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The image house in the cave
source : wikimedia commons
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 to Sri Pada.
Also See
Map of Ibbagala Raja Maha Viharaya
The map above also shows other places of interest within a approximately 20 km radius of the current site. Click on any of the markers and the info box to take you to information of these sites.
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Driving Directions to Ibbagala Raja Maha Viharaya
The temple lies halfway on to the buddha statue on the top of Ethagala Rock. You can use the stairs cut on to the rock to reach this temple or use the motarable road which lies passing these steps
Route from Colombo to Ibbagala Raja Maha Viharaya | Route from Kurunegala to Ibbagala Raja Maha Viharaya |
| Via : Kelaniya – Ambepussa – Kurunegala – Padeniya – Mahagalkadawala Distance : 98 km Travel time : 2.5 hours Driving directions : see on google map | Distance : 1.5 km Travel time : 10 mins Driving directions : see on google map |
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