08/08/2025
Origins & Royal Legacy
Nestled about 5 km from Rambukkana, reached via roughly 350 stone steps through lush forest, lies Kele Dambulla Rajamaha Viharaya, also referred to as Kele Dambulla Viharaya—distinct from the famous Dambulla temple in Central Province
Local histories suggest its foundation reaches back to King Valagamba’s exile in the late 1st century BC. This rocky hilltop sanctuary served as refuge, later sanctified as a temple when the king regained his throne
Prominent Kandyan-era patronage came from King Kirti Sri Rajasinghe (1747–1782 AD). Historical texts recount his appointments and land grants, particularly aiding Ven. Sangaraja Thero in constructing the iconic 48 ft reclining Buddha statue through the efforts of lay devotee Devaragampola Silvath Thena
Archaeological acclaim
C. P. Bell, British Archaeological Commissioner in 1746, famously lauded the reclining statue as “the finest recumbent Buddha in Sri Lanka… couldn’t be found anywhere else.” He meticulously recorded its measurements—48 ft 3 in long and about 16 ft wide—and noted accompanying murals and Vishnu statue carved by the same master artist
Spiritual Artistry in Stone
As pilgrims climb the stairway amid rustling leaves and forest breeze, they arrive at Siri Pathul Gala—a sacred rock measuring about 4½ ft by 2½ ft, carved with Buddha’s footprint, attributed to King Valagamba himself
Inside the cave temple, the reclining Buddha figure, carved beneath natural granite overhangs, stretches nearly the full length of the cavern at 52 ft long and 16 ft wide
To its left stands a finely carved image of Vishnu, while nearby murals portray local dignitaries like Lewke Disawa and Perahera scenes, all signatures of Devaragampola’s brushwork
With walls that reach up to 17 ft in places, the cave art creates a spatial hierarchy guiding devotees through a sacred narrative space
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