Asgiriya is one of the two great chapter houses of Kandyan Buddhism (the other is Malwathu Viharaya adjacent to the Temple of the Tooth), and one of the most important monastic institutions in Sri Lanka. The temple complex on the northern hill above Kandy contains an eighteenth-century image house with a large reclining Buddha and well-preserved murals depicting the life of the Buddha.
The monastery is active and monks in saffron robes move between the various buildings. Visitors are welcome but should dress modestly and follow monastery etiquette — remove shoes before entering any shrine room, speak quietly, and do not photograph monks or worshippers without permission. The temple is a fifteen-minute uphill walk from the city center.