Kurunegala is a major city in Sri Lanka, known for its rich history and natural beauty. It served as the capital of the Northwestern Province for 50 years, from the 13th century to the early 14th century. Surrounded by coconut plantations and rubber estates, Kurunegala is home to the famous “Elephant Rock,” one of eight large rocks, standing 325 meters high and resembling an elephant. The historic temples of Kurunegala add to the city’s cultural charm, showcasing its ancient heritage.
Let’s explore some of the fascinating historical places in Kurunegala
Ridi Viharaya
In the 2nd century BC, King Dutugemunu built this temple. It is located about 20 kilometers from Kurunegala. King Dutugemunu found a silver mine, and it was used to build the Ruwanweli Seya.
When a traveler traveling to Malaya, he saw a cave. While he looking for wood, he found silver. The traveler told them about the silver to the king, and then he used the silver to build the Ruwanweli Seya. From India, the king brought the statue to the temple.
Now it’s going to be 2200 years old to the statue, and you can still see the statue and the place where the silver was found at Ridi Viharaya.
Samadhi Buddha Statue
Samadhi Buddha statue in Kurunegala is the world’s tallest granite statue. In Anuradhapura 1900, the toluvila statue, a sculpture of the Buddha, was found. In the 4th or 5th century, this statue was made of granite. The statue is similar in style to the Samadhi statue. The statue is currently kept at the National Museum of Colombo.
Ethagala
In Kurunegala, Ethagala is a famous rock formation in Sri Lanka. It looks like an elephant; that’s why it’s called “elephant rock.” The statue is about 66 feet tall. You can see the white Buddha statue at the top of the rock. These seven large rocks are located around Kurunegala town. The sacred tooth relic was kept here for worship. Some parts of the temple building are still at the base of Ethagala.
Maraluwawa Rajamaha Viharaya
It is located near Kurunegala. Maraluwawa Rajamaha Viharaya is an old temple. It is called Andagala Rock. This rock looks like an eel; that’s why it’s called “Andagala.”
In this temple, there are copper plates, and these plates were given by King Kirthi Sri Rajasinghe.
Cathedral Church of Christ the King
The Cathedral of Christ the King is a large church in Kurunegala, Sri Lanka. It is an Anglican church, the Anglican Diocese of Kurunegala. It is a beautiful church that was built in 1950. You can see beautiful paintings, and a tall tower in this church. It is a place for worship and spiritual guidance for Anglican people.
Athkanda Raja Maha Viharaya
This temple was built in the 14th or 15th century and is famous for its beautiful paintings and statues of Buddha. King Parakramabahu IV was a very smart person. He loves learning, and he helped by translating Pali Jataka tales, a Buddhist storybook. He gave his translations to the monks from Athkanda Raja Maha Viharaya. These translations helped the monks.
The Kandy Asgiriya Temple has been given to the monks by Athkanda Viharaya as a gift by Parakaramabahu IV’s brother.
Dalada Maligawa, Kurunegala Kingdom
The old Kurunegala was in a valley surrounded by hills. There are some remains of the temple of Dalada Maligawa, Kurunegala, and old buildings from that time. This was built in the 14th century. In this palace, there are some ruins of a square-shaped building and steps carved into the rock.
From 1302 to 1326, King Parakramabahu IV ruled the kingdom. During his period, the Dalada Maligawa temple was built. You can see some carvings and ruins of the temple.
Himalaya Meditation Center
Meditation is an action of silence. The soul always knows how to heal yourself when you’re in silence. So here comes, Himalayan Meditation. It is a complete system that combines various meditation techniques from different traditions. It aims to reduce suffering and assist understanding through love and compassion.
You can visit more historical places like,
- Kathiresan Kovil Kurunegala
- Ibbagala Rajamaha Viharaya
- Vilbawa Rajamaha Viharaya
- Wewagala Viharaya
- Andagala Vihara and Andagala Mountain
Kurunegala takes you to ancient times, and these places are still being preserved. So don’t miss the Kurunegala Holidays.
