"Ridee Viharaya"/ Silver temple Kurunegala Srilanka.

Infront of "Maha viharaya"

This temple is located in Rideegama, a well-known village in the Kurunegala district of Sri Lanka, just a three-hour drive from Colombo International Airport. According to the Mahawansa, the temple is referred to as “Rajatha Lena,” or Silver Cave. Legend has it that King Dutugemunu sourced silver from this very place while constructing the Ruwanweli Stupa, earning the site its association with the name “Rideegama Temple.” This temple complex is a tribute to the village, reflecting the gratitude of the king. It is believed that King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe, who ruled during the final era of Kandy, undertook renovations here.

Among its unique features, the temple boasts an exquisite ivory-made doorway, adorned at the top with a carving known as “Panchanari Ghataya.” The centerpiece is a stunning Buddha statue standing twelve cubits tall, situated within the dragon pavilion. Historically, during King Dutugemunu’s reign, the main road connecting Anuradhapura to Malaya passed close to this area. The temple is also recognized in folklore as the “Waraka Eaten Temple,” with mentions found in historical texts.

The stupa is ingeniously built upon a rock, while the temple itself rests below it. Notably, the keys adorning the doors are those that were historically used by the Sinhala kings of the Kandy kingdom. Inside the temple, visitors can admire paintings from the Kandy era.

"Waraka weladu viharaya"

The Ridee temple comprises several distinct buildings, including:

- Maha Viharaya

- Waraka Weladu Wiharaya, entirely hewn from rock

- Uda Viharaya

- Sandakadapahana

Paintings in "Maha viharaya"