Ridee Viharaya: Ancient Silver Cave Monastery of Kurunegala

Strategically located in Ridigama near Gokarella and Kurunegala, on the scenic overland route between Bandaranaike International Airport and Sigiriya / Cultural Triangle, Ridee Viharaya (The Silver Temple) is one of Sri Lanka’s most historic and spiritually revered cave monasteries. According to the ancient chronicle *Mahavamsa*, in the 2nd century BCE, a vein of rich silver ore miraculously revealed itself inside a cavern here. The legendary King Dutugemunu used this silver treasure to finance the construction of the Great Ruwanwelisaya Stupa in Anuradhapura. In gratitude, the King commissioned a magnificent cave sanctuary. Visitors today discover an extraordinary blend of eras: the **Maha Viharaya** cave sheltering a 9-meter reclining Buddha statue gifted by the King, ancient drip-ledge caves with Brahmi inscriptions, and the fascinating **Waraka Welandu Viharaya** stone pavilion. Notably, the temple features an intriguing collection of antique 18th-century **Dutch Delft blue-and-white porcelain tiles** depicting Biblical scenes, gifted to the Kandyan King Kirti Sri Rajasinha by the Dutch Governor of Ceylon—a rare testament to international diplomacy and religious tolerance.