Temples · Kurunegala
Ridi Viharaya: The Silver Cave Temple
By Days of Iru and Opa
Ridi Viharaya, the "silver temple", near Ridigama in the Kurunegala district, was founded in the 2nd century BC on the spot where silver ore was said to have been found to fund the great stupas of Anuradhapura.
The caves
Cave shrines hold Buddha statues, old murals and detailed carvings, including a famous floor decorated with Dutch delft tiles depicting biblical scenes, an unusual colonial-era addition.
History
Its link to the discovery of silver ties it to King Dutugemunu and the building of Anuradhapura’s monuments, giving it deep historical significance.
Getting there
It sits in quiet countryside near Kurunegala, off the main tourist trail, so it is usually calm.
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