Ridikanda Rajamaha Viharaya at Gomarankadawala – ගෝමරංකඩවල රිදීකන්ද රජමහා විහාරය

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Ridikanda Rajamaha Viharaya lies on top of a 400 feet high hill in the village of Kandamalawa in Gomarankadawala. There are more than 15 caves with dripledges in the site and large number of conserved ruins scattered around the temple grounds.  The main temple lies at the base of the hill but it extends to up to the top where you can see a restored stupa and other ruins at the top of Ridikanda.

The ruins at the bottom includes number of stupas, remains of many buildings, a Yanthra Gala and a granite torso of a standing Buddha and a granite seated Buddha. All stupas has been vandalized by treasure hunters at some time.

There are two ponds used to collect water to for the needs of the resident monks. In this site the remains of a stupa, pratimaghara, uposathaghara, Bodhighara etc. has been conserved. The Ridikanda Viharaya is belived to be have been a ‘panchayatana’ (five-unit monastery system) temple.

Some of the excavated artifacts including the Buddha statues have been kept on display in the temple museum.

The name ‘ridikanda’ literary means ‘Silver Mountain’. Legends say that this site provided with the silver to build the Ruwanweli Seya in Anuradhapura, thus was called Ridikanda.

Gomarankadawala Town can be reached on the Trincomalee – Anuradhapura Road turning off at Pankulama Junction and proceeding towards Tiriyaya. Ridikanda is about 8km after turning to the left at Gomarankadawala.

Also See

• Ancient Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka
• Other Places of Interest Within Close Proximity

Map of the Gomarankadawala Ridikanda Rajamaha Viharaya

Traveling Directions to the Gomarankadawala Ridikanda Rajamaha Viharaya