Dhowa Rock Temple is Situated on a beautiful hillside on the Badulla – Bandarawela road. The Dhowa Raja Maha Viharaya is an enlightening Buddhist center built about 2000 years ago. The specialty here is that the temples are designed in a way that does not harm the built physical environment. History states that the place where King Walagamba hid has become a temple. This temple is mentioned in the history books as the Kumbaltissa Ariyakara temple. Later this temple became known as Dhowa Raja Maha Viharaya. The temple is located approximately 7km from Ella town.
The temple here is also eye-catching. There are paintings belonging to the reign of King Walagamba and paintings belonging to the Kandyan period. The walls of the cave are covered with several colorful Jataka stories (folk tales depicting the past life of the Buddha) and the roof of the cave is covered with lotus and various other flowers. There is also a 36 feet high Buddha statue carved on a large rock in the temple premises. Another feature of the temple is the Gal Vihara Geya which is within a 12-foot cave and once contained numerous artifacts. Its magnificent dragon pandals and stone door frames date back to around 1800.
Here are two demon images that can only be seen in three places in Sri Lanka. It is also mentioned in the book that the tunnel here had traveled to Ravana Falls at that time. The Dagaba built here is unique in comparison to other temples. Dagaba is small in size but creative. Built during the reign of King Walagamba, this temple has all the amenities required for worship. Situated in a beautiful environment, these beautiful temple grounds and temples can be described as one of the must-visit places in Sri Lanka.
