- →By tuk-tuk: about 10 minutes from Unawatuna, 15 to 20 from Galle Fort.
- →On foot: 30 to 40 minutes uphill from Unawatuna.
- →Down to Jungle Beach: 10 to 15 minutes on a steep path.
When to visit
Late afternoon is the best time to visit the Peace Pagoda, when the sun drops towards Galle harbour and the white dome turns gold. The terrace gives one of the finest views of Galle Fort, especially from about 5pm in the December to April season.
Early morning is the alternative for cooler air, birdsong in the forest and monks at their morning chanting. The site is open daily and free, though it is a place of worship. Modest dress is expected, and shoes come off on the terrace around the stupa.
- →Sunset: best view of Galle Fort across the bay.
- →Sunrise: cool, quiet and good for the walk up.
- →Midday: hot, bright and best avoided.
Fitting Rumassala into a Galle stay
The Peace Pagoda fits easily into a day around Galle, after a morning in the fort and before dinner in Unawatuna, or combined with Yatagala temple inland and a swim at Jungle Beach. The whole circuit takes half a day.
Lankan Stays & Trails often places the pagoda at the end of a Galle day, when the light is best and the walls of the fort glow across the water. Drivers wait at the car park while you walk down to the beach and back.
Frequently asked questions
How do you get to the Japanese Peace Pagoda in Unawatuna?
By tuk-tuk or car, about 10 minutes from Unawatuna beach and 15 to 20 minutes from Galle Fort, up a road that climbs from the Galle to Matara road. Walkers can climb a steep lane from Unawatuna in 30 to 40 minutes, best in the cool of the morning.
Is there an entrance fee for the Peace Pagoda?
No. Entry to the Japanese Peace Pagoda on Rumassala is free, as it is a place of worship. A small donation at the nearby temple is appreciated. Dress modestly and remove shoes on the terrace around the stupa.
What is the legend of Rumassala?
In the Ramayana, Hanuman carried a Himalayan mountain to Lanka to find healing herbs for Lakshmana, and fragments fell along the way. Rumassala is said to be one of them, which local tradition uses to explain the many medicinal plants on the hill.
When is the best time to visit the Peace Pagoda?
Late afternoon, around an hour before sunset, gives the best light and a clear view of Galle Fort across the bay. Early morning is cooler and quieter. Midday is hot and bright, with little shade on the terrace.
Can you walk from the Peace Pagoda to Jungle Beach?
Yes. A steep path leads from near the pagoda down to Jungle Beach in 10 to 15 minutes. Wear sandals with grip rather than flip-flops, and allow more time for the climb back up in the heat.
Who built the Japanese Peace Pagoda in Sri Lanka?
The pagoda was built by Nipponzan Myohoji, a Japanese Buddhist order founded by the monk Nichidatsu Fujii, which has raised peace pagodas in many countries since the mid-twentieth century. The Rumassala pagoda was completed in the mid-2000s, and monks of the order live nearby.