හොළොම්බුව “ස්ත්‍රීපුර” රජමහා විහාරය

Hollombuwa Sthreepura Cave Temple

Useful Information

Location:	Dedigama. A1 Colombo–Kandy main road to Nelundeniya Junction, trun right on B540 Dedigama Road to Thunthota Junction, turn left on Arandara Road will get you to the Holombuwa Town. Turn left at sign into single lane road to the temple. (7.198020, 80.274291)
Open:	All year daily. [2023]
Fee:	free. [2023]
Classification:	Cave Church Erosional Cave Painted Cave
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Hollombuwa Sthreepura Cave Temple, Dedigama, Tel: +94-355-670-182.
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

1935	cave paintings created.

Description

හොළොම්බුව “ස්ත්‍රීපුර” රජමහා විහාරය (Holombua “Streepura” Rajamaha Vihara, Hollombuwa Sthreepura Cave Temple) was constructed during the reign of King Walagamba in the Anuradhapura period. The nickname ස්ත්‍රීපුර (Streepura, Womens) is due to the legend that it provided shelter to 500 queens. According to local lore, King Valagamba had hidden 500 of his queens in this cave when he himself was in hiding. A large pond in the cave filled with pure water is considered the water source used by the queens for bathing and drinking. The water is crystal clear so the bottom can be clearly seen. Outside the cave, on the right side of the entrance portal, is a similar pond, but it is narrower and deeper and its bottom cannot be seen.

There is a huge natural arch in the granite rock, in which a sort of circular gazebo was erected. But actually, the cave temple is in the cave behind the arch. The magnificent natural stone arch is unique, Numerous buddha statues were erected in the cave, also stupas, and paintings on the rock walls. The monastery was renovated in 1935 and numerous murals created at that time.

And again, like in all other cave temples in the area, there were vast tunnels linking Yatahalena with Dedigama, which were in this case designed for the king to escape. This mysterious network, while being hundreds of kilometers long and connecting all cave temples, was never seen by anyone. It's the Bigfoot-legend of Sri Lanka.