Ridi Viharaya the silver temple near Kurunegala what is special about it and is it worth seeking out
I seek out the temples nobody photographs and I read about Ridi Viharaya the Silver Temple in the northwest near Kurunegala with a fascinating history (silver ore funding the great Ruwanwelisaya stupa) and unusual art including some surprising Dutch tiles Is it worth seeking out what makes it special the cave temple the silver story the art and is it easy to combine with the Kurunegala area sites People who visited Ridi Viharaya please tell me about this hidden gem
7 Answers from travellers
Heritage guide so the Ridi Viharaya story this is a genuine hidden gem What it is and the silver story Ridi Viharaya means the SILVER TEMPLE and the name comes from a wonderful historical tale in the second century BC SILVER ORE was discovered here and the silver was used to help fund the construction of the great Ruwanwelisaya stupa at Anuradhapura (one of the most sacred monuments in the country) so this modest cave temple is tied to the funding of a national treasure King Dutugemunu founded the temple in gratitude that history alone makes it special What makes it special the CAVE TEMPLE built into the rock with beautiful old Buddha images and murals a serene reclining Buddha and atmospheric shrine rooms the ART and the surprising detail it famously contains some blue and white DUTCH DELFT TILES (depicting biblical scenes) set into the temple a fascinating and unexpected colonial era addition that surprises everyone the Kandyan period paintings and the moonstone and carvings the whole place is layered with history and art in a compact serene rock temple setting Worth seeking out YES for someone who loves the temples nobody photographs this is exactly your kind of place it is off the tourist route quiet sacred historically rich and full of unexpected detail (the silver tale the Dutch tiles the cave art) you will likely have it nearly to yourself a real reward for the curious Combining with the area PERFECT it is near Kurunegala in the northwest so it slots beautifully into the forgotten capitals and Kurunegala itinerary (the medieval capitals threads) pair Ridi Viharaya with Kurunegala Dambadeniya and the area sites for a rich off beat history and temple day a car and driver links them easily Visiting it is a living temple so the usual respect (shoulders and knees covered shoes off quiet reverence the temple dress threads) so yes seek out Ridi Viharaya the Silver Temple for its remarkable story (silver that helped build Ruwanwelisaya) its serene cave shrines and art and the surprising Dutch tiles a quiet hidden gem that pairs perfectly with the Kurunegala area for the curious off trail traveller
A remarkable silver story serene cave shrines and surprising Dutch tiles a quiet hidden gem pairing perfectly with the Kurunegala area this is exactly the temple nobody photographs that I seek the silver funding Ruwanwelisaya detail is wonderful thank you
Look closely for the Dutch Delft tiles they are easy to miss but genuinely surprising in a Buddhist cave temple a little piece of colonial Europe set into an ancient Sri Lankan shrine ask the temple custodian to point them out if you cannot spot them
The layered history is the appeal an ancient silver tale Kandyan paintings and Dutch colonial tiles all in one small rock temple it tells the whole sweep of the islands story in miniature a brilliant find for a history and temple lover
Following up visited and had the whole temple almost to myself the cave shrines were serene and the custodian proudly showed me the silver story and the tiles the personal quiet welcome at these off trail temples is half the magic thank you
Pairing Ridi Viharaya with the forgotten capitals made a perfect history day for me the silver temple plus Kurunegala and Yapahuwa in one northwest loop is a deep cut itinerary that the rushing tourists completely miss
These quiet living temples reward a respectful unhurried visit sit a while in the cool of the cave shrine after the custodian explains the history it is a contemplative experience not a photo stop the silence is part of the gem
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