Ridi Viharaya (Silver Temple)

Ridi Viharaya (the Silver Temple) is one of Sri Lanka's most historically layered and visually fascinating Buddhist cave temples, set in the hills near Ridigama in the Kurunegala District. Its founding is attributed to King Dutugamunu in the 2nd century BC, when workers here discovered a rich seam of silver ore whose proceeds funded the construction of the great Ruwanwelisaya stupa in Anuradhapura. The temple complex contains two cave shrines of extraordinary character: the Maha (Upper) Viharaya features a 15th-century reclining Buddha and walls adorned with 18th-century blue-and-white Dutch Delft tiles, donated by a Dutch governor, which depict biblical scenes in a uniquely cross-cultural fusion. The Kuda (Lower) Viharaya contains Chinese ivory Buddhas and a collection of rare gilt objects donated over centuries. Few tourists find Ridi Viharaya, making visits feel genuinely exploratory — a knowledgeable resident monk often guides visitors through the iconography at no charge.