Kuragala Rock

Kuragala Rock is located about 18km from Balangoda, Ratnapura. It is famous for an ancient Buddhist monastery. The name Kuragala was given after a number of rock outcrops, but originally it was known as Thandulayia Pabbatha. The ancient Buddha monastery dates back to the 2nd century BC. The ruins of an ancient viharaya (Buddhist temple) are at the summit of this rock. The monastery complex covers 30-40 rock caves, where there is room for 3000 people. Kuragala Rock is also a pilgrimage site of Muslim devotees. There is an Islam shrine called Dafter Abdul Jailani.