Located eight miles north of Matale on the Matale-Galewela road, Kawatayamuna Maha Viharaya is a sacred temple in the district. A powerful man called Kavata Yodhaya, who came from India in the days of King Gajaba the first, built a canal across the Dombwela canal.Historical information reveals that he himself built this temple. In the sense of that giant and his anvil, this is called Kavatayamuna.

Apart from worshiping the temple, many people come here to see the hell that has been constructed showing the thirty-two tortures of sinners.Local and foreign tourists come to see the sculptures and paintings that have been created in this temple and the events related to it. Apart from that, the 103 feet tall Buddha statue built in the temple is also very special, and it is built according to the seat called Badrasana

it is mentioned in the book titled History of Matale that when Queen Elizabeth II first visited Sri Lanka in 1952, she came to visit this temple. Apart from worshiping the temple, many people come here to see the hell that has been constructed showing the thirty-two tortures of sinners.