Tucked into a tranquil forested river ravine just 6 kilometers outside Bandarawela along the highway to Badulla, the ancient Dowa Raja Maha Viharaya (Dowa Rock Temple) is one of Sri Lanka's most architecturally captivating cave shrines. Believed to have been founded in the 1st Century BCE by King Walagamba during his southern exile, local folk chronicles connect the site's hidden subterranean labyrinth back thousands of years to the secret underground networks of King Ravana.
The Sealed Secret Tunnel to Ravana Cave
Deep inside the inner cave sanctum, concealed behind ancient image house masonry, lies the mouth of a mysterious underground tunnel. Known locally as the Ravana Gal Guha Tunnel, oral tradition firmly maintains that this subterranean passage once stretched more than 11 kilometers through solid mountain rock, emerging directly inside Ravana Cave in Ella and connecting with Nil Diya Pokuna.
During times of foreign invasion, royals and high priests utilized these interconnected caverns to vanish into the central highlands without a trace. Today, the entrance has been safely bricked and sealed by the Department of Archaeology to protect both visitors and subterranean bats from toxic cavern gases and unstable ancient fault lines.
Visitor Guide & Temple Courtyard
- Opening Hours: 7:00 AM to 6:30 PM daily.
- Entrance: Free admission; modest temple donations (~LKR 200–500) appreciated for restoration.
- Dress Code: Shoulders and knees must be respectfully covered; footwear removed at the temple sand terrace.
- Access: Located directly on the main Bandarawela-Badulla A16 road; 10 minutes by tuk-tuk from Bandarawela train station.
The 38-Foot Unfinished Colossus of Dowa
Carved into the sheer vertical granite cliff towering above the mountain stream is an imposing 38-foot high relief standing Buddha statue. Depicted in the serene Abhaya Mudra (gesture of fearlessness), the sculpture bears the distinctive hallmarks of ancient Mahayana and indigenous stone artistry.
Legend recounts that King Walagamba's sculptors worked exclusively under cover of night to carve the statue in complete secrecy. When enemies were spotted in the valley, the sculptors abandoned their chisels, leaving the intricate details of the robe and lotus pedestal tantalizingly unfinished.
Pairing Dowa with Ella & The Ravana Trail
Dowa is located halfway between Bandarawela and Ella. It is an exceptional 45-minute cultural stopover before or after hiking Little Adam's Peak, visiting Nine Arches Bridge, or exploring Ravana Falls.