Dowa Rock Temple

Visit this temple along the main road towards Badulla (closer to Bandarawela) and a few moments of experiencing the mysteries and people of the past is guaranteed.

It's easy to find and just like the tip of an iceberg, the temple is larger than it looks from the level of the main road. The temple is situated opposite to the large Bo tree where otherwise you might think that the latter is the entrance.

There is a small parking space right at the front that can hold up to 8 to 10 vehicles. If that's full it's not much of a problem as there's miles and miles (if you don't mind the trek) of safe parking space along the main road.

Once inside you have to walk a short path that leads to steps that will take you down to the temple.

Unlike most other temples, this one conserves the history and holiness that makes the temple unforgettable.

Look down from the flight of steps and you will see the temple proper and a Bo tree that has branches spreading wide and far, even as far as the railing you're holding onto.

To your right a river runs alongside the temple, adding the soothing sound of streaming water to the already cool and serene air within the premises.

The temple consists of only a few buildings. There's a wooden open hall like building where the priest preaches and the devotees sit with their legs bowed and listen.

To the left there are a few spaces to leave your shoes, wash your hands and dispose whatever you don't need.

Oh and there's a building right at the beginning of the steps, built on top of another rock and I think that's where the monks /priests reside. Not a place to visit of course.

Getting back to the temple, the "budu geya" or the 3rd place of worship in any temple where all the frescoes, statues and treasures (religious ones... nothing to see here Mr. Looter)are placed, can be seen.

What's so special about this is that it's built into the huge boulder that rests beside the river that I mentioned earlier (and hence the name: temple in the rock). You can see that this part of the temple is inside the rock because its roof touches the posterior part of the boulder (see the photos at the end).

Inside it's pure history, magic and serenity. Colorful frescoes adorn the walls and ceiling. The ceiling is the inner surface of the rock and the paints and patterns are drawn upon its uneven, rough surface.

Get to the side of this part and you can see the river running along the side, sending an occasional cool spray if you're near enough. It is a bit sad to see the negative effect of humans where the river banks are sometimes full of washed up or thrown out rubbish and plastic.

After that's over head up more towards the back and you can see the rest of the boulder. To the left there's a tall and majestic statue of Lord Buddha hewn in rock, His eyes gazing down upon us calmly and in peace , instilling the same within us (if our minds are open enough to understand).

And that's not the end of it. Right at the top of the boulder (er underneath?) there's an entrance to a cave that leads to a tunnel that runs for many kilometers. This tunnel ends at the Bogoda temple and bridge (my review on that temple is also available).

This secret tunnel was used by historic heroes, sinhalese soldiers and priests to travel in between the two temples and evade invasive forces of that era.

The tunnel has caved in now but the entrance is still visible within the rock. A small statue of a snake and Lord Buddha guards this entrance but you have to shine a light and peer hard to spot it in the darkness.

Just looking at this entrance takes you back in time and even though you may not be familiar with the course of the tunnel, if you have seen both ends, your imagination will help you to take a brief magical journey in its darkness and share the courage, fear and trepidation of whoever took this path centuries ago.

On a final note, if you're suffering from shortness of breath, the descent is not much of an issue but climbing back up can be a bit taxing on your vital organs.

But it's worth it.