Ridi Viharaya or Silver Temple is a 2nd-century BCE Theravada Buddhist temple in the village of Ridigama.
“”We were traveling to Matale, from Colombo and via Kurunegala, and my companion suggested a stop at Ridi Viharaya. This is one of the nicest and most interesting Buddhist temples I have ever seen. Beautifully located, it has the main Image House under a large overhang of rock, and dont miss the small, and charmingly named, Waraka Welandu Viharaya.
The Makara Thorana above the entrance to the Maha Viharaya is intricate and fine. I had just an hour i which to take some pictures, but I could have happily spent the rest of the day photographing the interior.””
– Dominic Sansoni – photographer
Ridi Vihara means silver temple. It was built by King Dutugemunu on the site of a great silver ore deposit. That silver was used for the Ruwanwelisaya stupa in Anuradhapura, but the temple here is still quite a sight.
There is an upper and lower temple and the highlights are a 9m reclining Buddha as well as Dutch tiles and artwork depicting Christian themes as well. There is Hindu artwork as well, depicting Ravana from the Ramayana.
