දෝව රජ මහා විහාරය

Dowa Rajamaha Viharaya - Dhowa Rock Temple

Useful Information

Location:	Badulla Rd, Badulla. (6.856336, 81.022229)
Open:	no restrictions. [2023]
Fee:	free. [2023]
Classification:	Cave Church Tectonic Cave
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Dowa Rajamaha Viharaya දෝව රජමහා විහාරය, A16, Bandarawela, Sri Lanka, Tel: +94-572-228-630.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

01-NOV-1996

declared a protected Archaeological Monument.

Description

දෝව රජ මහා විහාරය (Dowa Rajamaha Viharaya, Dowa Rock Temple) was built by King Valagamba in the first century BC. He took refuge from south Indian invaders in this area, and lived in numerous caves. After he fought and defeated the invaders, he built numerous cave temples. The huge granite boulders have shelters and cracks which were closed by walls. Highlight of the temple is a 12 m high unfinished Buddha image, which is carved into the vertical granite rockface.

This site is one of the numerous entrances to the legendary vast artificial tunnel system which once connected all the temples. The tunnel 11 km long tunnekl connects this temple with the Ravana Maha Viharaya at Ella and the Bogoda Raja Maha viharaya. Not of those tunnels is accessible, and here it was cemented off due to the evil acts of treasure hunters. Actually this is a fantasy story, but one which is cemented in the beliefs of the locals.