An ancient temple nearest to the ethugala temple. A special very silent place at kurunegala town.
Ibbagala Raja Maha Vihara is an ancient Cave temple in Kurunegala District, Sri Lanka. The temple is situated in middle of the Kurunegala town and lies in the mid valley area of the Ethagala Rock. The temple has been formally recognised by the Government as an archaeological site in Sri Lanka Although a bustling city today, Kurunegala was a ancient capital of Sri Lanka for over 50 years in the 13th century. The city has lost most of the ancient heritage with the urbanization, but most of the temples of the ancient times still remain. Ibbagala Raja Maha Viharaya ( Ibbagala Cave Temple) is such a cave temple which lies in the mid valley area of the Ethagala Rock. Ibbagala ( Tortise Rock) lies where Ethugala ( Elephant Rock) and the Kurumiiya Gala ( Beetle Rock) joins together.
The cave image house of the temple is believed to be built during the King Buwanekabahu the second (1293 – 1302) for the priests who were in charge of services of the sacred tooth relic of buddha which was deposited on a palace closeby.
There is a large rock cut ‘Sri Pathul Gala’ (foot print of buddha) in the temple. It is said that the king Buwakekabahu built this for his mother since she was too fragile to make the the trip...
Read moreAlthough a bustling city today, Kurunegala was a ancient capital of Sri Lanka for over 50 years in the 13th century. The city has lost most of the ancient heritage with the urbanization, but most of the temples of the ancient times still remain. Ibbagala Raja Maha Viharaya ( Ibbagala Cave Temple) is such a cave temple which lies in the mid valley area of the Ethagala Rock. Ibbagala ( Tortise Rock) lies where Ethugala ( Elephant Rock) and the Kurumiiya Gala ( Beetle Rock) joins together.
The cave image house of the temple is believed to be built during the King Buwanekabahu the second (1293 – 1302) for the priests who were in charge of services of the sacred tooth relic of buddha which was deposited on a palace closeby.
There is a large rock cut ‘Sri Pathul Gala’ (foot print of buddha) in the temple. It is said that the king Buwakekabahu built this for his mother since she was too fragile to make the the trip...
Read moreThis is one of the main rock temple around Kurunegala. It was build in 1300s by King Buwanekaba. Important thing is its easily to climb from the Kurunegala city. Just a 30 minutes work plus climb from the Kurunegala main city. When you climbd up its a totally different environment with very peaceful surrounding.
If you ilke you an drive any vehicle to the temple through a very good road will moderate inclination.
Important to know there is no wheelchair access to any of the...
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