Why You'll Love Matale Matale sits in a fertile valley between Kandy and Dambulla, its spice gardens supplying much of Sri Lanka's cinnamon, cardamom and pepper — alongside the historic Aluvihare Rock Temple, where Buddhist scriptures were first committed to writing.
Several demonstration gardens around Matale explain how cinnamon, pepper, cardamom and other spices are grown and processed — see the Matale spice garden tour guide.
A cave temple complex where Buddhist scriptures (the Pali Canon) were first written down on ola leaves in the 1st century BC.
Matale's location makes it a natural stop for travellers driving between Kandy and the Cultural Triangle's main sites.
Combine the spice garden tour with the historic Aluvihare Rock Temple, on the road between Kandy and Dambulla.
