Scenes around the Dowa Rock Temple, Badulla, Sri Lanka.

The stream behind the temple.

The 'Aawasa' - Monk's residence.

The highway in front.

The Kilometer post.

The highway in front and a stream behind give this ancient rock temple a quaint beauty. Monkeys playing on the branches of the trees there and the different types of bird life are other added attractions.

Dowa ancient rock temple, Bandarawala - Badulla road, Sri Lanka.

Near the entrance to the temple.

The rock sculpture of Lord Buddha.

A statue of Lord Buddha in a cave beneath the sculpted statue.

Paintings in the cave.

Dowa is a few miles from Badulla, near Demmodara on the road to Bandarawela. This ancient rock temple is said to date from the time of King Valagambahu at the beginning of the Present Era. The figure sculpted on the rock is said to have been completed in a single day by a master craftsman.
Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dn1IcaFW5g

Badulla, Sri Lanka.

The climb to Badulla

Entrance to the Muthiyangana Raja Maha Vihara.

A pilgrim.

Badulla situated at a higher elevation than Mahiyangana, with its lush greenery and historic Raja Maha Vihara has attracted visitors from ancient times.

Nagadipa Vihara, Mahiyangana, Sri Lanka.

The Vihara grounds

An inscription on stone.

Broken stone pillar

Solar panel with storage batteries installed by the late President Premadasa. They have grid connection now.

Some of the stone artifacts found here point to a very early era of origin.

'Nagadipa Vihara', 'Aanda-ulpatha', Mahiiyangana, Sri Lanka.

The 'Poya Ge'.

A 'Chathya'

Ant hills

The Wewa and the distant mountains.

Aandaa-ulpatha is a town on the Mahiyangana - Bibile road. A turn off to the left going on a motorable road going a few kilometers takes one to 'Nagadipa Vihara'. The history of this vihara goes back 2000 years to the time of Dutugamunu's brother Saddha Tissa who ruled this area and visited this site. There is an old dagoba and Wewa close by.