Ridi Viharaya

Ridi Viharaya is a beautiful and peaceful temple with amazing carvings and a calm atmosphere. The history here is fascinating, and the statue details are so impressive. A must-visit if you’re exploring Sri Lanka’s cultural sites!

We visited this temple and had a wonderful experience. The place is very calm and peaceful, perfect for relaxing and taking a break from the busy surroundings. Everything is absolutely beautiful. We were offered tea and traditional Sri Lankan biscuits, which was a lovely touch. Our guide was extremely kind and explained everything very clearly, making the visit even more interesting. We later found out that it’s possible to stay overnight at the temple, which we didn’t know beforehand. Given how peaceful and relaxing this place is, it must be an amazing experience to stay there. We highly recommend visiting this beautiful place.

A place of history and tranquility. This temple has so many stories to tell from different eras, different centuries. It was a pleasure to visit it without crowds. People are very welcoming and the whole area is located in the mountains, so the temple visit can be combined with a hike with spectacular view.

We visited this temple as it was on the way to our destination, and what a peaceful surprise it was. The monks kindly gave us a tour, shared stories about the temple, and treated us to local delicacies. They even offered us a free stay at the temple. A truly warm and serene experience.

Silver Temple, also known as Ridi Viharaya, is a Theravada Buddhist temple located in the Sri Lankan locality of Ridigama that dates back to the second century BCE. Constructed under Dutthagamani of Anuradhapura's rule, the temple is recognized with discovering the silver mine that was needed to finish Ruwanwelisaya, one of Sri Lanka's biggest stupas. The histories Mahavamsa and Thupavamsa state that the Ridi Viharaya complex was constructed as a token of appreciation for enabling him to pursue his goal of finishing Ruwanwelisaya. The location of Ridi Viharaya is at Ridigama, about 18 kilometers northeast of Kurunegala. Kurunegala is situated 94 kilometers northeast of Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo. On the A6 highway, which links Kurunegala and Dambulla, the shrine is roughly 10 kilometers from Ibbagamuwa. This is a must visit place in Sri Lanka if anyone is interested in our rich history. This place has lots of historically valued statues and murals/frescoes and beautifully crafted pillars with unique architectural style. This place is surrounded by mountains and calming environment amidst all the busy towns.

Ridi Viharaya is a hidden gem for sure. We were the only foreigners there and had a special entrance escorted by a police man. He wanted to take us on a tour of the temple which we initially thought may have been a tourist trap but was completely the opposite. He was a gentleman, talking us through the history of Sri Lanka, Buddhism & the three colonial periods. Basically a free tour guide. We arrived at 11am which was perfect time for a ceremony that occurs three times per day so we’re invited to stay and watch and even participate in an offering. The monk was only 13, a trainee whose life will now be devoted to the monastery. We watched a traditional drum performance and were invited for herbal tea where we ate fresh bananas and local snacks as a kind gesture without any expectation of payment. They don’t get a lot of tourism here compared to other temples but it’s well worth visiting. The monastery also has rooms for visitors where you can stay overlooking the incredibly beautiful forest valley. They’ll also provide your food and you’re welcome to stay and rest there a few days to practice with the monks and fully recharge. All this at no cost to the traveller! We were invited although already had a home stay booked in Dambulla so politely declined. In fact, we almost stayed through no choice of our own. When leaving the temple, the van decided to give up the ghost. The engine light was on and we lost all power. Thankfully the drummer and later the police man turned up, pulled strings and arranged for a mechanic to come out (most do not work a Sunday) and we managed to get on our way again. It really just goes to show the genuine Buddhist personalities, going the extra mile and they guys couldn’t have been more helpful. If you have time on your trip, visit and stay a few days for an authentic experience of real Sri Lanka.

This is a historical temple. You will find historical Buddhist statues and old buildings here. You can also see ancient Buddhist art on the rock cave walls, created by our ancestors using natural colors. The temple is located on a mountain, offering a beautiful view. Food and drinks are available at the parking area. It can get crowded on Poya days, but there is plenty of parking available at the entrance.

A calm and peaceful temple rich with ancient heritage. It's usually not crowded on regular days, except during Poya holidays. There’s ample parking available and a spacious rest area where visitors can stay overnight.