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| Location: | Between btw Kurunegala and Ridigama village. |
| Open: |
All year daily. [2008] |
| Fee: |
free, donations welcome. [2008] |
| Classification: | |
| Light: | electric. |
| Dimension: | |
| Guided tours: | |
| Bibliography: | |
| Address: | Ridi Vihara, Tel: +94-, Fax: +94-, |
| Last update: | $Date: 2008/10/09 18:34:04 $ |
Ridi Vihara translates Silver Temple, but it was not named so because it contains a lot fo silver as one would suppose. It was named after the silver mines below, where silver ore was discovered in the second century BC. Concerning legend King Dutugamunu established the complex as a sign of gratitude for the discovery of the silver. The precious metal which was mined here allowed him to complete various construction projects, especially the Golden Sand Stupa (Ruwan Weli Saya dagoba) at Anuradhapura. So he founded the temple and erected a gold-plated statue of the Buddha in the mine, the 9m long recumbent Buddha.
The main temple of Patha Viharaya (lower temple) is located inside a sizable cave below anoverhanging rock. The most famous gilded Buddha image is placed inside a glass case to protect it. There is also a huge seated Buddha image, images of Hindu gods and a statue thought to be King Dutugemunu. The walls and roof are covered with vivid frescoes and flower motifs. One of the doors leading into temple is decorated in ivory, showing a sort of optical illusion in the centre. From far it looks like a vase but on a close view the figures of five maidens become visible. This artwork is called Pancha Nari Getaya (figure of five women entwined in the shape of a knot). After a acase of vandalizm the ivory carvings were covered by glass to protect them.
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