Dowa Rock Temple

What?
This is an ancient rock-cut, featuring a large Buddha statue carved into rock, said to be over 2,000 years old.

Where?
It is located in Badulla and approximately 180 km from Colombo.

When?
It can be visited all year long, though mornings and evenings are ideal.

Previously it was known as Kumbaltispaha Ariyagala Viharaya. It was the name given by the instructor who got initiated to build this temple on behalf of a huge cave. Some believe that the Dowa Rock temple is also such a place that was used by King Walagambahu. A 12m uncompleted Buddha statue carved on a rock cliff can be seen in the temple; it can be identified as Mahayana iconography.

However, King Walagamba was unable to complete the construction of the temple. Therefore, it was completed during the Kandyan kingdom. Reference sources reveal that the statue was carved by King Walagamba himself while hiding.The paintings on the solid rock cave elaborated several Jataka Stories (Jataka stories means instructional stories of the Lord Buddha’s past births ). They belong to the 1st century. Finally, you will find a small stupa and a tunnel used in the king’s time.Eventually this secret tunnel was supposed to be used by King Walgamba to escape. The people believe that the tunnel is being guarded by a huge snake.